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March 28, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


South Carolina Stingrays (39-22-6) at Gwinnett Gladiators (29-32-6) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Jordan Fox leads the Gladiators against South Carolina with 12 points (4g-8a) in 12 games.
- South Carolina's Keith Johnson has a six-game point streak (5g-5a) and a five-game assist streak (5a).
- Adam Berti leads the Gladiators in March with 11 assists and 14 points in 14 games.
- Stingrays have won last four meetings and are 4-2-1 on the road and 7-3-2 overall in season series with Gwinnett.

Cincinnati Cyclones (37-26-5) at Johnstown Chiefs (37-26-4) 7:05 p.m. ET
- Andrew Sarauer leads the Chiefs against Cincinnati with seven assists and 10 points in four games.
- Cyclones' Matt Syroczynski has a five-game point streak (4g-2a) and a three-game goal streak (4g).
- Chiefs' Petr Pohl had four assists and five points for the second time this season on Friday at Reading.
- Cincinnati rookie Mark Van Guilder has a five-game point streak (2g-4a) and a three-game assist streak (4a).

Charlotte Checkers (34-25-8) at Florida Everblades (44-17-5) 7:30 p.m. ET
- Four of the last six meetings have been decided in a shootout with each team winning twice.
- Charlotte rookie Matt Schepke has four goals and six points in his last five games.
- Florida rookie David Leggio is 23-7-3 and leads the ECHL with a goals-against average of 2.32.
- Checkers rookie Michel Leveille has four assists and five points in his last two games.

Wheeling Nailers (34-25-8) at Elmira Jackals (36-25-7) 7:35 p.m. ET
- Jackals have won the last three meetings and are 2-1-0 at home and 4-3-0 overall in season series with Wheeling.
- Wheeling's Bryan Ewing leads ECHL rookies with 42 goals and 88 points and ranks second with 46 assists.
- Elmira's Chaz Johnson has a four-game point streak (2g-4a) and nine points (3g-6a) in his last nine games.
- Nailers' Billy Ryan has a 10-game point streak (7g-12a).

Trenton Devils (37-25-6) at Dayton Bombers (30-31-7) 7:45 p.m. ET
- Dayton's David Shantz is 2-1-2 with a goals-against average of 3.28 in his last six games.
- Devils have won the last five meetings and are 2-0-0 at Dayton and 5-2-0 overall in season series with Bombers.
- Bombers' Andrew Fournier has four assists and four points in his last four games.
- Jeff Prough leads the Devils against Dayton with five goals and 11 points in five games.

Ontario Reign (37-28-5) at Idaho Steelheads (40-23-4) 7:10 p.m. MT
- Idaho's Bryan McGregor has nine points (6g-3a) in his last four games.
- Reign rookie Jeff Zatkoff is 2-1-0 with a goals-against average of 1.34 in his last three starts.
- Idaho defenseman Darrell Hay has four assists and five points in his last four games.
- Ontario rookie Tim Kraus has 10 assists and 10 points in his last 10 games.

Las Vegas Wranglers (32-29-8) at Bakersfield Condors (31-31-7) 7 p.m. PT
- Bakersfield's Mark Derlago has a 12-game point streak (9g-14a) and 39 points (14g-25a) in his last 20 games.
- Wranglers are 2-1-1 at Bakersfield and 5-2-1 overall in season series with Condors.
- Condors' Dave Bonk has a seven-game point streak (6g-7a) and 41 points (12g-29a) in his last 20 games.
- Wranglers' Kelly Czuy has six assists and nine points in his last eight games.

Alaska Aces (43-23-3) at Phoenix RoadRunners (29-33-5) 7:05 p.m. PT
- RoadRunners' John McNabb has a four-game point streak (1g-4a).
- Alaska's Scott Burt has a four-game goal streak (4g) and five goals in his last six games.
- Phoenix rookie Kyle Jones is 2-0-1 with a goals-against average of 1.61 in his last four games.
- Alaska's Matt Shasby ranks third among league defensemen with 38 assists and 45 points.

Victoria Salmon Kings (37-27-7) at Stockton Thunder (31-31-6) 7:30 p.m. PT
- Stockton rookie Andrew Perugini is 2-1-0 with a goals-against average of 1.95 against Victoria.
- Wes Goldie leads the Salmon Kings against Stockton with 10 goals and 11 points in 10 games.
- Thunder's Craig Valette has two assists and three points in his last two games.
- Salmon Kings' Chris St. Jacques has a four-game assist streak (6a) and a four-game point streak (0g-6a).

Kelly Cup Playoff Update

Las Vegas can clinch a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on Saturday with a win

Florida can clinch the Brabham Cup on Saturday with a win AND a win by Phoenix

Ontario can clinch the Pacific Division on Saturday with a win OR with an overtime/shootout loss OR with a win by Bakersfield

ECHL Record Book Look

Most Shutouts By Goaltender, Season
7 - Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, Alaska, 2008-09
- Frederic Cloutier, Louisiana, 2001-02
- David Brumby, Jackson, 1999-2000
- Maxime Gingras, Richmond, 1998-99
6 - Alfie Michaud, Peoria, 2004-05
- Matthew Yeats, Texas, 2006-07

Most Shutouts, One Season
11 - Wheeling Nailers, 2003-04
10 - Wheeling Nailers, 2004-05
- Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, 2003-04
- Louisiana IceGators, 2001-02
9 - four times, most recent; Alaska Aces, 2008-09

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

Most Power-Play Goals, Season
27 - Colin Ward, Nashville, 1995-96
26 - Kevin Baker, Florida, 2008-09
- Andrew Williamson, Toledo, 1999-2000
- Darren Colbourne, Dayton, 1991-92
25 - Darren Colbourne, Richmond, 1993-94
24 - five times, most recent; Don Parsons, Louisiana, 1997-98

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.
* 402 former ECHL players have played in NHL.
* 146 have played their first NHL game in the last four seasons.
* 47 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 Florida Everblades and ECHL All-Star center Matt Hendricks (Colorado on Mar. 10), 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 Johnstown Chiefs defenseman Wes O'Neill (Colorado on Mar. 27), former Columbia Inferno defenseman Phil Oreskovic (Toronto on Mar. 9), 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 Phoenix RoadRunners goaltender Josh Tordjman (Phoenix on Mar. 8), 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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