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Peoria Rivermen

Grand Rapids Takes Game One From Rivermen

October 3, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


PEORIA, IL - On the same day that the St. Louis Blues came back to beat the Detroit Red Wings for the second straight game, their American Hockey League affiliates flipped sides as the Grand Rapids Griffins bested the Peoria Rivermen 3-1 at Carver Arena in their opening game of the 2009-10 season. Two goals in a span of just under three minutes erased Peoria's 1-0 lead before the end of the second period.

A crowd of 5,520 was on hand for the first regular season action in Peoria since April 11, when the Rivermen beat the Griffins 5-2 before heading into the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Ryan Reaves was the source of the season's first goal after tapping in a loose puck at 6:32 of the first period to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead. Cam Paddock took a long-distance feed from Jonas Junland and cut to the goal on a sharp angle. His move brought netminder Thomas McCollum out of his crease but the puck was left alone just inches away from the goal line until Reaves rushed to the net and pushed it home.

Despite being outshot 12-5 in the first, the Rivermen lead held until 11:58 of the second. Andy Delmore, in his first game in North America since the 2006-07 season, wristed a shot from the point that maneuvered through a maze of traffic in front of the net and past Hannu Toivonen to tie the game.

Even McGrath notched the eventual game-winner at 14:52, converting on a two-one-one with Francis Pare.

The only goal of the third period was Dick Axelsson's empty-netter with 3 seconds to play but that doesn't mean the period was without action. The Rivermen outshot the Griffins 13-4 in the final frame to draw the final differential to 28-24 in Grand Rapids favor. Peoria's best chance to score came with just under 2 minutes left in the game with Danny Richmond setup to tie the game in the bottom of the left circle. With McCollum out of commission, Delmore made a sliding block that kept the Griffins in the lead.

McCollum finished with 23 saves in his professional debut. At just 20-years-old, the Detroit Red Wings first round pick (#30 overall) in 2008 spent last year in the Ontario Hockey League and represented the United States in the 2009 World Junior Championships.

Toivonen, who's toughest work came in the first period, made 25 saves in his first AHL game since April 2008.

It was the first of eight meetings between the Rivermen and Grand Rapids who next meet on Nov. 28. The Rivermen head back to work on Sunday with 3 p.m. matchup against the Rockford IceHogs. It will be the ‘Hogs first regular season game of the year.

It is the first Comcast/Journal Star/Fun on the Run/Coke Family Day of the season. All kids tickets (12 and under) in the upper bowl will be available for just $1 PLUS hot dogs, chips and cokes will be sold for $1 from 2-3 p.m. Balloon animals, face painting and inflatable games will be set up in the Great Hall of the Peoria Civic Center. Tickets are available at the Civic Center box office, by calling the Rivermen at (309) 676-1040 or online at www.rivermen.net.

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