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Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Game Notes: Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs at Peoria Rivermen

April 7, 2018 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


JUST KEEP WINNING, BABY

The Rivermen come into tonight's regular season finale against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs after capturing a 6-1 win over the Dawgs last night, Peoria's sixth win in their last seven games. With a win tonight, Peoria can tie the SPHL single- season records for most wins and points in a regular season, previously set by the 2015-16 Rivermen.

THE SERIES SO FAR

Tonight's contest marks the fifth and final clash this year between the Rivermen and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, and the last of three games scheduled at Carver Arena. The Rail Yard Dawgs fell 6-1 in Peoria on December 23, which was Roanoke's second game under newly minted head coach Dan Bremner. The teams then did not see each other until last weekend, when the Rivermen captured a pair of games at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, 2-1 last Friday and 5-2 on Saturday, with the former clinching Peoria's third regular season championship in the last four seasons.

WHO LET THE DAWGS OUT

The Rail Yard Dawgs enter play tonight locked into an eighth-place finish in the SPHL standings, currently 25-26-4, including a 20-15-2 mark since former Peoria captain Dan Bremner took over the coaching reins in late December.

Offensively this season, the Dawgs have been paced by center Steve Mele, who has tallied team-highs with 22 goals, 36 assists, and 58 total points in 55 games this season. Roanoke has gotten an additional 15 goals in 34 games from winger Colin Murray, including a power-play tally for Roanoke's lone marker last night, while winger Riley Spraggs has notched 16 goals and 12 assists in 48 games for the Dawgs this season.

In net, Roanoke has been led by former Mississippi RiverKings goaltender Brad Barone, who has gone 14-15-2 in net for Roanoke with one shutout to his name, a 2.99 goals-against average, and a .915 save percentage over 35 contests for the Dawgs.

WHAT A (HAGA)MAN

Last night's 6-1 Rivermen win over the Rail Yard Dawgs included a two-goal, three-point performance for Rivermen winger Alec Hagaman, giving the Peoria native 26 goals and 61 total points on the season, both of which mark team and career bests. With his first goal last night, Hagaman became the first Rivermen to top the 25-goal plateau since former teammate Garrett Vermeersch netted 27 goals in the 2013- 14 season. This year, Hagaman leads all SPHL skaters with a +37 rating, and his 35 assists trail only team captain Dave Pszenyczny among all Rivermen.

BIG BEN STRIKES EIGHT

Last night's game also featured a goal an an assist for Rivermen defenseman Ben Oskroba, giving the veteran blueliner a new career high with eight goals for the season, and tying his previous career best with 19 points on the year. In 212 career regular-season SPHL games, all with the Rivermen, Oskroba has registered 18 goals and 49 assists, adding a +48 career rating.

KILLER KALISZ

Last night's game also saw a goal and an assist for Rivermen winger Joe Kalisz, giving the second- year pro a goal in each of his last three games. For the season, Kalisz has tallied 10 goals and seven helpers in 26 games since joining the Rivermen via a January trade with Fayetteville, where he registered six goals and assisted on three others over the span of 25 games.

WHAT'S ON DECK

After tonight's game, the Rivermen will partake in the SPHL's first ever Challenge Round Selection show, where Peoria will become the first team in history to select their postseason opponent. The Rivermen will host a watch party for the Challenge Round Selection Show at Carver Arena's Coke Lobby, beginning at 5:30 PM CDT.

The show, which begins at 6:30, will also be streamed through thesphl.com.

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