ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones

Cyclones Weekly News

Published on February 5, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones News Release


COMING UP: The Cincinnati Cyclones (24-16-2-2) begin the week as the leaders of the North Division of the American Conference of the ECHL, three points in front of the Trenton Titans. Cincinnati plays host to Johnstown on Wednesday (Feb. 7) at 7:30pm, for the club's only game of the week. That game is another 'Wet Wednesday', with Pabst Blue Ribbon beer (12 ounce variety) available for one dollar throughout the evening.

FOUR STRAIGHT: The Cyclones ended a three-game losing streak following the All-Star Game, last week. Cincinnati went 3-0-1 last week and went from a share of the North Division lead, to a three-point edge over Trenton. It is the longest unbeaten streak since a five-game stretch from Dec. 28 through Jan. 9, when the squad went 4-0-1.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW: Wednesday (Jan. 31), the Cyclones took a 5-2 win from Reading. Mathieu Aubin netted a pairof goals during a three point evening, with defenseman Jarred Mohr and forward Cory Urquhart each having a goal and an assist. Friday (Feb. 2), Cincinnati claimed a 4-1 triumph from Trenton. Forwards Jean-Michel Daoust and Sam Ftorek each tallied a pair of goals and Cedrick Desjardins stopped 33 shots in the win. Saturday (Feb. 3), the club took a 4-1 win at Wheeling. Ftorek had a pair of goals, Daoust added another and rookie Brian Mullally collected his first pro goal. Ben Gray got the win in goal, turning aside 30 shots. Sunday (Feb. 4), the club rallied to send the game with Trenton into overtime, but a Titans goal in the extra frame handed the Cyclones the loss, 6-5. Aubin, Ftorek and Jason Deitsch all had a goal and two assists each.

COMEBACK KIDS: Trailing 5-3 with 7:04 to play in Sunday's game with Trenton, the Cyclones scored twice in the final 4:24 to force overtime. It was the second time this season that Cincinnati has bounced back from a two-goal deficit to earn points. Back on Dec. 28, Dayton scored twice in the opening 6:03 before the Cyclones knotted the game at 3-3 and won in a shootout. Seven times this season, the Cyclones have come from behind to win hockey games. Sunday marked the third time this season that the Cyclones have forced overtime and lost in the extra frame or shootout.

FTOREK ENJOYS WEEK: Cyclones forward Sam Ftorek was instrumental in helping Cincinnati to a 3-0-1 week. Ftorek, the seventh-year pro, collected five goals and two assists for seven points during the four games. Two of the goals were game winners. Sam is fourth on the squad in scoring with 14 goals, 20 assists and 34 points.

WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN?: Goaltender Ben Gray got his first game as a Cincinnati Cyclone Saturday night at Wheeling. Gray stopped 30 shots and collected the team's first win at WesBanco Arena since Jan. 3, 2003 in a 3-1 triumph. Gray is in his first season as a pro player--having missed all of last season with hernia surgery. Gray was acquired by the Cyclones on Jan. 9 off waivers from Pensacola, where he was 4-7 with a 5.12 goals against average. He is the fourth goaltender to play for the Cyclones this season (Cedrick Desjardins, Dov Grumet-Morris and Chad Collins are the others).

URQUHART RECALLED: Cyclones center Cory Urquhart has been recalled by the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL). Urquhart, 22, is the Cyclones leading goal scorer with 22 and is tops on the club with twelve power play goals. Cory is the sixth Cyclones player to appear on an AHL roster this season, joining Mathieu Aubin, Jon Gleed, Nick Martens, Dov Grumet-Morris and Rory Rawlyk.

GREAT STARTS: The Cyclones have a 24-16-2-2 record (.591 winning percentage) this season. That is one half game off the club record for best start through 44 games (the 1995-96 Louisville River Frogs were 25-16-3, .603, through 44 games). The 2002-03 Cyclones club--which had the best record through 44 games of any ECHL Cincinnati team was 23-17-4 (.568)--was the last Cyclones team to advance to the conference finals of the playoffs. As the 1995-96 River Frogs lost their 45th game, a win Wednesday night against Johnstown would give the squad its best ever record through 45 games.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: The Cyclones started a four-game homestand on Sunday against Trenton, the second-longest stretch of games at U.S. Bank Arena this season. The club is not on the road again until Feb. 17 at Johnstown. Cincinnati has a 15-6-1-2 record at home (.688 winning percentage), the fourth-best home winning percentage among the 25 ECHL teams.

NATURAL BORN KILLERS: The Cyclones lead the ECHL in penalty killing at 89.3 percent. Cincinnati has killed off 99 of the last 104 shorthanded situations (95.2 percent) since Dec. 28. Only three of the five goals allowed during that time frame are five-on-four goals. The other two have come with the Cyclones disadvantaged by two players (five-on-three). Five of the 33 power play goals Cincinnati has allowed all season have come with the team short two players. The Cyclones 89.3 percent penalty kill is second-best among North American pro hockey teams (Kalamazoo-UHL is at 89.8 percent).

IN THE COMMUNITY: The Cyclones will be skating with fans at Fountain Square on Saturday (Feb. 10) from 1-5pm. On Sunday (Feb. 11), the players will be serving as guest waiters in the annual 'Pucks-N-Pasta' dinner at Raffel's Catering (10160 Reading Rd.) from 5-9pm. Proceeds from the event will be going to the Neediest Kids of All.

QUICK SHOTS: Jason Deitsch is 14th in the ECHLin scoring with 46 points (20-26-46)...Jimmy Bonneau has been involved in 14 fights this season, fifth-most in the ECHL...Cedrick Desjardins is fourthin the ECHL in goals against average at 2.42...Desjardins' four shutouts are tied for the league lead...Conrad Martin's three shorthnaded assists are most among rookies and defensemen...Chad Starling's +19 plus/minus rating is second-best among ECHL defensemen...Cyclones goaltenders have a .920 team save percentage, second-best in the league (Fresno leads at .924).

Check out the Cincinnati Cyclones Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 5, 2007


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