Ice Looks to Even Series Tuesday Night in Memphis
April 7, 2003 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Indianapolis Ice News Release
ICE AND "KINGS": The defending CHL Champion Memphis RiverKings leads the best-of-seven Northern Conference Finals one game to none over the Ice after an opening game 5-4 victory this past Friday night from the DeSoto Civic Center in Southhaven, MS. With the win, Memphis remains unbeaten in two years of playoff action against Indianapolis, as the Ice is now a combined 0-4 against the "Kings" which includes this year's loss and three defeats in the 2000-01 playoffs. During the regular season, the Ice was 5-6-1 against Memphis this year, but seven of the 12 games were played on the road including seven of the last nine meetings. The Ice reached the conference finals after eliminating the Amarillo Gorillas three games to one, while the RiverKings took their first round series from the Oklahoma City Blazers three games to two.
Game One Recap: Memphis captured game one of the series with a 5-4 victory over the Ice aided by a dominating performance in the special teams department. Four of the "Kings" five goals were of the special teams variety as Memphis tallied three power play goals and one shorthanded goal. Scoring goals for the RiverKings were Michal Stastny, Don Parsons, Jonathan Gagnon, Luch Nasato and Derek Landmesser, while Mark Richards took the win in net with 16 saves. The Ice was only down one on several occasions throughout the game, but never took the lead. Scoring goals for the Icemen were Randy Holmes, Kevin St. Jacques, Jared Dumba and Bernie John, while Shawn Silver took the loss in net despite 19 saves.
ICE NOTABLES: Bernie John leads all CHL players in playoff assists (7) and his eight points ties him for first among CHL d-men in scoring for the playoffs...Randy Holmes is riding a three-game point streak that includes four points (1G, 3A)...Kevin St. Jacques has five points (3G, 2A) in his last two games...Jared Dumba (3G, 1A) and Jason Baird (1G, 3A) each have four points in their last two games...Ice goaltender Jamie Morris is 10-4 with a 1.83 goals-against-average in 16 career playoff games with the Ice.
CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE: The Ice roster features four players who have experienced the taste of victory in the pro ranks in forwards Kevin St. Jacques and Jared Dumba, defenseman Bernie John and goaltender Jamie Morris. St. Jacques, who tops all players on both teams in playoff experience, was a member of three West Coast Hockey League Championship Teams (San Diego- 1996-98, Phoenix- 1999-00), while Dumba was a member of Oklahoma City's 2001 CHL Championship Team. John led all Ice defensemen with nine points during Indy's 2000 Championship run, while Morris was the Playoff MVP that year after going 8-3 with a 1.63 GAA and two shutouts. In addition, Ryan Aikia played for the 2000 CHL runner-up Columbus Cottonmouths, while Greg Olsen was a member of the United Hockey League runner-ups last season in the Elmira Jackals.
TEAM NOTES: The opposing team has scored the first goal in four of the five games against the Ice in the playoffs... The Ice has the top road power play unit in the playoffs (4-20, 20.0%), but the worst road penalty killing unit (12/20, 60.0%)...Indy has outscored its opponents in the playoffs 9-3 in the third period, but has been outscored 16-12 in the opening two frames...Memphis has been outscored 9-7 in the third period during the playoffs, but has outscored its opponents 21-13 in the first two periods...Memphis leads the CHL with 12 playoff power play goals and four playoff shorthanded goals in just six games of action....Memphis is a perfect 3-0 at home this year in the playoffs, while the Ice is 1-2 on the road in the playoffs.
2002-2003 INDIANAPOLIS ICE PLAYOFF STATISTICS
Record: 3-2 Home 2-0 Road 1-2
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Central Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2003
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- Ice Looks to Even Series Tuesday Night in Memphis - Indianapolis Ice
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