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BOMBERS HEADED TOWARD KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS

March 18, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Bombers have chance to guarantee first-round home ice advantage this week

BOMBERS LOCK UP FRANCHISE'S 11TH STRAIGHT PLAYOFF BERTH; GAINING HOME-ICE NEXT ON AGENDA: The Dayton Bombers (36-18-12, 84 PTS) went 1-1-1 this past week in a three games-in-three days sequence. Their shootout win against Cincinnati on Friday helped them clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff Berth. The Bombers joined the now-defunct Hampton Roads Admirals (1990-2000) as the only ECHL teams to qualify for playoff competition 11 times and 11 straight seasons. The Bombers, who hold a one-point lead over second-place Peoria in the Northwest Division, can secure home ice in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs this week. The top two teams in each division have home-ice advantage in the first round. The Bombers have a 14-point lead over third place Johnstown. The Chiefs have seven games remaining. The Bombers have their next-to-last "3-in-3" of the season this weekend. Below is a review of this past week's tilts:

3/15/02- Cincinnati 2 @ BOMBERS 3 (SO)- In the debut of winger Jason Sessa, the Bombers topped Cincinnati for their first shootout win against a divisional opponent this season. Sessa became the third Bomber acquired in the days leading up to the trading deadline to score in his first game. He notched a power-play goal in the first period. Brian Cummings scored the other Bombers' regulation goal. Jamie Ling notched his second shootout game-winner of the season.

3/16/02- Atlantic City 6 @ BOMBERS 4- For the first time this season, the Bombers did not pick up at least a point at home when leading after two periods. Atlantic City actually rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win. Down 4-3 entering the third period, the Boardwalk Bullies scored three times in the third. Stefan Rivard scored the game-winner while short-handed, deflecting Luke Curtin's shot past Gregg Naumenko. Jason Sessa scored two more goals for the Bombers (one on the PP) and assisted on Andrew Williamson's goal. Preston Mizzi also tallied for Dayton.

3/17/02- BOMBERS 6 @ Toledo 7 (OT)- The Bombers came back from 4-0 and 6-4 deficits in this game, but defenseman Jeff Wells' second goal of the game 2:48 into overtime lifted Toledo to the win. Chris Thompson scored twice for the Bombers, including the game-tying goal with just 3:01 to play in regulation that forced the extra session. Cory Morgan had a goal and an assist, while Ben Keup, Ryan Vince, and Tom Nemeth (PP) also turned on the red light for the Bombers. The Storm had a 4-0 lead at the 4:30 mark of the first period. But that lead became a distant memory by period's end as the Bombers scored four times in just under eight minutes. Jason Sessa had two assists as the Bombers moved one point ahead of Peoria in the race for first place in the Northwest. The Rivermen were blanked by the Florida Everblades, 2-0, on Sunday evening.

BOMBERS' BITS: F Jason Sessa had a momentous opening weekend for the Bombers, tallying three goals and adding three assists in three games ... F Ryan Vince is a riding a personal season-best five-game point scoring streak. He also has points in seven of his last eight games ... The Bombers are tied for the most home wins (23) and have the fewest home regulation losses (5) in the Northern Conference.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:

Jason Sessa- F
3 GP- 3 G- 3 A- 3 PTS- 0 plus/minus- 2 PPG- 2 FG- 11 shots in team's 1-1-1 week

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:

Gregg Naumenko- G
3 GP- 1-1-1 record- 95 shots- 80 saves- 4.80 GAA- .842 SV PCTG in team's 1-1-1 week

BOMBERS' TRANSACTIONS FOR WEEK:

3/10/02- Delete L.J. Scarpace, G released as emergency backup; Delete Blaine McCauley, D loaned to Syracuse
3/12/02- F Jason Sessa added, returned from Springfield (AHL); F Jonathan Schill deleted, recalled to Syracuse (AHL); F Trevor Ettinger added, returned from Syracuse (AHL); F Trevor Ettinger deleted, placed on 7-day IR
3/13/02- G Gregg Naumenko added, reassigned from Cincinnati (AHL)
3/15/02- D Blaine McCauley added, returned from Syracuse (AHL)

BOMBERS' PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK:

3/18/02- 10:00 a.m. OPTIONAL practice at Nutter Center
3/19/02- 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center
3/20/02- 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center
3/21/02- 10:00 a.m. practice at Nutter Center
3/22/02- 10:00 a.m. practice at Ervin J. Nutter Center; 7:30 p.m. game versus Toledo at Nutter Center
3/23/02- 10:00 a.m. practice at Ervin J. Nutter Center; 4:30 p.m. departure to FirstStar Center; 7:30 p.m. game versus Cincinnati at FirstStar Center; Depart for Dayton after game
3/24/02- 10:00 a.m. or T.B.A. practice at Nutter Center; 6:00 p.m. game at Nutter Center against Peoria Rivermen
(All practice times and locations are subject to change)

BOMBERS' COMMUNITY NEWS:

3/20/02- In an effort organized by Officer Bill Titley of the Fairborn Police Department, students from Wright Elementary School (in Fairborn, OH) will visit the Dayton Bombers' practice from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., bringing bagged lunches and youthful exuberance.

Also on 3/20/02, four Bombers will visit Dayton area McDonalds locations for autograph sessions. Below are the specific locations the Bombers will be visiting:

- 2776 Colonel Glenn Highway (Across from Wright State)- 2 Players. P/(937) 427-0723
- 6398 Brandt Pike (Huber Heights)- 2 Players and Bucky the Mascot. P/(937) 236-3972

THE BOMBERS' GAMES THIS WEEK:

Friday, March 22 vs. Toledo Storm (7:30 p.m.)(7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com) After losing the first game in the head-to-head season series, the Bombers won the next four against the Storm. But they have lost the last four tilts against Toledo. All of the games in the streak have been decided by one goal, including a heart-breaking 2-1 overtime loss at the Nutter Center on February 19 when Kevin Kerr's goal that was clearly kicked in was allowed to stand. The Bombers will also host Toledo in their final regular season game (Sunday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m.). At this game, 2000 Ohio Lottery/Bombers Rally Towels will be given away to fans. In addition, Columbus Blue Jackets' mascot, Stinger, will be in attendance.

Saturday, March 23 at Cincinnati Cyclones (7:30 p.m.)(7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com) The Bombers have yet to win at Cincinnati this season (0-3-2), though they are 4-1-1 in games played at the Nutter Center. In the first season of this thrilling intrastate rivalry, this meeting is the 12th and last one.

Sunday, March 24 vs. Peoria Rivermen (6:00 p.m.)(5:45 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com in association with www.sportsjuice.com) The Bombers will get a chance to avenge a pair of home losses to Peoria on March 8 and March 9 in a pivotal game with first-place at stake. There will be no pre-game skate at the Nutter Center on this date as a result of another event taking place in the facility. The Bombers are 4-2-2 in the overall 2001-2002 season series against Peoria.

OTHER BOMBERS' UPCOMING GAMES/PROMOTIONS
(Mark your calendars!):

Friday, March 29 @ Roanoke (7:30 p.m.) Saturday, March 30 @ Wheeling (7:30 p.m.) Sunday, March 31 vs. Toledo (6:00 p.m.)/ Fan Appreciation Night/Easter Egg Hunt/Pre-Game Skate at 4:00 p.m. With Game Ticket

Tickets for all Bombers home games are available through the Bombers office by calling (937)775-4747, by logging onto www.daytonbombers.com, or by visiting the Nutter Center Box Office.



ECHL Stories from March 18, 2002


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