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Bombers Weekly News

February 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Overall Record: 23-19-5-5 56 pts.

Week of 2.18.08 Record: 1-0-1-0

Streak: 2-0-1-1

Standings: 4th Place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Thursday, February 21 at Cincinnati (OTL, 3-2)

Saturday, February 23 vs. Johnstown @ Hobart Arena (W, 4-2)

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

Friday, February 29 at Elmira (7:35 p.m.)

Saturday, March 1 at Elmira (7:35 p.m.)

Sunday, March 2 at Reading (5:05 p.m.)

BOMBERS NOTES

REMEMBER THIS OLD BARN?: The Bombers played the Johnstown Chiefs at the historic Hobart Arena in Troy on Saturday night and came away with a 4-2 victory. Just like the previous contest at Hobart, the Bombers scored early and often, netting three first period goals. Corey LeClair scored his first goal as a Bomber, his third of the season, with help from Ryan Smyth. Less than two minutes later Smyth broke away for his first shorthanded tally of the season. Ryan Reid capped off the period with his fourth goal of the season from LeClair and Brad Bonello. The offense kept at it in the second, firing 15 shots on goal, but were unable to land the puck in the net. Mike Walsh sealed the game with an empty netter in the closing minute. Rejean Beauchemin earned the win after stopping 37 of 39 Chiefs shots. The last time these two teams faced off in Troy was back in December when the Bombers dismantled the Chiefs 8-3 behind Matt Beaudoin's five-point performance, including a first period hat trick. Yannick Tifu also had five assists, tying a career mark. The Bombers are now 6-2-0-1 against the Chiefs and 4-0-0 at home.

GETTING NASTY IN THE ‘NATI: The Bombers drove through a level 2 snow emergency on Thursday and started their game against the Cincinnati Cyclones a half hour late only to push the game into overtime against the North Division leaders. The Bombers lit the lamp first as Masahito Nishiwaki netted his 12th goal of the season from Ryan MacGregor and Ryan Smyth to take a 1-0 lead after the first period. While the Cyclones came back to tie the game in the second, it was the Bombers who again struck first in the final frame when Mike Walsh hammered the puck past Maxime Daigneault on the power play. It was Walsh's first power play goal of the year. Matt Beaudoin and Greg Labenski earned helpers on the goal. However, the Cyclones answered in the closing minutes of the period. Cincinnati fired a game high 21 shots in the third at Dayton netminder Jeremy Duchesne but managed just one goal to head into overtime. It looked as though the teams would head into a shootout but with a mere 12 seconds remaining, Mathieu Aubin scored the game winning goal on the power play. Duchesne finished with 46 saves in the contest.

REJ ROCKS: Bombers netminder Rejean Beauchemin is on a hot streak, going 3-1-0 in his last 4 starts with a 1.73 goals against average and a .951 save percentage. Beauchemin also picked up his second shutout of the season in that time frame, a 1-0 win over Trenton on February 9. His stellar performances led to his nomination for Goalie of the Week for February 11-17, and he was named a runner-up for the award.

EXTRA ICE TIME: The Bombers went into their 13th overtime/shootout game of the season on Thursday at Cincinnati. It was the team's third straight game that needed extra time, having taken their last two contests into shootouts. The team has earned 16 points out of those 13 "extra innings" this season.

GOING DOWN FIGHTING: When backstopping games in February, Jeremy Duchesne has refused to go down without a fight. The rookie has not dropped a game in regulation in any of his 4 starts this month and has posted a 1-0-1-2 record. Thus far, Duchesne has a 1.88 GAA and .943 save percentage in February. He is 3-1-0-1 against Johnstown this season with a shutout and a win in the 8-3 decision at Hobart on December 15.

CALL HIM BUTTER: While Matt Beaudoin had a four game goal streak disrupted on Thursday night in Cincinnati, he picked up assists in both that game and on Saturday against Johnstown to continue his point streak, now at six games. In that time Beaudoin has netted 6 goals and tallied 3 assists. On a side note, his assist to Mike Walsh was his 28th power play point of the season, ranking third among rookies.

THE WEEK OF RYAN: Thank goodness that hockey players go by nicknames or the Bombers would be in trouble. With the addition of Ryan MacGregor last Thursday, Dayton got its third Ryan on the team. Along with Ryan Reid and Ryan Smyth, the "Ryans" combined for 5 points in the Bombers last two games. Smyth and MacGregor teamed up for assists to Masahito Nishiwaki on Thursday, while Smyth had a goal and a helper on Saturday night and Reid netted a goal as well.

MORE ON SMYTH: Rookie Ryan Smyth has six points in his last seven games, including three points in his last two games. Saturday's contest against Johnstown was Smyth's 5th multi-point game of the season. A first for the forward: his unassisted shorthanded goal on Saturday night was his first of the year (the team's 8th).

GET THE PARTY STARTED: Bombers rookie Masahito Nishiwaki netted his third goal in four games against the Cyclones this week. Two of the Kushiro, Japan, native's three goals have been the first of the game. Ironically, his last opening goal came on February 13, also against Cincinnati.

WHAT A BUZZ KILL: The Bombers were 13/14 on the penalty kill last week, a 93% efficiency rating. While they held the Cincinnati Cyclones to just 1 power play goal on 4 chances, the Bombers killed all 10 opportunities the Johnstown Chiefs had. Those 10 power play opportunities tied a Bombers season high as the team set a new season high in PIM with 54.

MILESTONES: Here is a list of Bombers who are the verge of career ECHL milestones:

Brad Bonello: 2 goals shy of 50 career goals

Mike Walsh: 1 game shy of 100 games played

Corey LeClair: 7 games shy of 150 games played

Yannick Tifu: 9 goals shy of 50 career goals

LOOK OUT BELOW!

ROAD TRIPPIN': The Bombers hit the pavement this week for a seven-game road trip. Kicking off the series is back-to-back games in Elmira on Friday and Saturday, then a quick stop in Reading on Sunday before the team heads south. Next week the Bombers face South Division foes South Carolina, Charlotte (twice) and Columbia.

LUCK OF THE BOMBERS: Hockey returns to the Nutter Center on Friday, March 14 as the Bombers take on the Trenton Devils for the first of two meetings between the teams that weekend. The Devils stick around for another game on Saturday, March 15 and the Cyclones come for a visit on Sunday, March 16. The Bombers are celebrating St. Patrick's Day all weekend long with specialty jerseys and green beer! The game-worn jerseys will be up for auction on Saturday night after the game (and available for pick up on Sunday after the game). Sunday will also be Player Trading Card Set #4 Giveaway, including #3 Britt Dougherty, #7 Mike Campaner, #23 Alex Greig and #30 Rejean Beauchemin.

IS IT 2008-09 YET?: Season tickets for the 2008-09 Bombers 18th Anniversary season are on sale now! Renew your seats today with a $50 deposit per seat. New season ticket information is available in the Bombers office or by contacting Dan or Alex at (937) 775-4747.

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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.

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