Backes Collects First NHL Point Debut with Blues
December 19, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, Ill. (December 19, 2006) - Rookie right wing David Backes netted his first National Hockey League (NHL) point, an assist, in his first NHL shift with the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday in the team's 4-1 road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Backes was recalled from the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, earlier in the day.
On the goal, Backes, 22, fought the puck free in the right-wing corner of the Penguins zone, getting it to right wing Radek Dvorak. Dvorak set up center Doug Weight for the team's first tally 44 seconds into the game. Backes - the 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of Blaine, Minnesota - played 10:13 over 15 shifts and also finished with a +1 plus/minus for the contest.
Backes, selected by the Blues in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, tallied 11 points (9g, 2a) in 27 games for the Rivermen to open the season. He is second on the team with seven power play goals behind the team's leading scorer, center Trent Whitfield.
On Friday, December 22, the Rivermen host the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7:30 p.m. It is a Coca-Cola/Insight Date Night. Fans may receive two (2) Upper Bowl tickets, two (2) Cokes and a tub of popcorn for just $25. The team will also commemorate the 1990-91 Rivermen International Hockey League (IHL) Turner Cup Championship and the still-world-record, 18-game professional winning streak by wearing replica 1990-91 replica jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Children's Hospital of Illinois. U.S. Cellular's 25 Greatest Rivermen of All-Time continues with Steve Tuttle cards to the first 2,500 fans.
American Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2006
- Backes Collects First NHL Point Debut with Blues - Peoria Rivermen
- Penguins acquire Brookbank from Boston, Assigned to Wilkes-Barre - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Flames Recall Moss and Boyd From Knights - Abbotsford Heat
- Amerk players receive first NHL recalls of the season - Rochester Americans
- Callahan to Rangers, Ozolinsh joins Pack - Connecticut Whale
- Knights Host A Weekend Just For Kids - Abbotsford Heat
- Fukufuji Returns To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Griffins Celebrate Holidays at Home - Grand Rapids Griffins
- San Jose recalls goaltender Dimitri Patzold from Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- Rookie Backes Recalled by St. Louis Blues - Peoria Rivermen
- Crunch Announce Details of Time Warner Cable 'Buy One, Get One Free' Night - Syracuse Crunch
- Sound Tigers Spread Holiday Cheer - Bridgeport Islanders
- Day nine of Rampage 12-Days of Giving - San Antonio Rampage
- Reid to Join Canada at Spengler Cup - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage weekly - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose snag five of eight in Texas - Manitoba Moose
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
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