Bombers Weekly News
March 2, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release
BOMBERS NOTES
HEARTBREAKER: The Bombers dropped a back-and-forth game against the Elmira Jackals 6-5 on Wednesday night. Ryan Smyth and Justin Bowers scored in the first period, but each goal was met by an Elmira score as well. The Jackals took an early lead in the second, but Matt Auffrey was there to tie it up. In the third, Jarret Lukin regained the lead for the home team, but Elmira fired in three straight goals to take away the win. A late goal by Nino Musitelli merely cut the deficit. Bowers and Musitelli each added two assists on the night, while Lukin and Justin Chwedoruk had two points each. David Shantz was 36 of 42 for the loss.
BACK IN THE GAME: Hitting the road for the first of six away games, the Bombers defeated the Wheeling Nailers 4-2 on Friday night. Les Reaney had two goals and Joe Van Culin had a pair of assists to lead the team, while Ryan Smyth and Andrew Fournier each added goals. Paul Drew, in net for the Bombers, went 28 of 30 and also stopped a Nailers penalty shot.
TWICE IS NICE: Winning for the second straight night, the Bombers took down the Reading Royals 5-3 on Saturday night at the Sovereign Center. Newly acquired forwards Matt Auffrey, with two goals, and Andrew Fournier, tallying a goal and two assists, led the team to the victory. Jim Henkemeyer added two points (1g,1a), as did Les Reaney (2a). Paul Drew won his second game in as many nights after stopping 23 of 26 Reading shots. The Bombers were a perfect 9 of 9 on the penalty kill.
MIRROR IMAGES: The tables were turned on the Bombers as Reading took home a 6-2 win on Sunday afternoon. Despite opening the game with a power play goal by Jim Henkemeyer, the Royals netted six straight goals before Dayton could answer back. Justin Chwedoruk scored his 11th goal of the year, assisted by Logan Bittle and Britt Dougherty to close the game. David Shantz, who stopped a Reading penalty shot in the first period, was 35 of 41 for the loss.
ANOTHER NEW FACE: The Bombers signed forward Logan Bittle on Saturday. The rookie from Peoria, Illinois, played four seasons at Robert Morris University before turning pro this season. He's logged 30 games with the Jersey Rockhoppers of the EPHL, recording 44 points (20g,24a). Bittle had an assist in each of his first two games with the Bombers last week.
ANOTHER CALL-UP: Center Jarret Lukin was loaned to the Rochester Americans, the "AAA" affiliate of the Florida Panthers, on Saturday. It was his first career promotion. Lukin appeared in each of the Americans' games over the weekend, picking up an assist in each contest. He has 20 goals and 23 assists for the Bombers this season. Lukin's call up came just one day after forward Justin Bowers was loaned to the Quad City Flames, the affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames.
DREW DOES IT: Paul Drew backstopped a pair of games last week, emerging with a 2-0-0 record and a 2.50 GAA. He was a combined 51 of 56, for a .911 save percentage. The rookie netminder also denied a penalty shot against Wheeling's leading goal scorer, Bryan Ewing, on Friday night. It was the third penalty shot Drew has faced this season, and he's a perfect 3 of 3.
A NEW LEADER EMERGES: With 13 points in his last 13 games, rookie Nino Musitelli has emerged as the new active leader in points, goals and assists for the Bombers. The forward tallied his 40th point of the season with an assist in Sunday's game. His 12 points (5g,7a) in February were also a team high.
MILESTONES: The following Bombers players are approaching career milestones: Kelly Perrault - 1 assist shy of 300 career assists...Jarret Lukin - 3 points shy of 100 career points...Justin Bowers - 3 points shy of 50 career points
COUNTDOWN TO 300: Bombers captain Greg Labenski is 6 games shy of 300 career games in a Dayton Bombers uniform
TEAM LEADERS: The following active Bombers lead the team in these statistical categories:
Goals: Nino Musitelli - 16
Assists: Christian Gaudet & Nino Musitelli - 24
Points: Nino Musitelli - 40
PIM: Greg Labenski - 96
LOOK OUT BELOW!
SPEAK YOUR MIND: The Bombers are asking their supporters in the Miami Valley to sign a petition in support of a new downtown arena. Please visit http://www.downtowndaytonarena.com/ to sign the petition. Your signature will go a long way to help quantify the level of support for our proposed multipurpose facility.
ON THE AIR: Catch up with the Bombers on Mark Schlemmer's show on WONE 980AM on Thursday from 5:20-5:40 p.m. as Matt Auffrey and Greg Labenski call into the studio from Elmira. Call in questions to (937) 457-WONE or email questions to 980wone@gmail.com.
HALL OF FAME NIGHT: The Dayton Hockey Hall of Fame will host their annual induction dinner and auction on Saturday, March 14 during the Bombers game against the Elmira Jackals. Tickets for Saturday's induction dinner, hosted pre-game in the Berry Room, will be on sale at the Booster Club table by Gate 9 on March 13. The silent auction will take place throughout the game on the 14th on the concourse of the Nutter Center.
WHAT'S COMING UP: Been dying to get your hands on a game-worn red Bombers jersey? How about a Troy Bruins throwback sweater? Or do you just want to go on the ice to meet the team and collect autographs? All of these are possible during the Bombers upcoming games. Check out the promotional calendar at http://www.daytonbombers.com/TICKETS/PROMOTIONS for a complete list of upcoming promotions.
OUT AND ABOUT: The Bombers will be out and about in the community at the following events: Bucky will be at Lang's Chevrolet on Saturday for their annual car show at 10:00 a.m.; Brock Wilson and Joe Van Culin will be reading to kids at the Primrose School in Centerville on Monday, March 9; David Shantz, Ryan Smyth and Christian Gaudet will be skating at Kettering Rec from 7:30 to 8:30 on Wednesday, March 11; Logan Bittle and Andrew Fournier will be reading to kids at the Kitty Hawk after-school program at WPAFB on Thursday, March 12
DID YOU CATCH IT?: In case you missed WDTN Channel 2's exclusive 4-part series "Beyond the Boards" featuring Bombers enforcer Britt Dougherty, check out the clips plus special bonus footage online at http://www.wdtn.com/subindex/sports. Each segment focuses on a different aspect of being a professional hockey player, from the road trips to off-days.
TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets for each Dayton Bombers home game are on sale at the Nutter Center box office or any Ticketmaster outlet, including www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting the Bombers at (937) 775-4747. Full and partial season tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Bombers office.
ECHL Stories from March 2, 2009
- Weekly Arrowhead - Johnstown Chiefs
- $1 Tickets for High School/College Students this Wednesday - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors continue winning ways over weekend - Bakersfield Condors
- Off The Hook: Steelheads Update - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads. Cool. Period. Green. Period. - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Defending Champs Lead Tight North Race - ECHL
- Thunder 3-1-0 In Last 4, Host "Easy Being Green" - Stockton Thunder
- Phoenix Continues Playoff Drive with a Three-Game Week at Home - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Roach Loaned to Quad City - Elmira Jackals
- Reading Royals Weekly - Reading Royals
- Devils lose to Nailers three times in the week, head south this weekend - Trenton Devils
- Grizzlies Head For California As Trip Continues - Utah Grizzlies
- Bombers Weekly News - Dayton Bombers
- Sea Wolves Weekly - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- First Place Cyclones Hit Road This Week - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
- Rays Earn Four Points Last Week - South Carolina Stingrays
- Bus Trip to Charlotte Update - Columbia Inferno
- Unlikely Hat Trick Leads to Aces Comeback Win - Alaska Aces
- Condors keep rolling with 4-3 shootout win - Bakersfield Condors
- Grizzlies Fall 4-3 In Alaska - Utah Grizzlies
- Wranglers Edged By Condors 4-3 In a Shootout - Las Vegas Wranglers
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.
