Dayton Bombers Weekly

November 10, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


WEEKEND SWEEP: The Bombers traveled east for the first meetings of the season between the Trenton Devils and Reading Royals last weekend. The Bombers won all three games of the road trip, outscoring their opponents 14-6. Dayton will not face either of the division foes until Reading comes to town on November 29 and 30.

TALK ABOUT A COMEBACK: The Bombers scored three goals in the final six minutes of the game Friday night to beat the Trenton Devils 4-3 on the road. After a Trenton goal in the first, Nathan Schwartzbauer scored his first goal of the season to tie the game after two with helpers from Ben Geelan and Ryan Smyth. In the third the Devils jumped ahead to a 3-1 lead, but the Bombers answered back. Late in the 12 minute mark Mike McLean took a feed from Justin Bowers to cut the lead in half. McLean then deflected a Dominic D'Amour shot past the Devils goalie. Finally, on the power play with less than two minutes to play, Bowers netted the game winner from Nino Musitelli and Greg Labenski. Bombers rookie goaltender Paul Drew earned the win after saving 20 of 23 shots.

SWEEPING THE DEVILS: The Bombers defeated the Trenton Devils for the second straight night on Saturday, this time in a more traditional fashion. Having come from behind on Friday to win, the Bombers took the straight forward approach of getting out to an early lead and holding on to it. Nino Musitelli and Greg Labenski would score goals in the first period (assists from Justin Bowers and Nathan Schwartzbauer then Musitelli and Mike McLean, respectively). Jarret Lukin, from Dan Riedel and Joe Van Culin, and Musitelli, from Bowers, would grow the lead to 4 in the second. Musitelli finished his hat trick in the third, again from Bowers, before the Devils netted their first goal of the night. Netminder David Shantz was 25 of 26 for the win.

SUNDAY CAPS PERFECT WEEKEND: The Bombers continued their winning ways on Sunday as they visited the Reading Royals. Joe Van Culin had an unassisted goal in the first to tie the game at one a piece, but Reading quickly regained a lead when Brock Hooten scored off a short-handed penalty shot. Ryan Smyth had the lone goal in the second period, knotting the game at 2. In the third the Royals took a handful of penalties, leading to the Bombers netting three power play goals in 2:12 from Greg Labenski (assisted by Dominic D'Amour and Nino Musitelli), Jarret Lukin (from Musitelli and D'Amour) and Christian Gaudet (from Lukin and Dan Riedel). David Shantz won his second straight game after making 28 saves on 30 shots. The Bombers were a perfect 6 of 6 on the penalty kill.

HATS OFF: Rookie forward Nino Musitelli's hat trick on Saturday night was the first of the season for the Bombers. Recording his second, third and fourth goals of the season, Musitelli also picked up an assist for the Bombers first 4-point game of the year.

BOWERS PRODUCING: Rookie forward Justin Bowers has begun to make noise. The rookie had a four-game point streak and a three-assist night on Saturday. Bowers is now the team leader in points (10) and assists (7). Saturday was his fourth multi-point game of the season. He cracked the Top 10 in rookie scoring in the league after Saturday's game, too. Bowers is 4th amongst rookies in assists this season.

YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE: The Bombers started rookie goaltender Paul Drew Friday night, his first professional start. Drew had previously played for the Bombers in relief of David Shantz, totaling 40 minutes of playing time in Wheeling on October 31. Drew made 20 of 23 saves against the Devils, nabbing his first "W".

HAIL TO THE CAPTAIN: Bombers captain Greg Labenski is on a three-game point streak and has recorded points in 4 of his last 5 contests. The veteran ranks 8th amongst defensemen in the league and is tied for second in goals (3). Six of Labenski's seven points have come on the power play, and he has 2 game winners so far this season.

LENDING A HELPING HAND: Jarret Lukin leads the Bombers with 10 points (3g,7a). Following his two point performance in Reading on Sunday, eight of Lukin's 10 points have come on the power play, raking 4th in the ECHL.

ROAD TRIPPIN': The Bombers improved their road record to 5-1-0 and are outscoring opponents 19-13 as the visiting team. During the most recent road trip the Bombers outscored Trenton and Reading 14-6.

FINISHING STRONG: Whatever gets said in the Bombers locker room during the second intermission must be working as the Bombers continue to put up big numbers in the third period including outshooting opponents 99-67 and outscoring them 13-7 in the final frame. Just this past week the Bombers outscored their opponents 7-3 in the third with the game winner being scored twice in that period.

MILE MARKERS: The following Bombers players reached professional career milestones this season:

Dominic D'Amour surpassed 50 career points and Greg Labenski tallied his 300th career regular season point. Jarret Lukin recorded his 50th career point earlier in the season.

TEAM LEADERS: The following Bombers lead the team in these statistical categories:

Goals: Dan Riedel - 5

Assists: Justin Bowers & Jarret Lukin - 7

Points: Justin Bowers & Jarret Lukin - 10

PIM: Dominic D'Amour - 25

LOOK OUT BELOW!

HOBART AWAITS: Saturday marks the first of six games that the Bombers will play at Troy, Ohio's historic Hobart Arena. The Johnstown Chiefs will be in town for a 7:30 p.m. game at the Bombers "home away from home." Last season the Bombers defeated the Chiefs in a pair of games at Hobart. Tickets are available at the Hobart Arena box office, www.hobartarena.com, or by calling 937-339-2911. The next game at Hobart will be Saturday, November 29 against Reading at 7:30 p.m.

SCOUTING REPORT: On Friday the Bombers will make the short drive to Wheeling, West Virginia for a matchup with the Nailers. Wheeling won the first meeting between the two teams, also on the Nailers home ice. Fans will be able to tune into the game via the B2 Networks online video and audio broadcasts. Go to the scores page of www.echl.com and select your desired broadcasting option from the Dayton score box.

ON THE RADIO: Tune in to WONE 980 AM on Thursday from 5-6pm as Bombers players Ben Geelan and Jarret Lukin will be on the air with Mark Schlemmer. Fans can call in to the station at (937) 457-WONE.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Tomorrow Mike McLean and Ryan Smyth will visit Simon Kenton Elementary in Xenia as part of "Right to Read Week" where they will be reading with students in the library. Then on Thursday, Dominic D'Amour, Mike Looby and David Shantz will stop past Shaw Elementary in Beavercreek to talk to fourth and fifth grade students about the sport of hockey.

BOOST YOUR SPIRITS: The Bombardiers will hold their monthly meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, November 11 at 7:00 in the Berry Room at the Nutter Center. New members are welcome to join. Jamie Dowhayko and Tom Zanoski will visit the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

FUTURE BOMBERS?: Kids Club members - tell your parents to submit photos of you at a Bombers game or player appearance to be nominated for the "Kids Club Member of the Week" and to be recognized on the video board during each Sunday game and on the Dayton Bombers website. Not in Kids Club? There's still time to join by contacting Luci Franklin at 775-4747 or luci@daytonbombers.com.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Here is a list of this week's practice schedule:

Tuesday 9:00 ~11:00 Kettering Rec

Wednesday 10:30 ~12:30 Kettering Rec

Thursday 9:00 ~ 11:00 Kettering Rec

TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets for each Dayton Bombers home game are on sale at the Nutter Center box office or any Ticketmaster outlet, including www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by contacting the Bombers at (937) 775-4747. Full and partial season tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Bombers office.



ECHL Stories from November 10, 2008


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