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Peoria Rivermen

1st-Period Explosion Leads to Rivermen Victory

February 28, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA - The Peoria Rivermen lit the goal lamp five times in the opening period and didn't look back in a 6-3 win over the Fayetteville FireAntz on Saturday night at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen scored twice in the first three minutes, opening the scoring just 1:49 into the game when Josh Harris tapped a loose puck home deep in the slot on assists from Mike Gurtler and Ryan Raven, then 2:58 into the contest on a wrister from the left circle by Alec Hagaman assisted by Matt Summers and Alex Hudson. The hosts entered the first intermission up 5-0 on three more goals in the final three minutes of the opening chapter, from Steve Morra on a back-door feed from Summers and Garrett Vermeersch at 17:26, from Harris in the slot from Gurtler and Hagaman just 16 seconds later, and from Gurtler at the left post with 1:06 remaining on assists from Harris and Nick Schneider.

The FireAntz tallied just 1:40 into the second period when Jan Safar found a loose puck at the doorstep that he buried on assists from Corey Tamblyn and Matt Robertson. The Rivermen answered on a power play on a wrist shot from the slot by Cole Ruwe with 5:55 showing in the middle period assisted by Harris and goalie Kyle Rank, but the FireAntz answered 1:02 later on a power play when Robertson scored during a flurry with helpers given to Tamblyn and Jan Safar to cut the Peoria lead to 6-2 at the second intermission.

Fayetteville tallied with 10:20 left in regulation when Josh McQuade scored on a sharp angle from the left side on a power play, assisted by Randy Cameron and Zach Carriveau to slice their deficit to 6-3 for the night's final score.

Rank earned his league-leading 23rd win in net with 27 saves. Jordan Tibbett took the loss with 32 stops. The Rivermen were 2-for-2 on power plays while the FireAntz scored twice on six power plays.

The largest Peoria hockey crowd in two years, 7,018, turned out for the contest with Blackhawks-themed jerseys and special guest Blackhawks great Bobby Hull.

The Rivermen remain on top of the Southern Professional Hockey League standings by seven points with a record of 30-14-3 for 63 points. The FireAntz are four points out of a playoff spot as they stay in seventh place with a record of 19-18-7 for 45 points.

The Rivermen conclude the weekend with their final Peoria Journal Star Family Fun Day in connection with Sunday's 3:05 face-off. Kids 12 and under are admitted for as low as $1 and kids meals (hot dog, chips, drink) are $3 each. The Family Fun Zone in the Great Hall from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. features Fun on the Run inflatables, Unique Twist and the Twisting Crew balloon creations and Wild Style Design face painting. All ages are invited to skate with the Rivermen after the game. Rivermen games can be heard inside Carver Arena on 93.7 FM and online at www.rivermen.net. Subscription video is available via SPHLLive.com. Sunday's broadcast begins at 2:45.

Single game tickets for Peoria's 33rd season of professional hockey are on sale weekdays at the Peoria Civic Center. Season ticket packages and group ticket options for the 2015-16 campaign are on sale now through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook ( www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen).

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