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Mississippi RiverKings

Game Day - RiverKings Vs. Dayton Gems

December 11, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


RIVERKINGS RECAP: The Mississippi RiverKings fell to Bossier-Shreveport for the fourth time this season last night, 5-3, in Bossier City, Louisiana. Mississippi let a two-goal deficit slip to the Mudbugs for the second straight time, having taken a 2-0 lead into the second period on a shorthanded goal from Matt Miller and a tip-in goal from Chris Richards in the first period. Bossier-Shreveport reeled off five straight goals to evaporate the RiverKings' lead before Patrik Levesque scored with 2:38 remaining for the final result. Alexander Pechurskiy stopped 27 shots, but was scored on five times to see his season record with the RiverKings fall to 5-4-0.

OPPOSING VIEWPOINT: The Dayton Gems visit the DeSoto Civic Center in the first game ever between the RiverKings and the former IHL franchise. A couple of familiar faces to RiverKings fans are on the Dayton roster, as defenseman Nathan Schwartzbauer played last season for the RiverKings, and Tom Boudreau was in the team's training camp in 2007 and 2008. Dayton is coming off a loss at Bloomington last night, 5-2, in the first game of a five-game road trip. Mississippi will not visit Ohio this season, but the Gems return for a two-game series January 21-22 and will also be in Mississippi on March 10th.

RIVERKINGS SPECIAL TEAMS: Mississippi failed to score on the power play last night on three opportunities. The RiverKings are 5-for-27 (18.51%) in the team's last five games and are 17.42% for the season (23-132), which is 10th best in the CHL. The RiverKings allowed two power play goals to Bossier-Shreveport last night in six chances. Mississippi is 5-for-28 on the penalty kill in its last five contests (82.14%) and for the year ranks eighth in the CHL for penalty killing at 83.21% (22-of-131).

THAT'S A FOUL ON YOU: Mississippi remains one of the most penalized teams in the Central Hockey League, having been tagged for a league-leading 646 PIMS this season. The RiverKings also lead the CHL in majors (36), game misconducts (11), and match penalties (1). The RiverKings average a league-leading 29.36 penalty minutes per game this year.

AS THE RECORD TURN(ER)S... Mississippi has a winning record against the Turner Conference this season at 7-5-0, while the RiverKings are just 3-6-1 in games against its own Berry Conference this season.

AGAINST THE IHL: The RiverKings bring a 2-3-0 mark against the five new teams from the old International Hockey League into tonight's contest. Dayton is the third team of the quintet to meet Mississippi in their first CHL season. The RiverKings will play its first game against Bloomington in a home-and-home set December 21st (home) and 22nd (away). Fort Wayne will be final former IHL team to play the RiverKings for the first time in Indiana on December 29th.

THIS SUMMERS' BEEN A GOOD ONE: RiverKings forward Matt Summers climaxed a successful week this past Monday by being named the Oakley CHL Player of the Week. His honor came after he scored a three-goal, natural hat-trick in last Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Wichita Thunder in Southaven. The hat-trick came exactly one year to the day of Louis Dumont's four-goal third period outburst against Colorado that led to the RiverKings' 6-3 comeback victory over the Eagles.

POWER PLAY POINT LEADERS: Forward Chris Richards is tied for the Central Hockey League lead in power play goals with six. Forward Jeff Christian ranks second in the CHL for power play assists with eleven.

POINTS FROM THE POINT: Defenseman Nathan Lutz ranks second in the CHL for points from the blue line with 19. Lutz is tied for fourth in the league for power play goals scored with four and is tied (with teammate Derek Landmesser and Odessa's Phillipe Plante) for third in power play assists with eight.

YOU'RE A GOOD, BAD BOY: Since coming to the RiverKings in a trade from Quad City, forward Patrik Levesque has impacted the scoreboard, but also is visiting the penalty box frequently. Levesque has scored five times and has six points with the RiverKings, but also has taken 23 penalty minutes in his six meetings with Mississippi this season. He has scored four goals in his last three games, tied for the second-longest active goal scoring streak in the CHL. He also is tied for the longest active penalty minute streak in the league entering tonight's game.

A STERLING GUNSLINGER: Despite being tagged with the shootout loss in Friday night's game at Tulsa, goaltender Larry Sterling's performance vaulted him into a tie for third in the CHL for shootout save percentage at .833 (10 saves, 12 attempts).

SENDING THE FANS HOME HAPPY: Mississippi has now won three straight home games, a streak dating back to November 27th, which is the fifth longest active home winning streak in the Central Hockey League.

NOTABLES: While successful at home in recent games, Mississippi's four-game non-winning streak on the road is tied for the longest stretch of road non-success in the CHL. Patrik Levesque has 4 goals, 6 points, and 23 penalty minutes in his last three games. Matt Summers has 7 points in his last four games. Defenseman Andrew Lackner is two games short of 200 career CHL games played. Brian Ihnacak played in career professional contest number 100 last night. The number includes one season in the ECHL and two years in Slovakia.

OFFICIALLY SPEAKING: Tonight's referee is Boone Bruggman. Linesmen are Bill McGoldrick and Kai Magnussen.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Tonight is the annual RiverKings Teddy Bear Toss night. Fans are encouraged to bring new teddy bears or other stuffed animals and toss them on the ice when the RiverKings score their first goal. All donated bears/stuffed animals will be collected and donated to the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program.

Entergy's The Power To Care program is the night's non-profit MVP and fans can help in funding the energy bill payment assistance program through your local Entergy office or on the Entergy web site.

Tonight is also Season Ticket Redemption Night for season ticket holders and there will be a post-game skate on the ice after the contest is completed.

Sunday, fans are invited to join the RiverKings at the RiverKings Fan Club Christmas party. Hours of this event are from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Kooky Canuck in downtown Memphis, just across the street from the Peabody Hotel. The $20/person charge covers food and refreshment (non-alcoholic) as fans can join the players and coach Kevin Kaminski in celebrating the Christmas season. For more information, call the RiverKings offices or email RiverKingsFanClub@att.net.

Tuesday, December 14th, members of the RiverKings will be on hand for a Christmas "Meet and Greet" at Pecan Grove Apartments in Walls. The complex is located at 7320 State Highway 161 North, north of Goodman Road in Walls. Hours for the Meet and Greet are from 6-8 PM. For more information on Pecan Grove Apartments, log onto the Pecan Grove Apartments web site.

Also that day, the RiverKings will be involved in a RadioThon for Toys For Tots on the team's flagship station, Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. The RadioThon will take place during the entire day, from 6 AM to 6 PM from Humdinger's Restaurant, at Poplar and Massey in Memphis. The RiverKings' portion of the event will be during the Sportsbar afternoon program during the 3:00 PM hour of the show. Team members will make an appearance on the program and help in raising support for the Toys For Tots program.

For RiverKings ticket information, call 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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