Crusco lifts Vipers to 2-1 win over RiverDogs
October 28, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Roanoke Valley Vipers News Release
RICHMOND, VA - The Roanoke Valley Vipers, member of the United Hockey League (UHL) may have been swept in exhibition play by their cross-state rivals, but they stepped up when it counted with a big 2-1 win over the RiverDogs at the Richmond Coliseum Friday night.
Vipers rookie Steve Crusco, who scored three preseason goals against the RiverDogs, put in the game-winner Friday night off a pass from linemate Matt Miller at 2:33 into the third period. Less than a minute before, defenseman Matt Kenny put the Vipers on the board for the first time in the game to tie the score at one apiece. Kenny was assisted by Petr Jelinek and David Beauregard on the power play goal, which evened the game for Roanoke.
The RiverDogs struck for their first and only goal against Vipers netminder Jamie Hodson at 16:08 in the first period with a goal from Kris Waltze. Hodson, whose outstanding efforts have led the Vipers during each of the first three games, recorded 24 saves in the match, and was named the Cornerstone Bar and Grill First Star of the Game for the second time this season.
The Vipers kept the pressure on RiverDogs goaltender Doug Groenestege throughout the game, making 44 shots on the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Ontario native. Roanoke also appeared stronger on the penalty kill, as the RiverDogs went 0-for-5 on power play conversions. The teams put a total of just 24 penalty minutes on the board Friday after combining for a massive 329 minutes over two exhibition games earlier in the month.
The Richmond RiverDogs remain winless, as they fall to 0-4-0, while the Vipers take win number two on the season and improve their record to 2-1-0. The Vipers will travel to Elmira, NY to face Perry Florio's Jackals on Saturday night at 7:35p.m., and the Danbury Trashers will play host to Roanoke Valley on Sunday evening at 7:00p.m. Both games, as are all Vipers home and away games, will be called by the Voice of the Vipers, Matt Rosen, on 3WR/Fox Sports Radio, which is 910AM in Roanoke, 990AM in the New River Valley, and can also be accessed via the web by clicking on the "Listen Live" link at www.valleyvipershockey.com.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 28, 2005
- Mizzi nets hat-trick on Hogs 9-1 win - Rockford IceHogs
- Crusco lifts Vipers to 2-1 win over RiverDogs - Roanoke Valley Vipers
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- K-Wings return to the ice tonight - Kalamazoo Wings
- Ronald and the Mechanics open at garage tonight - Motor City Mechanics
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