Bombers Weekly

December 23, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Overall Record: 16-9-1-2 (35 pts.) Week of 12.15.08 Record: 1-1-0-0

Streak: Won 1

Standings: 3rd Place, North Division

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Friday vs. Cincinnati (L, 5-4)

Saturday vs. Cincinnati (W, 5-4)

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS

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

**$5 Kids Silver Level tickets at the box office

** Stanley Cup on Display - Pictures available with $5 donation to Kyle Cannon Fund

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

**Team Poster Giveaway to the first 2,000 fans

**Stanley Cup on Display - Pictures available with $5 donation to Kyle Cannon Fund

Sunday vs. Wheeling (5:00 pm) @ the E.J. Nutter Center

**Kyle Cannon Fundraiser Night: silent auction featuring NHL, AHL and ECHL memorabilia with proceeds benefitting Cannon family

**Clowns, face painting, giant inflatable and slapshot cage on Mountain Dew Flight Deck

**Extended one-hour post-game skate with the team

BOMBERS NOTES

HOCKEY COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER: The Bombers will host a fundraiser for Kyle Cannon, the 14-year-old Toledo native who 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. Area youth hockey players and figure skaters have been selling tickets throughout the community, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the Cannons. For more information visit https://webmarkservices.com/kyle.html.

BUT THAT'S THEIR PROMO: On the eve of "Beat Dayton Night" the Cincinnati Cyclones rolled into town on Friday and defeated the Bombers 5-4. Jumping out to a 5-1 lead after two periods, the Cyclones looked poised to run away with the game. Les Reaney had scored the lone goal for the Bombers in the first period, assisted by Dan Riedel and Joe Van Culin.

Van Culin extended his assist streak to six games on the play. However, the Bombers came out in the third period with fire, scoring three goals in the final ten minutes of play. Mike Looby, Danny LaPointe and Dominic D'Amour netted goals to fuel the comeback, but it would not be enough. Mike McLean finished the night with a pair of assists for his third multi-point game of the month. Netminder Paul Drew went 24 of 29 to drop his first game in regulation this season.

SWEET REDEMPTION: The Cincinnati Cyclones hosted "Beat Dayton Night" on Saturday at US Bank Arena, but the Bombers had plans of their own, defeating the Cyclones 5-4 in a shootout. Dayton took a 1-0 lead in the closing minute of the first period when Mike McLean scored his 10th of the year from Danny LaPointe and Greg Labenski. Then again in the final minute of the second the Bombers increased their lead to 2-0 as Dominic D'Amour picked up his second goal in as many games, this time with a 5 on 3 advantage. He was assisted by Les Reaney and Labenski.

The Cyclones were not to be forgotten, however, and came out roaring in the third, scoring four straight goals. Yet with less than four minutes remaining in regulation Labenski cut the lead to one on another 5 on 3 goal, this time with help from Joe Van Culin and D'Amour. Taking a gamble and pulling goalie Paul Drew in the closing minute, Jarret Lukin pushed in the game tying goal from McLean and Justin Bowers. After a scoreless overtime, the Bombers netted 2 of 5 shots in the shootout (Bowers and LaPointe), while Drew held the Cyclones to just one goal on five attempts for the win.

ON A ROLL: Defenseman Joe Van Culin has an eight game point streak and seven game assist streak heading into the Christmas break. He's tallied at least one point in each of the Bombers games in December and is top scoring d-man on the team. He ranks 7th in the league in defensive scoring and has the third most assists amongst blue liners.

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS: Mike McLean has nine points in his last five games, all coming in multi-point performances. He netted his tenth goal of the season on Saturday night while also picking up an assist against the Cyclones. McLean has totaled eight multi-point games this season.

LIKE OLD TIMES: Team captain Greg Labenski had four points last week between two games against Cincinnati. On Saturday night Labenski had his first three point game of the season, and first since the Bombers' 2006-07 campaign. The defenseman currently ranks 11th in the league in scoring amongst blue liners and leads them in power play goals with 4.

BOUNCING BACK: Since returning from an injury, Les Reaney has gone on a bit of a tear for the Bombers. He's on a three-game point streak, with a goal and two assists in the timeframe.

TALK ABOUT CLUTCH: With time expiring and the game on the line, Jarret Lukin netted the game-tying goal to force overtime in Cincinnati on Saturday night. The goal was Lukin's fifth of the month (8 games), and 11th of the season. He had six goals in 16 games in November.

GAME WINNER: Danny LaPointe played hero on Saturday night, netting the game winning goal in the shootout against the Cyclones. LaPointe had already picked up an assist earlier in the game. He's had six points in his last six games(3g,3a).

RECOVERY: Goaltender Paul Drew bounced back from Friday night's loss to defeat the Cyclones on Saturday while making a career high 47 saves. He was also 4 of 5 in his first ever shootout. Drew stands at 7-1-1-0 on the year.

CARDIAC KIDS: The Bombers improved to 10-2-1-2 in one-goal games after dropping Friday's contest 5-4 and winning on Saturday 5-4 in a shootout. Helping the cause is the Bombers' finesse for last minute goals, as evident by their third period scoring advantage - 36-24 - over their opponents.

FIRST THING'S FIRST: While it doesn't happen much, the Bombers are 6-0-1-0 when scoring first. They're also a perfect 7-0-0 when leading after the first period.

MILESTONES: The following Bombers players are approaching career milestones: Dan Riedel - 5 goals shy of 50 career goals and 6 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 - 19

Points: Justin Bowers - 28

PIM: Brock Wilson - 51

LOOK OUT BELOW!

LORD STANLEY: The Stanley Cup will be in Dayton on Friday and Saturday as part of the Kyle Cannon fundraising event the Bombers will host this weekend. Fans may get their picture taken with the cup for a requested $5 minimum donation to the Kyle Cannon Fund.

FIVE DOLLAR FRIDAY'S: This Friday 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.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Bombers practices are below:

Tuesday: Off

Wednesday: Off

Thursday: Off

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 23, 2008


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