CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Aucoin's two goals help RiverKings to eighth straight win

Published on January 19, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN --- Phil Aucoin scored two goals while all star Travis Banga added a goal and two assists in the RiverKings' 5-4 win over the Odessa Jackalopes Friday night at the DeSoto Civic Center. The win was the RiverKings' eighth in a row and their 25th of the season. The win also kept Memphis 10 points ahead of Bossier-Shreveport in the Northeast Division race. The Mudbugs also won Friday night, 3-2 in Youngstown. The RiverKings and Jackalopes play again tomorrow afternoon at 2pm at the DCC. The first 1,000 fans 12 and under will receive a Memphis Wings youth jersey.

In the first period, Odessa struck early as Nathan Ward scored at 1:33. Memphis got on the board by taking advantage of a power play when Brad Wanchulak took advantage of a rebound off of a Jason Sessa shot. Wanchulak's backhand effort over Odessa netminder Mike Gorman at 7:03 of the first was his third of the season. The game remained tied at one until Andrew Davis slipped a wrist shot past RiverKings goalie Larry Sterling on the power play at 17:02.

The only goal of the second period came on a Travis Banga power play tally. Banga received a perfect weak-side feed from point-man Steve Makway for his 20th of the season exactly at 10:00 of the period to tie the game at two.

The RiverKings came out of the locker room after the second intermission with a purpose, and that was to grab control of the game. The goal that gave the RiverKings their first lead came off the stick of Phil Aucoin. Ryan Campbell created a turnover at center ice, tipped it ahead to Banga, who then fed Aucoin as he was going to the net. Aucoin seemed to have the puck tipped away by an Odessa defender, but then at the last moment, tipped it past Gorman.

Then, just 2:09 later, Derek Campbell used a wrist shot to score his 11th of the season and give Memphis a two goal lead. The Campbell marker was started by a nice play by defenseman Will Bodine as held the zone at the point with the puck going over his head. Bodine sent the puck toward the net, where it was tipped by Ryan Held to Campbell.

Odessa scored less than four minutes later to cut the lead to 4-3. Aucoin's second of the night at 14:40 of the third proved to be the game winner and was a back-hand that he surprised Gorman with after Aucoin carried the puck out from behind the net. Odessa would cut the lead to the final margin of one as Brian Swiniarski scored on the power play at 16:17.

All star goalie Larry Sterling won his CHL leading 23rd game after stopping 23 of 27 shots. The RiverKings outshot the Jackalopes 32-27 and went 2 for 8 on the power play. All star defenseman Derek Landmessser added to his lead in defensive scoring and defensive assists with a pair of helpers to raise his totals to 42 and 34,respectively. The win also improved the RiverKings' record in one goal games to 14-1-3.

The RiverKings won the game despite being two men short on the roster. Jason Tessier was placed on the 14 day IR earlier in the day, while Darrell Stoddard missed the game because of the birth of his son Caden earlier in the day.

Besides the youth jersey giveaway for tomorrow's 2pm game, the RiverKings themselves will be wearing classic red and white Memphis Wings retro jerseys during the game. These uniforms will look just like the dark jerseys worn by the Memphis Wings of the old CHL when they played three seasons at the Mid South Coliseum from 1964-1967. Following the game, the jerseys will be auctioned to fans to benefit charity.

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A RiverKings game is even more fun when you come as a group. Groups of 15 or more save up to 30% on the box office rate, plus every person in the group receives a player mini bobblehead. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.

RiverKings Single-Game Tickets for all 2006-2007 home games are on sale now at the DeSoto Civic Center box office and at all TicketMaster locations and at ticketmaster.com.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Friday, January 12 --- Cellular South Darrell Stoddard Mini Bobbleheads to first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate; Friday, January 19 --- RiverKings Drawstring Backpacks to the first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate, Saturday, January 20 --- Memphis Wings Youth Jersey to first 1,000 fans 12 and younger

After every RiverKings home game, the party heads to the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Airways in Southaven, the official Post Game Hang-Out of the RiverKings.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2007


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