CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Bonello, Beech Earn Weekly League honors

Published on November 10, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


(Southaven, MS) -- The Central Hockey League today announced that Mississippi RiverKings forward Brad Bonello and goaltender Kevin Beech have each received weekly honors from the league for their play in the past week.

Bonello has received the Oakley CHL Player of the Week Award, while Beech was selected the winner of the Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Both players are received Oakley sunglasses in recognition of their achievement.

Bonello joined the RiverKings earlier in the season after a trade brought him to Mississippi from the Texas Brahmas, and he has paid dividends since then. In the five games he has played for the team since the trade, the Brampton, Ontario native has scored points in all but one contest and the team has been 3-2-0 since the trade. The 5-9, 162 pound forward is currently on a three-game point streak, where he has scored five goals and added two assists in those three appearances.

Last weekend, Bonello scored four red-lighters and added his two helpers, as the RiverKings beat the Rocky Mountain Rage at home 5-2 Friday, November 7th, followed by a road win at Wichita, 6-2, on Saturday, November 8th. His first goal on Saturday came on the power play and became the eventual game-winner, his second game clincher of the season with Mississippi.

Bonello scored the second and the final goal of the game in Friday's victory over Rocky Mountain. He also assisted on the eventual game-winner of that contest.

Mississippi Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Kaminski says Brad has been a great addition to the team. "He has come here with a great attitude, work ethic and has jelled nicely with (Louis) Dumont and (Garrett) Larson. Not only does Brad have a knack for the net, he has been playing with grit and finishing every check which has created turnovers to provide them with the scoring chances and crashing the net hard. When you do that, you get rewarded."

Beech has played all but one of the RiverKings' nine games of the season, posting a 5-3-0 record between the pipes. Friday night, the 6-3, 170 pound native of Brantford, Ontario stopped 25 of 27 Rage shots on goal in the RiverKings' 5-2 victory, and followed that with a 19-save, two-goal performance in Saturday's win at Wichita.

For the year, Beech is tied for second in the CHL in appearances with eight and is second in minutes played with 483. He's also tied for second in victories with five and is fourth in the CHL in saves with 195.

Kaminski says Beech is making the key plays when called upon. "Beecher has played very solid for us. Even though we haven't given up many shots, he has made the timely or key save when we needed it."

The RiverKings play three games this week, traveling first to Bossier-Shreveport on Wednesday, November 12th for their third meeting of the season against the Mudbugs. Friday and Saturday nights, the RiverKings will host the Oklahoma City Blazers in a two-game home series at the DeSoto Civic Center, beginning at 7:05 PM.

Friday night will feature the "Battle of the Banks" with donations of non-perishable food items being accepted that night for the local Food Bank. Fans may also drop off food items at participating area banks during the week and receive a voucher for special "2-for-1" ticket offer from the RiverKings for the Friday night game.

Saturday night is the annual "Teddy Bear Toss," in support of Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marine Corps. The RiverKings are challenging our fans to bring as many teddy bears as possible to the game to throw on the ice when the RiverKings score their first goal! The goal is for our fans to provide from 4,000 to 5,000 bears to Toys for Tots this year!

Tickets for RiverKings hockey are your admission to the most excitement in DeSoto County that night! Bring a group out to watch the RiverKings play; just call 662-342-1755 today!!

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2008


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