ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones In Thick Of Division Chase

Published on December 28, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


COMING UP: The Cincinnati Cyclones, the ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators, play two road games this week as they look to improve upon their second place standing in the North Division of the American Conference. The Cyclones begin the week with an 18-11-1 record (37 points), one point behind division leader Toledo and one point ahead of third place Kalamazoo.

WE JUST EXPECT THE NORTH TO BE A BATTLE: The Cyclones are in the middle of a three team race for the North Division lead--as all of these teams are separated by just two points. Last year, the North Division was settled on the final day of the season and Cincinnati and Trenton tied for the top spot (the Cyclones winning the position based on tie-breakers) and Elmira was just two points back. In 2006-07, Dayton claimed the North--two points ahead of Toledo and three in front of Cincinnati. During the Kelly Cup championship season of 2008-09--the Cyclones ran away with the division title, finishing 26 points ahead of runner-up Elmira.

THE 2009 PORTION WAS ON SCHEDULE: The Cyclones have one game remaining in the 2009 calendar year--another trip to Kalamazoo on Thursday (7:30pm at www.cycloneshockey.com) for a New Years Eve tilt. In the first three years under Head Coach Chuck Weber, the club has a 53-31-9 record (.618 winning percentage) prior to January 1. That is a yearly average of an 18-10-3 record. The Cyclones will enter the game with an 18-11-1 mark.

SPEAKING OF NEW YEARS RECORDS...: The 18 wins the club has already prior to January 1 ties the second-most wins prior to the New Year by a Cyclones squad. The 2002-03 unit raced off to an 18-10-2 mark by the holiday and only the 2007-08 championship team (24-6-2) had a better record at that point in the season. Cincinnati has averaged 15.4 wins prior to the 1st of the year in club history.

DECEMBER IS DELIGHTFUL: The Cyclones currently have an 8-3 record in the month of December. The club is assured of having a winning record in the twelfth month for the eighth time in eleven seasons of operation. December has been the most successful month for the club, as it has posted a 77-49-15 record (.599 winning percentage) in history.

WEEK IN REWIND: The Cyclones went 1-1 on the week, dropping Saturday's verdict to Toledo, 4-3, before winning in overtime at Kalamazoo last night, 3-2.

IT HAS TO BE THE TURKEY: In the four seasons since Chuck Weber has been the Cyclones coach, the club has enjoyed the holiday seasons. From the week of Thanksgiving through the New Year, the club has a 45-17-5 (.709 winning percentage). So far this season, the club is 11-4 (.733).

ABOUT SATURDAY NIGHT...: The Cyclones erased a two goal deficit at the start of the third period but could not pull out the win in a 4-3 loss to Toledo. Scott Reynolds had a goal and an assist and Barret Ehgoetz picked up a pair of assists in the loss. Jeremy Smith turned away 26 shots but was tagged with the loss.

ABOUT SUNDAY AFTERNOON...: Forward Scott Reynolds' goal with 23 seconds remaining in regulation time tied Kalamazoo at two each and defenseman Jason Jozsa's third goal of the season at 1:38 of overtime gave the Cyclones a 3-2 win at Wings Stadium. Reynolds finished the day with a pair of goals and Jozsa had a goal and an assist to pace the offense. Robert Mayer stopped 21 shots to pick up the win.

LONG TIME COMING: The goal by Scott Reynolds in Sunday's game came with the goaltender pulled for a sixth attacker. It was the first time that Cincinnati had scored a goal with the netminder on the bench since December 6 of last season. T.J. McElroy's six-on-four power play goal with 27 seconds to play knotted the game with Johnstown up at two each--but the Chiefs would score in overtime to grab the victory.

REYNOLDS MOVES UP CHARTS: Cincinnati Cyclones forward Scott Reynolds moved up several ladders on the club's career statistical lists in Sunday's game at Kalamazoo. At faceoff, he tied Stephane Madore for third place on the club's career games played list (169). Scott's +2 rating moved him to +38 in his career--tying him with David Desharnais for fourth place on the Cyclones list.

ATTENDANCE NUMBERS STRONG: The Cyclones are averaging 3844 per game through the first 14 contests at U.S. Bank Arena, which ranks 13th in the ECHL. The club has already drawn the second-largest (10,920 for Throwback Night on November 6) and fourth-largest (8944 for Education In Hockey Day on November 17) regular season crowds in team history. Attendance at Cyclones games is up 23.8 percent over last year's season average and is up 72.5 percent over the first 14 games of a year ago. The club has drawn 53,827 through the turnstiles in a bit more than the first third of the home schedule. Last season, the club did not draw that many people through the first 20 games.

CLIMBING HIGH...: When the Cyclones returned to hockey in 2006-07, they finished 25th of 25 teams in attendance at 1844 per game. During the 2007-08 Kelly Cup march, the squad attracted 2523 per game--an increase of 36.8 percent. That percentage was the greatest of any team playing minor pro hockey. Last year, the team attracted 3104 per game--an increase of 23 percent, second-best in all of minor pro hockey. There are 78 North American minor pro hockey teams playing this season and the Cyclones rank 38th on that list.

GET SHORTY: The Cyclones have eight shorthanded goals, second-most in the ECHL. In each of the three seasons that Chuck Weber has been the coach in Cincinnati--the club has hit double digits in shorthanded goals. In 2006-07, the squad netted ten and in each of the last two campaigns the club has tallied eleven. The team record for SHGs is 14 set in 1998-99.

CH-CH-CH-CHANGES...: The Cyclones have employed 22 different lineups this season in the first 30 games. Cincinnati has lost players for 70 games through call ups and 105 games due to injury. The club is averaging six players out per game due to injury and call ups. Last season, the Cyclones used 45 different lineups and in the four seasons Chuck Weber has been coach, the squad has utilized 164 different lineups (in 246 games).

RETURN OF THE NO GOAL PATROL!: The Cyclones penalty killing unit which has killed the last nine power plays recorded by opponents over the last three games--has improved to third in the ECHL in the statistic at 84.8 percent. In the month of December, Cincinnati has killed 42 of 48 shorthanded situations--an 85.7 penalty kill percentage.

WE LOVE HOME COOKING!: The Cyclones have won nine games at U.S. Bank Arena this season, tied with eight other teams for fifth-most in the ECHL. Since April 1 of last season, the Cyclones are 12-4 at home (.750 winning percentage) and since January 10, the squad is 22-9 at U.S. Bank Arena (.710).

BUT WE'RE ONLY AT HOME WHEN WE ARE ON THE ROAD: The Cyclones have played 15 road games (seventh-most) in 2009-2010. Cincinnati has won 69 road games between the regular season and playoffs since the start of the 2007-08 season--most of any team in the league.

SUPERLATIVES: Forward Scott Reynolds leads all ECHL players with five shorthanded points...Reynolds is tied for the league lead with three shorthanded goals...Dustin Sproat is tied for the ECHL lead with three shootout goals...Two of Sproat's bonus frame markers have been game winning scores...Jeremy Smith's 2.65 goals against average is fourth-best on the circuit and second-best among rookies...Matt Pierce has 23 points, tenth-best among rookies...Pierce's 14 goals are second-most among first-year players...Chris Morehouse has 59 penalty minutes, fourth-highest total among rookies.

COACHES SHOW: The Coors Light Cyclones Coaches Show originates each Monday night from Jefferson Hall at Newport on the Levee. Head Coach Chuck Weber joins Nick Brunker each week from 7-8pm. Tonight the guests are Brett Motherwell and Brian O'Hanley.

PLAYER APPEARANCE TONIGHT: The Cyclones will have a pair of players at the Meijer location on Harrison Avenue in Dent on Monday, December 28 from 6pm-7:30. This autograph session is free and open to the public. Jimmy Kilpatrick and Mark Voakes will be on hand tonight.

TEAM APPEARANCE TUESDAY: The Cyclones will be at The Cincinnati Gardens on Tuesday (December 29) from 11am-2pm for the 'Pond Hockey Fundraiser' for Children's Hunger Alliance. USA Hockey registered Mites and Squirts will be selected into teams and have a Cyclones player coaching their team in these scrimmages. Cash donations, canned food items, gently used stuffed animals and used playground equipment will be accepted for the cause.

Check out the Cincinnati Cyclones Statistics

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