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ECHL this Week

Published on October 18, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Reign Open With Back-To-Back Wins

For the second time in three seasons, the Ontario Reign opened the ECHL season with a 2-0-0 record. The Reign traveled north to Stockton and recorded a 6-3 win on Friday and followed that up with a 5-4 overtime win on Saturday.

In the Reign's 6-3 win on Friday, six different players scored goals, including rookies Kyle Kraemer and Aaron Lewadniuk who each scored their first professional goals. Matt Delahey and Jordan Morrison each contributed a pair of assists in the win for the Reign while goaltender Kellen Briggs turned aside 24 Thunder shots to pick up the win.

On Saturday, Ontario twice trailed by two goals, but rallied and forced overtime on Lewadniuk's power-play goal midway through the third period and Chaz Johnson tallied the game winner with just over a minute remaining in overtime. Rookie goaltender Martin Jones made 26 saves to record the win in his pro debut.

The Reign travel to Stockton for the third consecutive game on Friday before returning to Citizens Bank Arena for their home opener, also against the Thunder, on Saturday. Last season, Ontario led the ECHL in attendance with an average of 6,451 per game.

Good Start For New Coaches

Six coaches debuted with new teams on opening weekend, with each coach recording a win. Malcolm Cameron, who spent the previous two seasons with Florida, recorded his first win with Elmira with a 7-3 win over Cincinnati on Friday. The next night, the Cyclones' Jarrod Skalde earned his first ECHL victory as Cincinnati defeated the Jackals 5-4 in overtime.

Idaho's Hardy Sauter made his professional coaching debut on Friday with a 5-0 win over Victoria. Greg Poss earned his first North America win as a head coach on Friday in Florida's 3-2 shootout win over Gwinnett. Trenton's Kevin Dean picked up his first win behind the bench in the Devils' 6-4 victory against Reading on Sunday.

Wheeling's Stan Drulia, who coached with Augusta in the ECHL from 2003-05, picked up his first win with Wheeling on Saturday with a 6-0 win at Toledo.

A seventh new coach, Greenville's Dean Stork, makes his debut behind the bench on Thursday when the Road Warriors open at home against Florida.

Opening Weekend Attendance Surpasses Last Season

The ECHL welcomed 71,461 fans to its 15 opening weekend games, an average of 4,764, surpassing last season's opening weekend average of 4,742.

Toledo welcomed 8,000 fans to the Huntington Center for its home opener on Saturday. It was the Walleye's 13th sellout in 37 regular season games since returning to the ECHL last season.

Elmira had a standing-room only crowd of 3,804 at First Arena for its home opener on Friday and followed that up with 3,396 on Saturday.

Stockton, which has averaged over 6,000 fans per game each of its five seasons in the league, drew just under 12,000 fans for its first two home games. The Thunder led the ECHL in attendance from 2005-09 becoming the first team to lead in attendance four years in a row since Florida set the league record with five straight years from 2000-05.

The Everblades followed up an opening night crowd of 6,294 on Friday with 6,424 fans on Saturday.

Bakersfield had 6,871 for its home opener on Saturday, a 27% increase over last season's home opener. The Condors have averaged over 5,200 fans per game for six consecutive seasons and will host the 2011 ECHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 26, 2011.

Alaska welcomed just under 9,000 fans for its first two home games on Friday and Saturday while Idaho is averaging over 3,600 after its first two games.

Wheeling drew 3,217 fans for its home opener on Friday while Trenton had 3,836 for its opener on Saturday.

Six more teams host their home opener this week. The newest member of the ECHL, the Greenville Road Warriors, open play at BI-LO Center on Thursday against Florida. On Friday, Gwinnett hosts South Carolina, Las Vegas hosts Victoria and Utah is home against Victoria. Saturday sees Kalamazoo opening at home against Cincinnati and Reading hosting Elmira.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL is the only minor professional hockey league to increase average attendance each of the last three seasons, and in 2009-10 averaged 4,486 fans per game, the highest single-season average since 1999-00. It is the sixth consecutive season and the 18th time in the last 20 years that the ECHL has averaged over 4,000 fans and the league drew over 3 million fans for the 17th year in a row.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Elmira Jackals

The Jackals won their fourth-straight season-opening game on Friday.

Michael Dubuc had four goals on Saturday, tying a team record.

The Jackals host Wheeling on Friday and travel to Reading on Saturday and Sunday.

Reading Royals

The Royals won the season opener for the first time in four years, against the Trenton Devils.

Ryan Cruthers, registered five points (3g-2a) in two games this past weekend.

The Royals host Elmira on Saturday and Sunday.

Trenton Devils

Trenton went 4-for-11 on the power play last week.

Ryan Ginand (2g-2a) and Tony Zancanaro (1g-3a) each posted four points last week.

The Devils play at Wheeling on Saturday (in Johnstown) and Sunday.

North Division

Cincinnati Cyclones

Cincinnati's win on Saturday over Elmira was the first come-from-behind win of the 2010-11 season.

Barret Ehgoetz scored his 12th career game winning goal on Saturday.

Cincinnati travels to Kalamazoo on Saturday and Sunday.

Kalamazoo Wings

The K-Wings open up the season on Friday at Toledo.

Kory Karlander will become the first Kalamazoo player to play in part of three decades (90's, 00's, and 10's).

Kalamazoo plays Friday at Toledo and hosts Cincinnati on Saturday and Sunday.

Toledo Walleye

Saturday was the 13th sellout in the History of the Huntington Center.

Goaltender Jordan Pearce made 36 saves Friday night for his third professional shutout.

The Walleye host Kalamazoo on Friday.

Wheeling Nailers

The Nailers penalty kill has yet to surrender a goal this season.

Patrick Killeen earned his first professional shutout, making 33 saves in a 6-0 victory at Toledo.

The Nailers play Friday at Elmira and host Trenton on Saturday (in Johnstown) and Sunday.

South Division

Florida Everblades

The Everblades improved to 9-3-1 all-time in season opening games.

Cedric McNicoll is the team's leading scorer with 3 points (2g-1a).

Florida plays at Greenville on Thursday and Friday and at Gwinnett on Saturday.

Greenville Road Warriors

Connor Shields led Johnstown in scoring last season with 62 points (28g-34a).

Thursday is the first ECHL game in Greenville since the 2005-06 season.

Greenville hosts Florida on Thursday and Friday and South Carolina on Sunday.

Gwinnett Gladiators

The Gladiators are 5-0-2 in home openers at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Rookie forward Aaron Bendickson leads the team in scoring with 3 points (2g-1a).

This week the Gladiators play Friday against South Carolina and Saturday against Florida.

South Carolina Stingrays

The Stingrays have 13 returning players from last season on their season opening roster.

Trent Campbell led South Carolina last season with 68 points (20g-48a).

The Stingrays play Friday at Gwinnett and Sunday at Greenville.

Western Conference

Pacific Division

Bakersfield Condors

The Condors had the 2nd highest Opening Night attendance in the league with 6,871.

Rylan Kaip (1g-1a) and Joey Ryan (0g-2a) lead the team with 2 points each.

Bakersfield plays Friday and Saturday at Utah.

Las Vegas Wranglers

Las Vegas killed all seven penalties faced in Saturday's win over Bakersfield

Ryan Huddy had three goals in 4-3 win on Saturday.

The Wranglers host Victoria on Friday and Saturday.

Ontario Reign

Ontario was 2-0-0 last week

Aaron Lewadniuk has four points (2g-2a) in his two games.

This week Ontario plays Friday at Stockton and Saturday against Stockton.

Stockton Thunder

The Thunder is 2nd in ECHL attendance with 11,886 total fans.

Fraser Clair is second in the ECHL with three goals.

Stockton hosts Ontario on Friday and is at Ontario on Saturday.

Mountain Division

Alaska Aces

Wes Goldie scored his 290th goal on Friday, the most among active ECHL players.

Brian Swanson is tied for second in the ECHL with five points (2g-3a).

The Aces host Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Head Coach Hardy Sauter made his coaching debut in Idaho's 5-0 win against Victoria.

Tyler Beskorowany picked up his first professional shutout, stopping 24 shots on Friday.

Idaho plays at Alaska on Friday and Saturday.

Utah Grizzlies

Utah's penalty-kill is 12-for-12 through two games.

Brad Snetsinger leads Utah in scoring through two games with two goals and three assists.

The Grizzlies host Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday.

Victoria Salmon Kings

Milan Gajic scored 2 goals in Victoria's 4-0 win against Idaho on Saturday.

Riley Gill is the second Salmon King in history to record a shutout in his debut with the team.

Victoria plays Friday and Saturday at Las Vegas.

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ECHL Stories from October 18, 2010


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