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Rivermen Game Notes: Fayetteville Marksmen at Peoria Rivermen

February 17, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL) - Peoria Rivermen News Release


LEADERS OF THE PACK

The Rivermen come into play tonight after a 3-2 win over the Marksmen last night to catapult them into first place in the SPHL, one point ahead of Pensacola. The win is Peoria's second in a row and third in their last five games and lifts the Rivermen to 25-10-3 on the season before tonight's rematch with the Marksmen.

THE SERIES SO FAR

Tonight's contest marks the fourth of five meetings this season between the Rivermen and the Marksmen, and the second of three at Carver Arena. The Rivermen made their season's only trip to Fayetteville for a pair of games December 1 & 2, taking a 3-0 win at the Crown Coliseum December 1 before capturing a 6-5 overtime win the following night. After this evening's game, the Rivermen and Marksmen will wrap up their season series tomorrow afternoon with a 3:05 contest at the Peoria Civic Center.

LEAVE YOUR MARK

The Fayetteville Marksmen enter tonight's game at 10-23-6 on the season, currently sitting last in the SPHL standings. The Marksmen enter tonight's tilt riding a five-game winless streak, dropping an overtime contest at Birmingham February 3 before falling in regulation at home against Roanoke last Thursday, at Roanoke last Friday, and at home against Macon on Saturday.

The Marksmen are led in point production this season by veteran center Jake Hauswirth, who has tallied a league-best 48 points, including 20 goals, which is one shy of league leader Dylan Clarke of Evansville. Additionally, veteran Marksmen winger Kyle McNeil has tallied 13 goals and nine assists on the season, while former Peoria winger Dakota Klecha has notched five goals and an assist in eight games since joining the Marksmen via trade. In net, Marksmen goaltender Patrick Spano has gone 2-9-1 for Fayetteville with a 3.91 GAA and an .895 save percentage in 12 games since joining the Marksmen from Knoxville.

GURTS' GOALS

Rivermen winger Mike Gurtler tallied another goal in last night's win over the Marksmen to improve his team-leading total to 16 for the season. Returning to the Rivermen after a one- year retirement, the Rochester, NY native has logged four goals in his last three games, and has tallied 13 assists and a +13 rating, skating in all 38 Rivermen games thus far this year.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB

Last night's game also saw the first professional goal for Rivermen winger Joe McKeown. The Bowling Green State University product also tallied his first pro point with a secondary assist at Macon last Sunday. Through seven games with the Rivermen this season, McKeown has tallied two points and a +1 rating.

WHAT A (HAGA)MAN

Last night's Rivermen win also included a two- assist performance for Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman, marking the Peoria native's first multi- assist outing since January 5 at Mississippi. Now in his fourth pro season, all with the Rivermen, Hagaman has played in 34 games, notching 13 goals and 25 helpers, adding a team-best +21 rating and a team-leading 118 penalty minutes.

SMITTY'S ON FIRE

Last night's Rivermen win included a game- winning goal and an assist for Rivermen forward Will Smith, giving the East Longmeadow, MA native 13 goals and eight assists in 30 games for the Rivermen. Last night mark's Smith's second straight multi-point game and second straight game scoring the game-winner.

WHAT'S ON DECK

After tonight's game, the Rivermen and Marksmen will finish the weekend series with a game Sunday afternoon at Carver Arena. The Rivermen will remain at home to host Huntsville next Friday night before playing at Evansville next Saturday night.


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