Sports stats

Bomber Face Cyclones in "Ice-75" Playoff Series

April 1, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


"ICE-75" ECHL PLAYOFF SERIES TO BEGIN THIS WEDNESDAY AT THE NUTTER CENTER: The Dayton Bombers (40-20-12, 92 PTS) clinched their first-ever division title with a 5-0 win during Fan Appreciation Night at the Nutter Center on Easter Sunday. With the triumph, the Bombers also set the stage for a best-of-five, Northwest Division Semifinal series against their intrastate rivals, the Cincinnati Cyclones, who captured the 4th seed in the Northwest Division as a result of a 4-3 home shootout victory over the Wheeling Nailers on Sunday afternoon. Below is a schedule of the "Ice-75" Series set to commence this Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) with Game One at the Ervin J. Nutter Center:

ECHL NORTHWEST DIVISION SEMIFINAL- "THE ICE-75 SERIES"

DAYTON BOMBERS (#1 seed) VS. CINCINNATI CYCLONES (#4 seed)

[CALL (937) 775-4747 or VISIT THE NUTTER CENTER BOX OFFICE FOR TICKET INFO]

Game 1- @ Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. (6:45 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com)

Game 2- @ FirstStar Center in Cincinnati on Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. (7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com)

Game 3- @ Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. (7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com)

Game 4 (if necessary)- @ FirstStar Center in Cincinnati on Monday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. (7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com)

Game 5 (if necessary)- @ Ervin J. Nutter Center in Dayton on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. (6:45 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com)

PLAYOFF NOTES: Dayton and Cincinnati teams have met previously in the East Coast Hockey League Playoffs. After the 1991-92 regular season, the Dayton Bombers, a first-year franchise, lost to a previous incarnation of the Cincinnati Cyclones three games-to-none in a best-of-five, West Division First Round Series. This series represents the first playoff head-to-head match-up since the Cyclones' reentry in the league just prior to this season ... The Bombers were 4-5-3 against the Cyclones during the regular season (4-1-1 on home ice; 0-4-2 at the FirstStar Center) ... C Preston Mizzi was the Bombers' top goal- and point-scorer against the Cyclones (4-6-10- +4- 3 PP- 1 GW- 2 FG) in the 12-game, regular season series ... F Allan Egeland had the most points and assists against the Bombers among Cyclones' players (1-8-9 in 12 contests) ... G Gregg Naumenko was 2-1-2 with a 1.55 goals against average, a shutout, and a .948 save percentage against the Cyclones in five head-to-head meetings this season ... Bombers' all-time playoff leaders of note: Most Playoff Games- Tom Nemeth (18), Most Goals- Tom Nemeth (Tied for first with 6), Most Assists- Jamie Ling (11), Most Points- Jamie Ling (15).

THE BOMBERS' INAUGURAL 2002 "MEDIA/FAN PLAYOFF PUSH":

4/02/02 (Tues., 7:30-8:30 p.m.)- Get behind your Dayton Bombers at the inaugural 2002 "Media/Fan Playoff Push" at Bargos Grill and Tap (588 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in Centerville, OH- On 725 East Across from Adventure Golf in the Krispin's Shopping Center- 433-2500) on Tuesday, April 2 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Fans are welcome to arrive early!!!). The Push will feature Bombers Head Coach Greg Ireland, Director of Hockey Operations John McNamara, GM Ed Gingher, Bucky the Mascot, and select Bombers players in a press conference-type setting. All three local TV stations are expected to have sportscasters in attendance. Bombers' primary beat writer Marc Katz of the Dayton Daily News is also expected to attend this event held on the eve of the post-season.

BOMBERS CLAIM FIRST-EVER DIVISION TITLE WITH 2-1 WEEKEND: The Dayton Bombers went 2-1 in their final "3-in-3" this past weekend. Not only did the Bombers clinch the franchise's first division title in its 11-season ECHL history, but they also carved their niche in the Bombers' record book as a result of their 26-5-5 mark at the Nutter Center this season. Below is a recap of this past weekend's tilts, including the division clincher on Sunday:

3/29/02- BOMBERS 4 @ Roanoke 2- The Bombers dominated the Express for the first two periods, outshooting them 30-12. In the third, Tom Nemeth broke a 2-2 tie with a slap shot goal (following a Fred Slukynsky faceoff win) at 4:56. Mike Vellinga added an insurance goal later in the stanza, while Cory Morgan and Ryan Vince also tallied for the Bombers, who snapped a five-game road winless streak (0-3-2) with the team-effort victory.

3/30/02- BOMBERS 0 @ Wheeling 3- On the strength of first period goals by Kurt Drummond and Dylan Gyori, the Nailers, needing a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, topped the Bombers 3-0 at the HammerDome in Wheeling. Gyori also added an empty-netter for Wheeling, while goalie Tyler MacKay stopped 31 shots in head coach John Brophy's 1000th career professional coaching win. The Bombers' Northwest Division Title celebration was put off one more day.

3/31/02- Toledo 0 @ BOMBERS 5- For the second time this season, rookie goalie Karl Goehring blanked the opposition, this time with a 19-save effort at the Nutter Center to lift the Bombers to their first-ever division title in the franchise's 11-season history. Jason Sessa scored two more goals for the Bombers, while Bill McCauley and Ryan Vince contributed a goal and an assist each. Andrew Williamson, an ex-Storm player, was given credit with the game-winner as a result of a first period score. The Bombers recorded their Northern Conference-best 26th home win, matching the franchise record set last season. They also finished the regular season with 57 home points, breaking the mark of 55 originally set in the 1994-1995 campaign. In addition, the Bombers finished the regular season with five home regulation losses, the fewest in the Northern Conference and second-fewest in the league.

BOMBERS' BITS: F Jason Sessa has nine goals and three assists in just eight games played with his new team. He has had four, two-goal efforts ... F Preston Mizzi finished the regular season with a point in five straight Bombers' games (2-4-6) and points in seven of eight ... F Ryan Vince finished the regular season with points in 10 of 11 and in 12 of his last 14 games (7-6-13) ... G Gregg Naumenko finished the regular season with a 7-1-1 mark in his last nine decisions.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:

Ryan Vince- F
2 G- 1 A- 3 PTS- +3- 12 shots in team's 2-1 week

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:

Karl Goehring- G
1-1 record- 1 shutout- 49 shots- 47 saves- 1.01 GAA- .959 SV PCTG in team's 2-1 week

PLAYER/ROOKIE OF THE MONTH (MARCH) NOMINATION:

Ryan Vince- F
15 GP- 7 G- 8 A- 15 PTS- +12 (Plus or even in each game)- 1 GWG- 37 shots in team's 8-5-2 month

GOALTENDER OF THE MONTH (MARCH) NOMINATION:

Gregg Naumenko- G
7 GP- 5 W- 1 L- 1 OT L- 195 shots- 173 saves- 3.09 GAA- .887 SPCTG in team's 8-5-2 month

BOMBERS' TRANSACTIONS FOR WEEK:

3/26/02- G Gregg Naumenko deleted, recalled to Cincinnati (AHL); F Preston Mizzi deleted, recalled to Syracuse (AHL); F Brian Cummings deleted, recalled to Syracuse (AHL)
3/27/02- G Gregg Naumenko added, assigned from Cincinnati (AHL)
3/29/02- D Chris Wismer added, activated from IR
3/30/02- G Gregg Naumenko deleted, recalled to Cincinnati (AHL); G Marc Kielkucki added, returned from Cleveland (AHL)

BOMBERS' PRACTICE/ITINERARY THIS WEEK:

4/1/02- (Mon.) NO SKATE
4/2/02- (Tue.) 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center
4/3/02- (Wed.) 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center; 7:00 p.m. game vs. Cincinnati (Game One) at Nutter Center
4/4/02- (Thur.) 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center
4/5/02- (Fri.) 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center; 4:30 p.m. departure for FirstStar Center in Cincinnati; 7:30 p.m. game (Game Two) at FirstStar Center in Cincinnati; Depart for Dayton after game
4/6/02- (Sat.) 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center; 7:30 p.m. game vs. Cincinnati (Game Three) at Nutter Center
4/7/02- (Sun.) T.B.A.
(All practice times and locations are subject to change)



ECHL Stories from April 1, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Dayton Bombers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central