Mississippi Sea Wolves

2008 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs - Series B
American Conference - Division Quarterfinals

Game 1: (8) Mississippi Sea Wolves 1 @ (1) Texas Wildcatters 4
Texas leads Best of 5 series 1-0

G Ryan Munce: 59:11 mins (L), 54 shots, 51 saves, 3 GA
F Zbynek Hrdel: 0-0-0, Even, 2 PIMs (roughing), 0 SOG
F Marek Kvapil: DNP

Ryan Munce stopped 51 shots against the league-best Texas Wildcatters in their first game of the ECHL playoffs Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough as Texas took a 1-0 series lead by winning 4-1 in front of a sparse home crowd of 688. The Wildcatters threw a jaw-dropping 55 shots on goal en route to the victory.

Game 2 of the series is tonight in Beaumont, TX.

Tampa Bay Lightning ECHL Regular Season Stats on the flip.

Our Sports Central reported yesterday that Norfolk Admirals GM Claude Loiselle has reassigned forward Marek Kvapil to Mississippi of the ECHL.

Eurohockey.net is reporting that veteran AHLer and Lightning farm hand Norm Milley has agreed to play for Wolfsburg in the German DEL league next season.

The website is also reporting that Lightning prospect Stanislav Lascek, who has spent much of this season with Mississippi of the ECHL, has agreed to play next season for Zvolen in Slovakia. Lascek, who was drafted as an overage player in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, finished second in the QMJHL in scoring in his final year of junior hockey but has been underwhelming in two seasons of professional hockey that have been spent largely in the ECHL.

Milley's departure leaves an opening for a veteran forward to be retained or signed for Norfolk of the AHL next season. Milley leaves the Lightning organization after three seasons which have included 182 games split between Springfield and Norfolk of the AHL and 14 games of NHL service with Tampa Bay during the 2005-2006 season. Milley has scored 63 goals and 154 points in his 182 games of AHL service with the franchise. He will be missed.

It is not completely clear what Lascek's status will be given that he still has a year left on his NHL Entry Level deal. Whether or not the Lightning retain Lascek's rights, it does appear his departure may give the Lightning some relief on the 50-man roster front where potentially difficult signing decisions need to be made for currently contracted prospects Mike Egener and Marek Kvapil and minor league contracted players Adam Henrich and Rob Klinkhammer.

TheAHL.com is reporting the Lightning have returned goaltender Marc Denis to Norfolk of the AHL. To make room, goaltender Ryan Munce has been sent back to Mississippi of the ECHL.

No real surprise here. With Jonathan Boutin on emergency recall to Tampa and Marc Denis on re-entry waivers following the knee injury to Mike Smith, Our Sports Central is reporting that Admirals General Manager Claude Loiselle has announced that goaltender Ryan Munce has been reassigned to the Admirals from the ECHL's Mississippi Sea Wolves.