ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Prepare For Three-In-Three

December 22, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


COMING UP: The Cincinnati Cyclones, the 2008 Kelly Cup champions, open a six game road trip with a three-in-three this weekend. Friday (Dec. 26), the Cyclones head up to Dayton for the eighth game between the clubs this season. Saturday (Dec. 27), the squad heads east to battle Wheeling and then goes as far east as it can in the North Division for a Sunday (Dec. 28) afternoon tilt at Trenton. All three games will be carried on MAX-FM (97.7 and 99.5).

IN THE COMMUNITY: The Cyclones players went to Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 16), delivering more than $1000 in gifts for the holidays--courtesy of the Cyclones organization and their business partner, Dream Catchers Coaches, Limited of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Dream Catchers provides the bus for most road trips for the Cyclones. Four Cincinnati players (Barret Ehgoetz, Martin Houle, Conrad Martin and T.J. McElroy) spent part of Tuesday night at Cincinnati Children's Hospital--visiting the Cardiac Care patients at the annual Aubrey Rose Foundation celebration. It is the third consecutive year the club has been involved with the event.

MORE COMMUNITY...: The Cyclones organization was also able to donate more than 650 stuffed animals to the Shriners this past week. The animals, valued at more than $3300, were collected after fans tossed them on the ice for the annual 'Teddy Bear Toss' event at the game versus Wheeling on Friday, December 12.

ABOUT SATURDAY NIGHT...: The Cyclones exploded for four third period goals, but a Dan Riedel shootout goal in the fifth round of the bonus frame was enough to give Dayton a 5-4 triumph. T.J. McElroy and Mark Santorelli each had a goal and an assist for Cincinnati, which had its four game winning streak against the Bombers snapped.

ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT...: A three-goal first period explosion helped propel the Cyclones to a 5-4 win at Dayton Friday night. Jimmy Kilpatrick netted a pair of goals--including the game wnner--while Barret Ehgoetz had a goal and an assist. Martin Houle stopped 36 shots as Cincinnati defeated Dayton for the fourth straight game.

LEAGUE LEADERS: The Cyclones lead the ECHL with 40 first period goals.....Cincinnati has surrendered 39 third period goals--most in the league.....The Cyclones have played a league-high nine overtime games....Cincinnati has six shorthanded goals scored.

THAT'S A PACKAGE!: 'The Ultimate Sports Fan Package' is currently on sale. This is a unique opportunity to get a ticket to any Cyclones game during the 2008-09 regular season, a ticket to the Harlem Globetrotters performance at the December 30 event at 1pm or 7pm, a Cyclones winter hat and a special Globetrotters wristband. The price is just $30 per ticket and includes all handling fees. A call to the Cyclones Sales Department (513-421-7825, x. 3) can make this happen. It is the perfect gift for your favorite sports fan.

JANUARY 9 PROMOTION: The Friday, January 9 the Cyclones will host 'Automotive Bailout Night'. During this evening, the club will assist fans with auto issues and concerns. One lucky fan will receive a 'Big Three' CEO's annual salary, free upgrade cards from Enterprise Rent-A-Car and discount car rental certificates also from Enterprise. The Chuck-A-Puck prize that night will be a car. Boy Scouts attending the game can bring their Pinewood Derby cars and get a $5 gift certificate to the concession stands at U.S. Bank Arena. This evening will be more than a car-load of fun for fans!

WEBER REACHES CENTURY MARK: Head Coach Chuck Weber picked up his 100th regular season victory on November 29. Now in his third season directing the Cyclones, Weber has a 104-54-17 mark (.648 winning percentage). The win on November 30 allowed Chuck to pass Warren Young for the club lead in regular season wins. Young needed three full seasons to post his 100-86-24 (.533) record.

LATENDRESSE LIGHTS 'EM UP: Cyclones forward Olivier Latendresse is third in the ECHL in goal scoring with 18. He has also assembled a 16-game point scoring streak, the longest current stretch in the league and second-longest in club history behind David Desharnais' 27-game effort last season (12/31 through 3/12). Latendresse has collected 14 goals and 13 assists for 27 points during this time. Last season, Olivier averaged 1.458 points per game with Cincinnati (7-28-35 in 24 games) and is tallying 1.43 per contest this year. Projecting his 18 goals and 15 assists for the remainder of the year, he is on pace to score 56 goals and add 46 assists for 102 points. Latendresse was reassigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) by the Montreal Canadiens (NHL) on December 9.

FAMILY FOUR PACK ON SALE!: The Cyclones Family Four Pack is now on sale. For $69 (including all handling fees), you get four tickets to any Cyclones regular season game, four hot dogs, four Pepsis, four Cyclones winter caps, four ice skating passes to SportsPlus and a SportsPlus game card. Valued at more than $100--this is a package that has something for everyone! Call the Cyclones Sales Department at 513-421-7825, x. 3 to order yours.

ATTENDANCE NUMBERS UP: The Cyclones have drawn 37,570 to the first 16 games at U.S. Bank Arena this season, an average of 2,348--which is 22nd in the ECHL (an average of two fans per game behind 21st ranked Trenton). Through the first 16 games of last season, the club drew 27,524--an average of 1,720. Cincinnati did not reach 37,570 until the 19th home game of 2007-08--reaching 38,619 through those 19 dates, an average of 2,032 as of January 16, 2008. Attendance this season is up 36.5 percent over the first 16 dates of a year ago--when the Cyclones had the highest percentage increase in attendance (36.8 percent) of any pro hockey team in North America. The 36.5 increase is the second-highest among all pro hockey teams this season (Tulsa-CHL-45.7 pct.).

MORE ATTENDANCE: While the top three teams in attendance improvement are more than 30 percent better (Tulsa-45.7%, Cincinnati-36.5% and Springfield (AHL)-30.5%), attendance in minor league hockey has fallen 3.9 percent over 2007-08. Despite this trend, the Cyclones have increased attendance by 625 fans per home game--sixth-best in minor league hockey. Cincinnati's 625 fans per game is the biggest improvement in the ECHL, 525 percent better than the next closest team in the league (Bakersfield up 119 per contest).

MILLER LITE CYCLONES COACHES SHOW: The Miller Lite Cyclones Coaches Show will be held tonight from 7-8pm at Jefferson Hall at Newport on the Levee. Head Coach Chuck Weber will fly solo at this week's show (Dec. 22), as the players are on their holiday break.

HAVEN'T WE PLAYED THIS GAME BEFORE?: The Cyclones have had 36 different players play already this season. Cincinnati used 46 players all of last season, in claiming the Kelly Cup. Head Coach Chuck Weber has used 20 different lineups this season.

TICKETS! GET YOUR TICKETS!: Tickets for all Cincinnati Cyclones games can be purchased through TicketMaster at 513-562-4949 or by using their website at: www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the window day of the game. Season ticket packages can also be obtained by contacting the Cyclones offices at 513-421-PUCK (7825) x. 3.

Check out the Cincinnati Cyclones Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 22, 2008


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