ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Start Season With Win

Published on October 22, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


COMING UP: The Cincinnati Cyclones have a busy weekend of hockey this week, as the Trenton Devils roll into U.S. Bank Arena for the home opener on Friday night (Oct. 26) at 7:30pm. The clubs meet again at the arena on Saturday (Oct. 27), also at 7:30pm. Then on Sunday (Oct. 28), the squad heads back to Dayton for a 5pm tilt. Sunday's game will be carried live on SuperTalk FM 96.5.

OPENING NIGHT ENDS WELL: The Cyclones went into Dayton on Saturday (Oct. 20) and skated away with a 5-4 triumph. Travis Fuller had a pair of goals, Bryan Schmidt assembled a four-point night (1-3-4) and Jean-Michel Daoust, David Desharnais and James Sixsmith each had two point nights. Dov Grumet-Morris turned aside 18 shots in the win.

COMEBACK KIDS: The Cyclones battled back in the triumph against Dayton on Saturday night. Three times in the contest, the club was on the short end of the scoreboard and trailed by as many as two goals early in the second period. Last season, Cincinnati rallied from deficits 13 times to win hockey games. Three times, the club was down a pair of goals and bounced back to win. Ironically, the first time a Chuck Weber coached club trailed by two goals and won a game was in Dayton, on Dec. 28 of last season. Down 2-0 in the first period, the club battled back to tie the game and then win it in a shootout.

POWER SURGE: The Cyclones connected on four power play chances in Saturday's win. The four man-advantage scores were the most in the Chuck Weber era, but still short of the club record seven netted against Reading in a 13-2 win on Dec. 27, 2002. It is the ECHL single game high for this season.

DESHARNAIS SIGNED BY HAMILTON: Cyclones rookie center David Desharnais was signed by the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) on Friday (Oct. 19). Hamilton immediately re-assigned Desharnais to Cincinnati, but retains his rights in the AHL. Desharnais becomes the fourth Cyclones player in the last season-plus to sign with the club and then receive a contract offer at the next level.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Several Cincinnati Cyclones players will be going to Stephens Elementary (Burlington, KY) in the Boone County School system on Wednesday (Oct. 24) to read to children that afternoon. It is part of Stephens Elementary's guest reader program this week.

MAYBE IT'S THE CELEBRATION...: Cyclones rookie defenseman Tyler Howells celebrated his 24th birthday Saturday during the 5-4 win at Dayton. Cincinnati defenseman Conrad Martin turns 25 on Thursday (Oct. 25).

JUICED: The five goal explosion by the club in Saturday's win was the most since claiming a 5-2 win at Trenton on March 24 of last season. Eleven times Cincinnati scored five or more goals in a game, with nine of those efforts resulting in wins. A year ago, the Cyclones did not net a five-spot and win until the 16th game of the season (a 5-2 win over Wheeling on Dec. 1).

DEEP THINKERS: The Cincinnati Cyclones may have the most college graduates of any team in the ECHL, with 13 players holding college undergraduate degrees. Seven forwards, five defensemen and one goaltender have completed their degree requirements.

COMMUNITY STOP: The entire Cyclones team was at Kings Island amusement park on Sunday (Oct. 21), meeting fans and greeting park patrons. It was the first appearance of the hockey season by the team. There will be approximately 100 events scheduled for the players in the Greater Cincinnati community during the hockey season.

PRESEASON RECAP: The preseason for the Cincinnati Cyclones lasted all of 72 hours, but the club posted a 1-1 slate during that time. Oct. 12, the Cyclones claimed a 4-1 win at Youngstown on the strength of four second periods goals. Defenseman Matt Macdonald and rookie forward Travis Fuller each scored twice in the triumph. Rookie defenseman Sean Perkins and crafty forward Jean-Michel Daoust each added a pair of assists, as Dov Grumet-Morris turned aside 13 shots to take the win. Oct. 14, Dayton took a 6-3 verdict. Daoust, Fuller and Mathieu Aubin tallied the goals in the loss. Cedrick Desjardins stopped 23 shots for the Cyclones.

WEBER RETURNS: Cyclones Head Coach Chuck Weber returns for his second season at the helm of the club. Last season, Weber directed the club to a 37-29-4-2 record--the second-best record in team history--and took the squad to the seventh game of the North Division finals before being eliminated. Weber finished second in the ECHL's 'Coach of the Year' balloting and had the most wins (39) and best winning percentage (.556) of any rookie coach in the league last season. Only Warren Young (100 wins in three seasons--1995-96 through 1997-98) has more wins in club history.

ALL THE BENCH PERSONNEL RETURNS: In addition to Weber, Assistant Coach Dean Stork also returns for his second season. Stork captained the Cyclones during 2003-04 and returned as a full-time assistant coach last season. Also on the bench, equipment manager Chris Burke and trainer Bob Case are back for their third seasons with the club.

LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES: The Cyclones have signed ten players who were with the club in 2006-07, for the upcoming season. Forward Jean-Michel Daoust, Barret Ehgoetz, Scott Reynolds, Matt Rogers and Avery Wilson return. Back on the blueline, Greg Gallagher, Matt Macdonald, Conrad Martin and Chad Starling all are in camp. Forward Billy Irish-Baker, who spent part of March with the team last year, also has signed.

SIGNED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: During the summer, the Cyclones signed defenseman Gerard Miller from Flint (IHL). Miller attended camp with the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) and is still with the club, after signing a 25-game agreement at the end of the preseason. Miller played his first career AHL game last week in Hamilton's 3-2 overtime win at Rochester.

COACHES SHOW FROM JEFFERSON HALL: The Cyclones Coaches Show takes place every Monday night during the season (except Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and March 3). The show broadcasts from Jefferson Hall at Newport on the Levee and is carried on SuperTalk FM 96.5 live from 7-8pm. This week, Cyclones forward Andrew Martin and defenseman Conrad Martin are the guests.

Check out the Cincinnati Cyclones Statistics

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