Bombers Post Pair of Overtime Victories

January 13, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


The Dayton Bombers Professional Hockey Team (14-20-7) upped its overtime record to 4-2 with a couple of extra-session wins this past weekend against Northwest Division foes. The pair of OT triumphs marked the second time this season that the Bombers won consecutive games (they had a previous three-game streak from 11/3-11/9).

Below is a review of this past weekend's Bombers' East Coast Hockey League contests:

1/10/03- Cincinnati 5 @ BOMBERS 3

Despite outshooting the Cyclones 45-22, the Bombers fell 5-3 on the strength of a three-goal Cincinnati second period. The Bombers' "FRED-TV" forward unit consisting of Chris M. Thompson (2-1-3), Ryan Vince (1-2-3), and Fred Slukynsky (0-2-2) combined for eight points in the hockey game, but Mike Casselman's two goals, including one with just two seconds left in the second period turned out to be the difference. Jeff Mercer, Greg Labenski (PP), and Evan Cheverie (SH) also tallied for Cincinnati.

1/11/03- BOMBERS 4 @ Cincinnati 3 (OT)

Ryan Vince's individual effort goal 3:31 into sudden-death overtime helped the Dayton Bombers author a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones at the US Bank Arena to snap the team's five-game (0-4-1) winless skid. Defenseman Mike Vellinga sprung Vince forward with a head-man pass. Vince sped around forward Mike Casselman, who was defending on the play, and slipped a shot past goalie Marc Kielkucki to lift the Bombers to their third overtime win this season. The Bombers, trailing 3-2, tied the game with the goalie pulled in the waning stages of the game. Tom Nemeth's point shot hit defenseman Jason Crain in between the two face-off circles. Crain turned, settled the puck on his stick, and fired a shot past Kielkucki to even the score with under 18 seconds remaining. Crain was knocked to the ice right after the goal as his teammates celebrated. Wes Blevins and Nick Bootland scored goals 1:39 apart early in the third to help Cincinnati erase a 2-1 deficit and give it a 3-2 lead. Torrey DiRoberto's goal on a 2-on-1 with 2:06 remaining in the second period had broken a one-all tie. DiRoberto had teammate Ben Knopp with him as he crossed the Cincinnati line, but deked the defender himself, and sent a shot past goalkeeper Marc Kielkucki to give the Bombers a 2-1 edge. The Bombers had tied the score at one 8:24 into the second with the man advantage. Fred Slukynsky sent the puck back to Vellinga at the right point. Vellinga's shot was stopped by Kielkucki, but Doug Nolan, who was positioned in the left circle, sent the rebound into a wide open net for the conversion for his second goal of the season. Ryan Gaucher scored a first period power play goal for Cincinnati.

1/12/03- Johnstown 3 @ BOMBERS 4 (OT)

Jason Crain sent a slap shot past goalie Peter Aubry at 2:11 of overtime to lift the Dayton Bombers to their second consecutive extra session win, a 4-3 triumph over the Johnstown Chiefs at the Nutter Center. Crain, whose tying score while the Bombers had the goalie pulled paved the way for the team's 4-3 overtime victory at Cincinnati on Saturday, received a cross-ice pass from Mike Vellinga, and fired the Bombers' 60th shot on goal into the net. Sixty shots matches an ECHL single-game team high this season. The Bombers never trailed in the contest. Ryan Vince netted his third goal in as many games at 7:01 of the first period. Tom Nemeth's centering pass glanced off Aubry to the slot, where Vince was able to connect for his team-leading 16th goal of the season. Nemeth's slap shot tally while the Bombers were on the power play gave his team a 2-0 lead at 14:25. The goal was his team-leading fifth while with the man advantage. Dominic Forget's pair of goals helped Johnstown tie the score at two goals apiece, but Ben Knopp converted Torrey DiRoberto's centering feed at 4:01 of the third period, moments after Knopp was denied on a point-blank opportunity. J.F. Boutin snuck a power play shot between goalie Shane Bendera's pad and the right goal post at 11:55 of the third to knot the game at three, but the Bombers would prevail in overtime, seconds following the expiration of a Johnstown penalty. Chris M. Thompson finished with two assists for the Bombers, who outshot Johnstown 60-16. Eleven of the shots were by Tom Nemeth.

BOMBER BITES: The Bombers now have a Fraser (D Brad Fraser) and a Crain (D Jason Crain) on their roster. They do not have a "Roz," a "Norm," or a "Peterson," however ... The Bombers have outshot their opponents 278-168 in the last seven games and now lead the East Coast Hockey League in shots on goal (1406) through Sunday ... The Bombers have allowed the fewest shots per game in the ECHL (28.85) through Sunday's play ... The Bombers' 60 shots on goal in Sunday's home win vs. Johnstown matched the ECHL single-game, team season high set by Greensboro 12/21/02. The 60 shots were three shy of matching the Bombers' all-time single game home shots on goal standard (63 shots; 3/11/95 vs. the Columbus Chill) and four shy of matching the Bombers' all-time single game (overall) shots on goal benchmark (64 shots; 2/8/92 @ the Nashville Knights) ... Ryan Vince has points in 18 of his last 20 games (14-11-25) and goals in his last three games. He leads the team in goals (16), plus/minus (+4), and first goals (5). He is tied for the team lead in game-winners (2- both overtime game-deciders) and points (34) ... Defenseman Jason Crain (2-1-3, GWG), Vince (3-2-5, 2 FG, 1 GW/OT), and Chris M. Thompson (2-4-6, PP) had points in all three of the Bombers' weekend games ...Defenseman Tom Nemeth's 11 shots on goal Sunday marked the most in a game by a Bombers' player this season. Through Sunday, Nemeth is second in defenseman shots (140) behind Cincinnati's Ryan Gaucher (157) ... Goalie Shane Bendera is eighth in ECHL goals-against average through Sunday's action (2.59) ... For the first time since 11/28 and 11/29, winger Torrey DiRoberto had points in consecutive games for the Bombers 1/11 and 1/12. His 2-on-1 score Saturday at Cincinnati snapped eight-game goalless and pointless streaks ... W Chris M. Thompson leads the Bombers in multi-point games (9) and power play points (3-11-14) ... Defenseman Mike Vellinga has had a hand in some timely goals for the Bombers this season. Of his two goals, both have won games. He also leads the Bombers with five game-winning assists. He has had the primary (first assist) assist on three of the Bombers' four overtime game-winners (Vellinga was out with an injury when the Bombers' topped Atlantic City 5-4 in overtime on home ice 12/22).

PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:

CHRIS M. THOMPSON- Forward

3 games- 2 goals- 4 assists- 6 points- +2 plus/minus- 1 power play goal- 16 total shots in team's 2-1 weekend

GOALIE OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:

SHANE BENDERA- Goalie

2 games- 2 wins- no losses- 41 shots- 35 aves- 2.92 goals-against average- .854 save percentage in team's 2-1 weekend

BOMBERS' TRANSACTIONS FOR WEEK:

01/03/2003 Add JASON DESKINS (C) added to roster

01/10/2003 Add BEN KNOPP (RW) assigned from Syracuse (AHL)

01/10/2003 Add BRAD FRASER (D) added to roster)

01/10/2003 Delete ROBERT FAIL (D) placed on 7-day IR)

01/10/2003 Delete CHRIS WISMER (D) traded to Florida for cash

BOMBERS' PRACTICE SCHEDULE/ITINERARY FOR THIS WEEK:

Monday, January 13, 2003- 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. optional practice at Ervin J. Nutter Center)

Tuesday, January 14, 2003- 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. practice at Sportstown in Centerville, Ohio)

Wednesday, January 15, 2003- 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. practice at Sportstown in Centerville, Ohio)

Thursday, January 16, 2003- 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. practice at Sportstown in Centerville, Ohio

Friday, January 17, 2003- 2:00 p.m. departure for Toledo, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. game at Toledo Sports Arena against Toledo Storm; Depart for Wheeling, West Virginia after the game

Saturday, January 18, 2003- Arrive in Wheeling early in a.m.; 7:30 p.m. game at Wheeling Civic Center against Wheeling Nailers; Depart for Dayton after the game.

Sunday, January 19, 2003- T.B.A. for pre-game skate; 6:00 p.m. game at Nutter Center against Johnstown Chiefs

BOMBERS' COMMUNITY APPEARANCE SCHEDULE:

Monday, January 13, 2003- Defensemen Chris B. Thompson and Richard Paul will be instructing kids at a Youth Hockey Skate held at the Kettering Rec Ice Arena from 6:20 p.m.-7:15 p.m.

Monday, January 14, 2003- Goalie Andrew Allen will be speaking to kids at a graduation held at the Five Points Elementary School located in Fairborn, Ohio from 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

BOMBERS' UPCOMING GAMES THIS WEEK:

Friday, January 17, 2003 @ Toledo Storm (7:30 p.m./7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com)

The Bombers will hope to extend their winning streak to three at this tilt in Toledo. The Bombers have posted both of their shutout wins against Toledo on home ice, but fell 4-1 in the only game played at the Sports Arena this season (10/19). Goalie Andrew Allen made 37 saves for the Bombers, despite the setback.

Saturday, January 18, 2003 @ Wheeling Nailers (7:30 p.m./7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com)

The Bombers are 4-2 against Wheeling this season and have posted a pair of one-goal wins (3-2 OT win on 11/3; 2-1 regulation triumph on 12/13) in the two games played at the HammerDome. Defenseman Mike Vellinga has recorded both of his goals (both game-winners) against the Nailers and assisted on Ryan Vince's deflection overtime goal in Wheeling on November 3.

Sunday, January 19, 2003 vs. Johnstown Chiefs (6:00 p.m.)

At another Kids' Club Sunday presented by Capn' Bogey's, the Bombers will entertain the Chiefs for the second consecutive Sunday. The Bombers have recorded two games of over 50 shots in games played at the Nutter Center against Johnstown. On both occasions, Peter Aubry was the Chiefs' netminder. The Bombers beat Aubry and his Chiefs 4-3 in overtime this past Sunday. There will once again be a pre-game skate from 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

OTHER BOMBERS' UPCOMING GAMES:

Friday, January 24, 2003 vs. Toledo Storm (7:30 p.m.)- Beach Party Night sponsored by Ultimate Tan at corner of Stroop & Wilmington (behind Blockbuster Video); Intermission Tanning Contest for $500 prize. Register at Ultimate Tan for the Ultimate "Tan"-ning Contest. Ultimate Tan offers the new "speed system" tanning beds in addition to a huge assortment of lotions including "Australian Gold" and "Swedish Beauty." Purchase a tanning package at Ultimate Tan and your first 100 minutes are free. Students can get in for $5 with a valid Student ID. Also, Wright-Patt Credit Union will be presenting a post-game concert by Wild Stuff. Beer is just $1 and margaritas on the rocks are just $2.

Saturday, January 25, 2003 @ Johnstown Chiefs (7:30 p.m./7:15 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com)

Friday, January 31, 2003 vs. Mississippi Sea Wolves (7:30 p.m.)- "Single Source News" Singles Night

Saturday, February 1, 2003 vs. Roanoke Express (7:30 p.m.)

Sunday, February 2, 2003 vs. Trenton Titans (6:00 p.m.) The Bombers will have another Kids' Club Sunday Presented by Capn' Bogey's at the Ervin J. Nutter Center. There will be a free pre-game skate from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Friday, February 7, 2003 vs. Lexington Men O'War (7:30 p.m.)- Mardi Gras Night

Saturday, February 8, 2003 vs. Cincinnati Cyclones (7:30 p.m.)- Boy Scout Night

Sunday, February 9, 2003 @ Toledo Storm (3:00 p.m./2:45 p.m. broadcast time on www.daytonbombers.com)

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



ECHL Stories from January 13, 2003


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