Bombers Weekly Update

December 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


DAYTON BOMBERS WEEKLY UPDATE

Overall Record: 15-8-1-2 (33 pts.)

Week of 12.8.08 Record: 2-1-0-0

Streak: Won 2

Standings: 3rd Place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday vs. Reading (L, 5-4)

Friday vs. Charlotte (W, 4-3)

Sunday vs. Charlotte (W, 3-2)

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

Friday vs. Cincinnati (7:30 pm) @ the E.J. Nutter Center and on WONE 980AM

**$5 Kids Silver Level Tickets (12 and under only) at the Nutter Center box office (day of the game only)

**FREE Pre-Game Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Saturday at Cincinnati (7:30 pm) @ US Bank Arena, available on B2 Networks

BOMBERS NOTES

HOCKEY COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER: The Bombers will host a fundraiser for Kyle Cannon, the 14-year-old Toledo native that was paralyzed at a high school tournament in Dayton over Thanksgiving weekend, on Sunday, December 28 when they take on the Wheeling Nailers. With the help of professional, college and junior hockey teams throughout the country, a silent auction of memorabilia will be held at the game with 100% of the proceeds going to the Cannon family.

THE WEEK THAT WAS: The Bombers scored a trio of goals in the second period but could not overcome a 4-0 lead built by the Reading Royals on Wednesday night, eventually falling 5-4. Mike McLean had a pair of goals in the game and Joe Van Culin tallied three assists, while Justin Bowers had two assists. Tyler Plante, who made his ninth straight start, was 24 of 29 on the night. The Bombers finished 3 of 8 on the power play and 6 of 8 on the penalty kill... Forward Mike McLean scored his second goal of the game, and third point, to hand the Bombers a 4-3 victory over the visiting Charlotte Checkers on Friday night. It was McLean's second straight two-goal game and sixth multi-point game of the season. Danny LaPointe and Justin Bowers also finished with two points. Paul Drew, making his first start since November 22, saved 21 of 24 shots to earn his fifth win of the year...On Sunday the Bombers completed their sweep of the Checkers with a 3-2 win. Ryan Smyth netted the game winner midway through the third period for his seventh goal of the season. Also scoring for the Bombers were Dan Riedel (assisted by Jarret Lukin and Nino Musitelli) and Justin Bowers, from Joe Van Culin.

HOW THE SOUTH WAS WON: After defeating the visiting Charlotte Checkers on Friday and Sunday the Bombers improved their record against South Division teams to 4-1-1-0. Dayton will face just one more South Division team this season when the South Carolina Stingrays come to town on February 18.

HE'S BAAAAACK: Goalie Paul Drew started his first game since November 22 on Friday night against Charlotte and continued his winning ways. With victories on Friday and Sunday, Drew improved to 6-0-1-0 this season with a cumulative 2.71 GAA and .896 save percentage. His goals against average would rank 15th in the league, but Drew is about 15 minutes shy of total playing time to qualify for ranking.

STILL ON TOP: With a three-game point streak last week and two straight two-assist nights, Justin Bowers moved up to the 12th in scoring in the league. He currently sits third amongst rookies in scoring and leads all first-year players with 18 assists. Friday was Bowers' 8th multi-point game of the season.

CAREER NIGHT: Defenseman Joe Van Culin had a career high three assists on Wednesday night. He's currently the Bombers top scoring defenseman and sits in the league's top 5. Van Culin has 3 goals and 14 assists on the year, which is third best amongst d-men.

FINISH STRONG: As evident by last week's late game winning goals, the Bombers do some of their best work in the third period. Over the last three games the Bombers scored five goals in the final frame! The team is outscoring opponents 31-20 in the third.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: When finishing in 1-goal games, the Bombers are 9-1-1-2. Each of the three games the Bombers played last week were decided by just one goal, and two of the three games weren't decided until the third period.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Bombers have improved to 7-5-0-2 at home this season with two wins last week. The team has an 18.2% power play average on home ice and 80.6% penalty kill when playing in the Miami Valley.

LETS GO STREAKING: Jarret Lukin is riding a five-game point streak, in which he's picked up four goals and two assists. Lukin's home point streak of 10 games dates back to November 15. Defenseman Joe Van Culin has a 6-game point streak (1g, 7a) and 5-game assist streak (7a).

MILE MARKER: Following Friday night's three-point performance, Mike McLean surpassed 50 career points. He stands with 20 goals and 31 assists since going pro in 2006-07. On Sunday Jarret Lukin tallied his 50th career assist on a goal by Dan Riedel.

MILESTONES: The following Bombers players are approaching career milestones: Dan Riedel - 5 goals shy of 50 career goals and 8 assists shy of 50 career assists

TEAM LEADERS: The following Bombers lead the team in these statistical categories:

Goals: Dan Riedel - 12

Assists: Justin Bowers - 18

Points: Justin Bowers - 27

PIM: Greg Labenski & Brock Wilson - 44

LOOK OUT BELOW!

CHANGE OF PLANS: The Bombers schedule has been revised by the ECHL following the loss of the Augusta Lynx this season. While no dates in the Bombers schedule have changed, the Bombers have new opponents for three games. On January 30 and 31, the Bombers will face the Cincinnati Cyclones instead of Augusta. Then on February 18, the Cyclones have been replaced by the South Carolina Stingrays.

GRADUATION DAY: Former Dayton Bomber Philippe Dupuis made his National Hockey League debut on Friday night with the Colorado Avalanche. Dupuis skated with the Bombers in 2006-07 and picked up 15 post-season points on the way to the 2007 American Conference championship. He joins Tyler Sloan as the second former Bomber to graduate to the NHL this season, and 24th overall.

THANK YOU FANS: The Bombers would like to thank all of the generous fans who helped make the canned food drive, teddy bear toss and Toys for Tots drive a major success. More than 1,400 pounds of food was collected during the Thanksgiving holiday for The Foodbank, Inc. Then more than 1,000 stuffed animals flew to the ice on December 6, benefitting Dayton Children's hospital and local police and fire departments. Finally, the US Marine Corps collected toys last Saturday for needy children throughout Dayton. Thank you all for your generosity this holiday season!

TRUE DEDICATION: Bomber's mascot Bucky, the Flying Squirrel, attended the dedication of the Habitat for Humanity house that the Bombers helped to build in October on Thursday, December 11. See pictures of the event at www.daytonbombers.com and click on "Photo Galleries".

FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY'S: Every Friday in December kids 12 and under can get Silver level tickets for just $5 at the Nutter Center box office on the day of the game only. The remaining games are December 19 and 26.

HOCKEY TALK: Tune in to 980AM WONE with Mark Schlemmer on Thursday from 5:00-6:00 pm as Bombers players Paul Drew and Brock Wilson and Bombers staff will be on the air discussing the team's upcoming games. Fans can call in to the station at (937) 457-WONE or email questions to 980wone@gmail.com.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Bombers practices are below:

Tuesday: Kettering Rec 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Wednesday: Kettering Rec 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Thursday: Nutter Center 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Friday: Game Day

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.



ECHL Stories from December 15, 2008


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.

OurSports Central