THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULEColorado at Mississippi, Friday, December 4th (7:05 PM)
Missouri at Mississippi, Sunday, December 6th (3:05 PM)
LAST GAME
Rapid City 4, RiverKings 1 (Saturday, November 28th)
Rapid City parlayed a three-goal first period into its fourth straight victory in a Saturday afternoon game in South Dakota. The win also swept the weekend series with the RiverKings in Mississippi's final game of the regular season in the Black Hills. Ryan Held scored the RiverKings' only goal of the game at 7:52 of the second period. Ray Jean took the loss in goal for the RiverKings, despite making 21 saves.
RIVERKINGS PLAYER NOTES
2-Adam Smyth: Played in CHL career game number 100 at Allen on Wednesday.
3-David Simoes: Ranks third in the CHL for defenseman majors (6). Took a league-high five minor penalties in the RiverKings' 2-1 shootout victory against Texas on November 3rd.
3-Kevin Cooper: Played in CHL career game number 100 Friday against Rapid City.
18-Ryan Held: Leads CHL in goals scored (14) and leads the RiverKings in points (21). Tied with Ryan Campbell for team lead in power play goals (4). Also leads the team in shorthanded goals scored (2). Is tied for tenth in the CHL for power play goals scored and is tied for second in shorthanded goals scored. Ranks fourth in the CHL for shots on goal (74).
21-Bobby Chaumont: Is tied for first in game-winning goals (4).
25-Matt Pierce: Has best plus-minus statistic on the roster at plus-six.
27-Steve Makway: Played in CHL career game number 200 Friday at Rapid City. Tied with Ryan Campbell for team lead in assists (12). Is tied with Derek Landmesser for fifth in the CHL for defenseman points with 14.
30-Ray Jean: Is tied for first in the CHL for games played (15). Is second in minutes played (869) and is fourth in saves (383). Is tied for second in the CHL for shootout wins (2).
37-Ryan Campbell: Plays in career professional game number 300 Friday against Colorado. Tied with Steve Makway for team lead in assists (12). Tied with Ryan Held for team lead in power play goals (4).
44-Cam Severson: Ranks fourth in the CHL for minor penalties (17).
55-Derek Landmesser: Is tied with Steve Makway for fifth in the CHL for defenseman points with 14.
87-Darrell Stoddard: Leads RiverKings and is fifth in the CHL for penalty minutes (68).
RIVERKINGS TEAM NOTES
Mississippi has not lost had a regulation time loss in the team's last three home games, dating back to November 13th.
Friday night's 4-3 overtime loss at Rapid City marked the second loss by the RiverKings in overtime. Mississippi is 2-0 in shootouts.
In CHL Northern Conference games, the RiverKings have a record of 5-8-2. By contrast, the RiverKings are 4-1-0 in games against the Southern Conference.
The RiverKings average 21.65 penalty minutes per game, including one ten-minute misconduct and four game misconduct penalties.
Mississippi took a league high six major penalties in its 6-1 win over Missouri on November 21st.
RiverKings' 22 shots on goal in the third period of a 4-3 loss to Wichita on October 25th is the most number of shots taken in the final period of a CHL game this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS UPDATE
Entering the week, the RiverKings average 14.5% on the power play and 85.2% on the penalty kill.
Mississippi has scored five shorthanded goals and has allowed one.
Saturday, the RiverKings failed to score in three power play chances. It marked the first time since November 20th that Mississippi had failed to score with the man advantage.
The Rush also failed to score in three power play chances on Saturday. Mississippi has not allowed a power play goal in three of the team's last four appearances, going 1-for-21) in those three games.
RIVERKINGS UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, December 4th vs. Colorado Eagles (7:05 PM Start)
First meeting of the regular season between the RiverKings and Eagles, coached by former Mississippi head coach Kevin McClelland. This will be the only meeting of the regular season for the two teams in Mississippi. The series will continue with a two-game set in Colorado on Friday, February 19th and Saturday, February 20th, both at 8:05 PM Central time. Mississippi won the regular season series with the Eagles 4-1-0 last year, but Colorado won the Northern Conference finals best-of-seven playoff series four games to two.
Sunday, December 6th vs. Missouri Mavericks (3:05 PM Start)
Second meeting of the regular season series between the Mavericks and RiverKings, now led by the RiverKings 1-0-0, after last Saturday's 6-1 victory in Mississippi. The Mavericks will come two more times to Southaven before Mississippi makes its first appearance in Independence in a two-game set on Friday, January 15th and Saturday, January 16th. The two visits to Southaven will come for the Mavericks on Tuesday, December 29th and Friday, January 1st.
Friday, December 11th at Bossier-Shreveport (7:05 PM Start), Saturday, December 12th vs. Bossier-Shreveport (7:05 PM Start)
These are games five and six of the regular season series. The RiverKings have a 1-2-1 record against the Mudbugs this year. Ryan Campbell leads the RiverKings in points against Bossier-Shreveport with four assists. Mississippi's only win of the season series was a 4-1 decision on November 13th in Southaven. Mississippi next plays at Bossier-Shreveport on December 26th and hosts the Mudbugs next on February 9th at 7:05 PM.
IT'S TOUGH IN THEM THAR' HILLS
Last weekend's results in Rapid City dropped the RiverKings record against the Rush in the Black Hills to 1-2-1 this season. Mississippi's only win in Rapid City was on November 7th in a 3-1 victory. The RiverKings won the season series last year, which saw two games in South Dakota and one in Southaven. The RiverKings won 3-1 in Rapid City and 4-0 in Southaven. The Rush took a 3-2 decision in the second of the three games played between the teams last year.
RIVERKINGS POST FIRST WIN AT ALLEN
In the first meeting between the Americans and RiverKings Wednesday night, Mississippi rallied to prevail in Allen, Texas 3-1. Trailing 1-0 after two periods, the RiverKings rallied for its first come-from-behind victory this season. Derek Landmesser's power play goal started the surge, followed by Louis Dumont's game-winning goal and Cam Severson power play goal with just over a minute remaining. Ian Keserich was the winning goaltender with a 39-save effort. Six more games await between the two teams, starting in Mississippi on January 9th.
GOT SOME BULLETS BACK
Mississippi out shot an opponent for the first time in four games Saturday afternoon in Rapid City, edging the Rush on the shot clock by a 30-25 margin. The last time Mississippi had the advantage in shooting offense came last Saturday, November 21st, when the RiverKings had a 28-26 edge in the 6-1 victory at home against Missouri.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
Ryan Campbell has been among the hot players for the RiverKings in the past couple of weeks. Campbell leads the RiverKings in scoring during the team's last five games with two goals and six points. Campbell's goal scoring includes a power play goal, a shorthanded goal, and the first goal of a game, coming in Friday's overtime loss at Rapid City. Bobby Chaumont is the RiverKings' leading goal scorer in the past five games with a total of three, while Matt Pierce has factored in four assists during the team's last quintet of contests. At the goal crease, Ian Keserich played in three of the team's five games and has a 2-0-1 record, a 1.99 goals-against-average, and a save percentage of.938.
NOVEMBER'S GONE
The combination of Ryan Campbell and Ryan Held has led Mississippi's offense during the month of November, which ended with the RiverKings fashioning a record of 5-5-2 for the month. Campbell was the leading scorer for the month with two goals and nine assists. Held was the team's leading scorer with eight goals and a total of ten points. Matt Pierce had the best plus-minus during the month at plus-seven and Adam Smyth had the most penalty minutes with 50. Held and Cam Severson each had two power play goals and two of Held's goals were unassisted tallies. Between the pipes, Ray Jean was 3-5-1 for the month and Ian Keserich was 2-0-1 in November games. Keserich had the better goals-against-average at 1.99 and the better save percentage at.939.
CHANGING 'EM UP
The RiverKings March 11th game against the Mudbugs at Bossier-Shreveport has been moved to March 16th, also at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, LA, and also starting at 7:05 PM.
PLAYER APPEARANCES
You can meet the RiverKings in person in the next couple weeks. There will be a "Meet and Greet" party on December 8th at Windy City Grille in Hernando. RiverKings players will be on hand from 5:30 to 7:30 PM to meet fans and sign autographs. The entire team will also come out for an appearance on Wednesday, December 16th at WiseGuys Pizza, on Highway 51 in Horn Lake, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. This will be another opportunity for RiverKings fans to meet players and sign autographs.
BROADCAST COVERAGE
RiverKings hockey will be heard in the Mid-South this weekend with play-by-play coverage on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM, and weekly reports on Sports 56 and 730 Fox Sports. The Voice of the RiverKings, Bob Bakken, brings the play-by-play coverage of both weekend games, Friday against Colorado and Sunday against Missouri, on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. Pre-game coverage Friday night will be at 6:50 PM and Sunday's pre-game report starts at 2:50 PM. The RiverKings' weekly coaches show airs on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM, live from O'Charley's Restaurant in Southaven, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM Monday nights when the team is not on the road. Bob also hosts a weekly report on 730 Fox Sports, from their Beale Street studios, each Wednesday night following the Chris Vernon Show at 6:00 PM.
RiverKings hockey game coverage is also available through CHL-TV. For more information, click the link on the RiverKings' website and follow the instructions.
TICKETS
Several ticket plans remain to watch RiverKings hockey this season. Pro hockey in the Mid-South is also more fun with a group and you can save money at the same time. For more information about tickets to watch your home-town hockey team in action, call the RiverKings at 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!
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