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Published on March 7, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Charlotte Checkers (29-22-5) at South Carolina Stingrays (31-22-5) 5 p.m. ET
- Stingrays' Pierre-Luc O'Brien has a three-game point streak (2g-3a) and 21 points (6g-15a) in his last 13 games.
- Checkers defenseman Brian Deeth has a three-game point streak (0g-3a) and a three-game assist streak (3a).
- South Carolina is second in the league on the power play with 21.6 percent (66-for-306).
- Charlotte's Maxime Daigneault is 5-1-0 with a goals-against average of 3.64 in his last eight games.

Cincinnati Cyclones (32-22-5) at Reading Royals (20-35-4) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Royals rookie Dan Rudisuela has a three-game point streak (3g-2a) and a three-game goal streak (3g).
- Cincinnati is third in the league with 212 goals and 3.59 goals per game.
- Reading rookie James Reimer is 3-1-2 with a goals-against average of 2.47 in his last six starts.
- Cyclones' Barret Ehgoetz has nine points in his last nine games (2g-7a).

Trenton Devils (30-22-5) at Gwinnett Gladiators (25-25-6) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Gladiators' Adam Berti has a six-game point streak (3g-6a) and a two-game assist streak (3a).
- Trenton rookie Jeff Prough has six assists and nine points in his last six games.
- Gwinnett's Andy Brandt has four goals and seven points in his last five games.
- Devils defenseman Ryan Gunderson has six assists and seven points in his last seven games.

Mississippi Sea Wolves (25-26-7) at Florida Everblades (39-16-3) 7:30 p.m. ET
- Everblades have won their last 10 home games against Mississippi and are 30-7-1 all-time against the Sea Wolves.
- Mississippi's Jeff Kyrzakos has eight assists and 14 points in his last 10 games.
- Everblades' Kevin Baker has a four-game point streak (4g-2a).
- Sea Wolves rookie Ryan Cruthers has nine assists and 13 points in his last nine games.

Dayton Bombers (28-28-5) at Elmira Jackals (31-23-5) 7:35 p.m. ET
- Elmira rookie defenseman Colton Yellow Horn has a three-game point streak (3g-1a).
- Bombers rookie Andrew Fournier has four goals and seven points in his last five games.
- Elmira's Steve Yetman has six goals and 10 points in his last seven games.
- Dayton rookie Les Reaney has six points (3g-3a) in his last five games.

Johnstown Chiefs (32-23-3) at Wheeling Nailers (30-22-7) 8:07 p.m. ET
- Wheeling's Billy Ryan has a three-game point streak (1g-5a) and 11 points (3g-8a) in his last seven games.
- Chiefs' Petr Pohl has nine assists and 15 points in his last nine games.
- Nailers' Curtis Darling has won his last two starts and is 3-1-0 with a goals against of 2.51 in his last four games.
- Johnstown rookie Andrew Sarauer has 13 points (5g-8a) in his last 12 games.

Victoria Salmon Kings (31-22-6) at Idaho Steelheads (34-18-4) 7:10 p.m. MT
- Steelheads rookie Matt Climie is 4-1-0 with a shutout and a goals-against average of 1.40 in his last five starts.
- Salmon Kings rookie defenseman Aaron Brocklehurst has four points (0g-4a) in his last five games.
- Idaho's Mark Bomersback has scored two points in six of his last 11 games.
- Victoria's Chris St. Jacques has 11 points (5g-6a) in his last 10 games.

Bakersfield Condors (26-28-7) at Ontario Reign (32-22-4) 7 p.m. PT
- Ontario is 21-5-4 in one-goal games including 6-1 in shootouts and 2-3 in overtime.
- Bakersfield's Mike Wirll has a five-game point streak (7g-5a) and a five-game assist streak (5a).
- Reign rookie Tim Kraus has six points (3g-3a) in his last six games.
- Condors' Yutaka Fukufuji is 6-0-0 with a goals-against average of 3.20 in his last seven starts.

Utah Grizzlies (22-21-15) at Stockton Thunder (28-28-5) 7:30 p.m. PT
- Stockton's Cory Urquhart has a seven-game point streak (6g-4a) and a two-game goal streak (2g).
- Utah rookie Vladimir Nikiforov has a three-game point streak (3g-4a) and a two-game goal streak (3g).
- Thunder rookie James Bates has three assists and four points in his last two games.
- Grizzlies' Michael Mole is 3-0-1 with a goals-against average of 2.88 against Stockton.

Las Vegas Wranglers (27-24-8) at Alaska Aces (34-21-3) 7:15 p.m. AT
- Alaska's Lance Galbraith has nine points (4g-5a) in his last seven games.
- Las Vegas' Tyler Mosienko has a four-game point streak (4g-4a) and a two-game goal streak (3g).
- Matt Stefanishion has eight points (4g-4a) in his first six games with Alaska.
- Wranglers' Glenn Fisher is 2-0-1 with a goals-against average of 1.65 against Alaska.

Kelly Cup Playoffs Update

Florida can clinch a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on Saturday with a win in regulation


Most Ties, One Season
18 - Mobile Mysticks, 2001-02
16 - Johnstown Chiefs, 2005-06
15 - Utah Grizzlies, 2008-09
South Carolina Stingrays, 2005-06
14 - seven times, most recent; Las Vegas Wranglers, 2006-07

Watch Games Live on B2 Networks, the "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider" of the ECHL

Watch ECHL Games Around The Clock On ECHL TV on B2CableTV.com

Premier 'AA' Hockey League Fast Facts
* The ECHL celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
* ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 21 teams in 16 states and British Columbia in 2008-09.
* The league officially changed its name from East Coast Hockey League to ECHL on May 19, 2003.
* Affiliations with 24 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League marking 12th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.
* 398 former ECHL players have played in NHL.
* 142 have played their first NHL game in the last four seasons.
* 43 former ECHL players have made their NHL debut this season: former Idaho Steelheads right wing Jay Beagle (Washington on Feb. 11), former Wheeling Nailers and ECHL All-Star defenseman Paul Bissonnette (Pittsburgh on Oct. 4), former Stockton Thunder and ECHL All-Star right wing Troy Bodie (Anaheim on Jan. 16), former Bakersfield Condors center Alexandre Bolduc (Vancouver on Nov. 27), former Florida Everblades defenseman Brett Carson (Carolina on Dec. 7), former South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Sean Collins (Washington on Dec. 6), former Las Vegas Wranglers and Wheeling Nailers goaltender John Curry (Pittsburgh on Nov. 26), former Greenville Grrrowl goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (Edmonton on Oct. 17), former Johnstown Chiefs center Andre Deveaux (Toronto on Nov. 27), former Dayton Bombers center Philippe Dupuis (Colorado on Dec. 12), former Gwinnett Gladiators left wing Chris Durno (Colorado on Jan. 18), former Gwinnett Gladiators right wing Pat Dwyer (Carolina on Nov. 2), former Columbus Cottonmouths and Tallahassee Tiger Sharks left wing Mitch Fritz (New York Islanders on Oct. 30), former South Carolina Stingrays right wing Andrew Gordon (Washington on Dec. 23), former Augusta Lynx and Mississippi Sea Wolves goaltender Riku Helenius (Tampa Bay on Jan. 30), former Charlotte Checkers center Dwight Helminen (Carolina on Oct. 28), former Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Brent Krahn (Dallas on Feb. 14), former Trenton Devils right wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (New Jersey on Oct. 22), former Gwinnett Gladiators defenseman Scott Lehman (Atlanta on Dec. 18), former Utah Grizzlies defenseman Andrew MacDonald (New York Islanders on Feb. 28), former Charlotte Checkers defenseman Steve MacIntyre (Edmonton on Oct. 15), former Florida Everblades left wing Kenndal McArdle (Florida on Dec. 2), two-time All-Star and former Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Mike McKenna (Tampa Bay on Feb. 3), former All-Star and Wheeling Nailers center Kurtis McLean (New York Islanders on Jan. 19), former South Carolina Stingrays and ECHL All-Star goaltender Michal Neuvirth (Washingtons on Feb. 14), former Phoenix RoadRunners and Wheeling Nailers center Cam Paddock (St. Louis on Nov. 14), former Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Adam Pardy (Calgary on Oct. 9), former Idaho Steelheads left wing Warren Peters (Calgary on Dec. 7), former Charlotte Checkers center Jakub Petruzalek (Carolina on Feb. 5), former Charlotte Checkers defenseman Corey Potter (New York Rangers on Dec. 7), former Augusta Lynx defenseman Kevin Quick (Tampa Bay on Jan. 13), former Utah Grizzlies right wing Joel Rechlicz (New York Islanders on Mar. 4), former Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno and Elmira Jackals defenseman Bryan Rodney (Carolina on Dec. 11), former Gwinnett Gladiators center Jared Ross (Philadelphia on Oct. 11), former Alaska Aces goaltender Marek Schwarz (St. Louis on Oct. 25), former Greenville Grrrowl and Stockton Thunder center Tim Sestito (Edmonton on Nov. 26), former Dayton Bombers and Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Tyler Sloan (Washington on Oct. 21), former Utah Grizzlies and ECHL All-Star center Trevor Smith (New York Islanders on Dec. 31), former Johnstown Chiefs and Mississippi Sea Wolves forward Radek Smolenak (Tampa Bay on Dec. 2), former Augusta Lynx defenseman Brett Skinner (New York Islanders on Oct. 27), former Las Vegas Wranglers and ECHL All-Star defenseman Tyson Strachan (St. Louis on Dec. 18), former Wheeling Nailers right wing Tim Wallace (Pittsburgh on Dec. 10) and former Idaho Steelheads center Tom Wandell (Dallas on Dec. 10).
* There were 72 former ECHL players on NHL opening-day rosters.
* Twenty-six former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2007-08 including six who played in both the ECHL and the NHL: Chris Beckford-Tseu (Alaska and St. Louis), Adam Berti (Pensacola and Chicago), Joe Jensen (Wheeling and Carolina), Dan LaCosta (Elmira and Columbus), Jonathan Quick (Reading and Los Angeles) and Danny Taylor (Reading and Los Angeles).
* Record 47 former ECHL players played their first NHL game in 2005-06.
* ECHL is represented for the eighth consecutive year on the National Hockey League championship team in 2008 by Aaron Downey of the Detroit Red Wings.
* Former ECHL coaches working as head coaches in the NHL are Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals and Scott Gordon of the New York Islanders while former ECHL player Dan Bylsma is the interim head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Boudreau, who coached Mississippi for three seasons winning the Kelly Cup championship in 1999, was named NHL Coach of the Year in 2007-08 becoming the first former ECHL coach to receive the award. Peter Laviolette, who began his coaching career with the Wheeling Nailers, led Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006.
* There are 18 assistant coaches in the NHL who were players or coaches in the ECHL.
* There are 18 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2008-09 with referees David Banfield, Chris Ciamaga, Ghislain Hebert, Marc Joannette, Mike Leggo, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre and Ian Walsh and linesmen Steve Barton, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak and Jay Sharrers. Barton, Joannette, Leggo, McCauley, Nowak, Pollock, Rooney and Sharrers all worked the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* ECHL has affiliations with 23 of the 29 teams in the American Hockey League and for the past 19 years there has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup Champion.
* In the last six seasons the ECHL has had more call-ups to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined with over 2,000 call-ups involving more than 1,000 players since 2002-03.
* Further information on the ECHL is available from its website at ECHL.com.

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ECHL Stories from March 7, 2009


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