Central Hockey League: Pierce blasts Jacks past Missouri

INDEPENDENCE, MO. Odessa forward Jeff Pierce scored a pair of goals, the second coming as the sixth shooter in the shootout, to lift the Jackalopes to a 4-3 victory Friday night over the Missouri Mavericks at the Independence Events Center.

Philippe Plante and Sebastien Thinel also scored for Odessa, which improved to 44-11-4 and moved within two points of clinching the Southern Conference crown. Collin Circelli added two assists for the Jackalopes, who will face Missouri at 7:05 p.m. tonight.

Pierce was the fourth straight Odessa skater to score in the extra period, while Jackalopes goaltender Joel Martin stopped Missouri’s Simon Watson and Mike Burgoyne to seal the victory.