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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

Hosmer's Hat Trick Helps Hold off Fayetteville

January 4, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. -- Behind Todd Hosmer's third hat trick of the season, the Mississippi RiverKings (16-8-2) knocked off the Fayetteville FireAntz (11-10-2) by the score of 6-4 for the second time in as many nights.

Just like last, the RiverKings found themselves trailing early. Mike Kavanagh ripped a shot from the point past Dan McWhinney to give the FireAntz a 1-0 lead 7:04 into the opening period. Leo Thomas responded for the RiverKings as the puck deflected off his leg and to the back of the net three minutes later to tie the game at one. Corey Tamblyn helped Fayetteville regain the lead at the 16:05 mark from Kyle McNeil and Evan Chlanda.

But the RiverKings special teams led the rest of the way. With Mike Hayward in the penalty box for elbowing, Leo Thomas found Todd Hosmer open behind the FireAntz defense and Hosmer buried his shot past Brad Fogal to tie the game at two. With four second remaining in the period, Andrew Randazzo's power play goal sent the RiverKings into the first intermission leading by one.

The two teams traded goals in the second. Tom Craig's pass found Tyler Sheldrake at the point and Sheldrake's slap shot beat Fogal for his first goal of the season to extend the RiverKings' lead to 4-2. Less than two minutes later, John Clewlow took a Derek Elliott pass and buried it past Dan McWhinney to cut the Fayetteville deficit to one heading into the second intermission.

In the third, the RiverKings got an insurance goal early. Hosmer collected his second goal of the game on a pass from Matt Whitehead in the slot to give the RiverKings an insurance marker. Brandon Greenside cut the RiverKings' lead to one yet again on a shot from the point that slid through the legs of McWhinney at the 4:06 mark of the final period. Hosmer completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal at the 18:38 mark of the third to give the RiverKings the 6-4 win.

Dan McWhinney (8-6-0) stopped 44 of 48 shots in the win. Brad Fogal (1-3-0) took the loss after stopping 15 of 20 shots against.

The RiverKings are back in action next weekend in Huntsville against the Havoc. The action starts at 7:30 p.m. and broadcasts live on Sports 56 and 87.7FM. Be sure to be at Old Style BBQ, the Official Away Game Watch Party Headquarters of the Mississippi RiverKings on Friday night.



SPHL Stories from January 4, 2014


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