Barons Weekly Report

Published on November 3, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release


Flashback... The Barons concluded their six-game road trip with three contests on the week. After it was all said and done, the Barons took 8 out of a possible 12 points during the trip. The week's action began in Houston where the Barons suffered their only regulation defeat during the trip. The Calder Cup Champion Aeros defeated the Barons by a 5-1 margin...The Barons were not willing to go quietly as they headed to Hamilton to finish their trek. Having never won a game at Copps Coliseum, the Barons came close on Saturday night. Powered by Christian Ehrhoff and Todd Harvey goals, the Barons took the game into an extra frame. Unfortunately, Hamilton added a goal in OT to leave the Barons winless at Copps. The good news was that Cleveland ensured a successful trip by gaining their 6th point out of a possible 10...The hungry Barons were eager to avenge the overtime defeat and didn't have to wait long as they battled Hamilton on Sunday afternoon. Patrick Rissmiller was all the Barons needed as he scored two goals and added an assist. Dimitri Patzold was impressive as he stopped 23 shots to preserve the Barons 4-2 victory. Patzold started both games against the Bulldogs and fared well. Ryane Clowe and Garrett Stafford added the Barons other goals.

Coming Up... After completing a two-week road trip, the Barons will prepare for some home cooking. On Friday night, the Barons play host to the Toronto Roadrunners for the first time in franchise history. Toronto, an expansion franchise, has gotten off to a slow start with a 2-7-2-0 record. The Barons, with three power play goals in the last two games, will face the Roadrunners fifth best penalty kill unit. Toronto has only allowed five power play goals all season...The Barons will then become reacquainted with their old rival Rochester. The veteran-laden Americans enter the week with a 5-2-1-1 record. With 12 points, Rochester sits in third place of the North Division, but their .667 winning percentage is at the top. In fact, Binghamton is the only AHL team that has a better winning percentage. The Americans have been a bit more vulnerable on the road posting just a 1-1-1-1 record thus far. Rochester has had scoring issues this season only scoring 2.22 goals per game, the sixth lowest mark in the league. Their success has resulted from stellar defense and impenetrable goaltending. Amerks goaltender Ryan Miller has won four games this season in large part to his 1.32 GAA, which is second in the league. The Americans only allow 1.67 goals per game, second best in the league. Meanwhile, the Barons are scoring 3.22 goals per game, the highest total in the league.

It's Great At The Gund... On Friday night, the Barons play host to Toronto. The first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a Barons poster schedule. Also, during an intermission, one lucky fan will be selected to participate in the Harpo's Sports Café Chicken Wing Shootout. The contestant will attempt to make a shot from center ice on an open net to win the entire crowd an order of 12 chicken wings at Harpo's Sports Café.

Saturday will mark the Barons first Kid's Day Matinee games. For $43, fans receive 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot dogs, and a parking pass. For more information, call the Barons front office at 216-420-0000.

Top Barons... Patrick Rissmiller was excellent this week. The 6'4" forward scored three goals and one assist on the week. He has connected on 5 of 12 shots this season. His 41.7% shooting rate is the best in the league... In his first extended look, rookie forward Jon DiSalvatore has been impressive. DiSalvatore assisted on a goal on both Saturday and Sunday. Those assists are the first two points in his professional career...Ryane Clowe has made a smooth transition to professional hockey. The versatile forward has scored in six of the Barons nine games this season. Clowe scored in both games against Hamilton giving him eight points on the season. His eight points are tied for fourth amongst all rookies... Who is Clowe tied with? Amongst others is teammate Garrett Stafford. The defenseman recorded his third multi-point game against Hamilton on Sunday with a goal and an assist. Stafford is also tied for third among all AHL defensemen scorers. His three goals are tied for second most among defensemen and his five assists are tied for fifth...Dimitri Patzold has been another stellar rookie for the Barons. On the week, Patzold posted a 1-1 record with a .950 save percentage and a 2.49 GAA.

Shooting Spree... The Cleveland Barons have made their shots count thus far. The Barons lead the AHL with an impressive 12.4% shooting percentage by connecting on 29 of their 233 shots. With the Barons only averaging 25.89 shots per game, it is doubly impressive that they lead the league with 3.22 goals per game. Patrick Rissmiller has been the flag bearer for the Barons in this department by connecting 41.7% of the time.

Rookie Renegades... The Barons have nine rookie skaters and one rookie goaltender on their roster this season. In addition to two of the rookies in the top 5 of rookie scoring, all nine rookie skaters have recorded their first AHL point.

Out and About... The Barons will hold the second WDOK Breakaway With The Barons on Monday, November 10th at the North Olmsted at 7pm. The WDOK Breakaway With The Barons will feature a one-hour practice session followed by a post-practice skate by the Barons. All kids 14-and-under will receive a complimentary Barons game ticket courtesy of SoftRock 102.1 WDOK. Admission is free to all. The North Olmsted Recreation Center is located on 26000 Lorain Road in North Olmsted. For more information, contact the Barons front office by calling 216-420-0000. Adding to the excitement of "WDOK Breakaway With The Barons" is WDOK's "1-on-1 With The Barons" promotion. Register for your chance to be the lucky player two weeks prior to the event at www.wdok.com . One lucky person will be selected to win the WDOK "1-on-1 With The Barons" for each event.

Barons Player of the Week... The Cleveland Barons Player of the Week is forward Patrick Rissmiller. The second year pro scored 3 goals and 1 assist on the week, to lead the Barons with 4 points in 3 games. Rissmiller scored his three goals on only five shot attempts. Rissmiller was also a +1 on the week.

Up and West... The Sharks are amidst a seven-game stretch that will last 15 days and stretch up and down the Eastern seaboard. It began on Tuesday in Carolina as the Sharks fell to the Hurricanes 3-0... The Sharks then traveled to Tampa Bay to play the undefeated Panthers. In just his second game after being recalled by the Sharks earlier in the week, Niko Dimitrakos added an assist in the 2-2 tie... The trip quickly improved as the Sharks defeated Florida 6-2 on Saturday night. Alyn McCauley recorded his first career hat trick for the Sharks. Former Barons forward Jonathan Cheechoo added two goals as well...The Sharks fourth game of the week came in Atlanta. The Sharks tied 2-2 yet again, gaining a point in three out of four chances... On the season, the Sharks have only won two games. They are still only six points out of first place though, as they have tied 5 times. The Sharks have yet to lose an overtime affair.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2003


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