Hounds Face Must-Win Game Six Tonight in Colorado

Published on April 10, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown SteelHounds face their third straight elimination game versus the Colorado Eagles and thus far are 2-0 with their backs against the wall. Colorado leads the opening round best-of-seven series 3-2 and can advance to the second round tonight at the Budweiser Events Center. Face-off is scheduled for 9:05 PM (EST).

The game can be heard on ESPN Radio - 1240, The Fan and through the SteelHounds webcast at www.steelhounds.com.

After falling behind in the series 3-0, the Hounds have won back-to-back games at the Chevrolet Centre and hence have jumped back into the first playoff series in franchise history.

"We have played very hungry over the past two games and have taken it to them," said SteelHounds Head Coach Kevin Kaminski. "All we need to do is come out with the same intensity and stick with the game plan like we did in games four and five and we'll be fine."

A healthy Chris Richards has been the key to the Hounds re-emergence. The veteran center missed the final two games of the regular season and the first game of the series due to an injury he sustained on March 23rd. The MVP finalist came back in Game Two of the series but looked rusty up until Game Four when he had a goal and two assists. He followed that up with a goal and five assists during a CHL record-tying effort in Game Five. Richards has a point in each of the Hounds last nine scores.

"It's good to have the 'Yard Dog' of old back," Kaminski said of Richards. "The way he is playing shows the grit he has but he still is a fantastic playmaker. You combine all that together with his work ethic and it's potent."

CHL MVP Jeff Christian has carried his share of the load in the series thus far scoring at least a point in each of the games and dating back to the regular season has points in 10 straight games. He has scored four goals with five assists in the series tying Richards for the team lead in points.

Amateur Rob Sirianni has been a pleasant surprise during the playoffs posting two goals and three assists in the five games thus far. The 23-year-old signed with the Hounds after the conclusion of his senior season at Division I Bemidji State where he was the team's second leading scorer with 29 points. Game Five saw Sirianni have his best game to date scoring a goal and contributing with two helpers.

Hounds defensemen Stephen Margeson and Jeff Alcombrack have both also chipped in with the offense totaling five points each. Margeson has scored three power play goals and has fueled the strong power play that is clicking at just under 20 percent in the post season. Alcombrack has two goals and three assists in the series.

Colorado has been paced by Ed McGrane's nine points and four goals. Both Chris Hartsburg and Les Borsheim have missed the last few games with injuries and both are questionable for tonight.

The Eagles are 13-4 all-time in their building in the CHL playoffs and the Hounds have the bad memories of a 0-6 career record at the Bud Events Center.

Should the series push to Game Seven, it will be tomorrow night in Colorado with face-off scheduled for 9:05 PM (EST).

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2007


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