Johnstown Chiefs Weekly

Published on March 8, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


The Johnstown Chiefs (35-19-6; 76 PTS; 4th Northern div.) remained in fourth place in the Northern division after going 2-2-0 last week. The Chiefs picked up wins over Reading and Atlantic City, but fell twice to the Wheeling Nailers. This week, the Chiefs will play three games in three nights. Friday night, they are at Reading, followed up by home games Saturday vs. Wheeling and Sunday afternoon vs. Trenton. The Chiefs lead fifth place Reading by five points and trail third place Peoria by four points. Wheeling leads the division with 92 points.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS (home team in caps)

GAME #57 (3/3/04) Johnstown 4 - READING 3 Kelly Goal, Assist

The Johnstown Chiefs handed the Reading Royals their first regulation loss at the Sovereign Center since October 31st, with 4-3 win Wednesday night. Brent Kelly led the Chiefs with a goal and an assist. Steve Hildenbrand, P.L. Courchesne and Jason Notermann also scored for the Chiefs who have now won four straight games. Reading got goals from Lars Pettersen, Peter Hay and Kent Davyduke scored for Reading. Chiefs goaltender Dimitri Patzold improved his record to 4-0-0 making 21 saves. Royals goaltender Cody Rudkowsky made 14 saves in the defeat.

GAME #58 (3/5/04) Wheeling 4 - JOHNSTOWN 3 Notermann Two Goals

The Johnstown Chiefs ten game home unbeaten streak (8-0-2) was snapped Friday night, as the Wheeling Nailers defeated them 4-3 at the War Memorial. Wheeling scored three first period goals Steve Crampton, Jake Ortmeyer, and Mario Larocque all tallied. Steve Hildenbrand scored a first period goal for the Chiefs. Kamil Kuriplach scored the other Wheeling goal. Jason Notermann had the other two Johnstown goals. Chiefs goaltender David Currie did not start the game but suffered the loss allowing one goal while making 11 saves. Dimitri Patzold (5 saves) started the game, allowing all three first period goals.

GAME #59 (3/6/04) JOHNSTOWN 4 - Atlantic City 0 Hildenbrand Four Points

Steve Hildenbrand scored two goals and assisted on two others and goaltender David Currie made 28 saves en route to his third shutout of the season, as the Johnstown Chiefs defeated the visiting Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 4-0, Saturday night at the War Memorial. Dominic Forget scored the other Johnstown goals as the Chiefs posted their seventh shutout of the season. Boardwalk Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling made 24 saves in the contest.

GAME #60 (3/7/04) WHEELING 6 - Johnstown 1 Currie 30 Saves

The Johnstown Chiefs suffered one of their worst losses of the season with Sunday's 6-1 defeat in Wheeling. Chad Cavanagh scored the only Johnstown goal. Jason Jaffray had four goals and an assist to lead the Nailers. Chiefs goaltender David Currie made 30 saves in the contest. Nailers goaltender Tyler MacKay made 23 saves.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS:

Fri. Mar. 12 @ Reading Royals 7:00 p.m. Radio: WLYE 850-AM, WVSC 990-AM, and www.johnstownchiefs.com

Wednesday night, the Chiefs travel to Reading as they take on the fifth place Royals (31-19-9, 71 PTS; 5th Northern div.). The Chiefs are 5-3-0 against the Royals this season. The Royals are currently in the midst of a four game winless streak, going 0-4-1. Reading is 4-4-1 in their last ten games. Johnstown leads Reading by five points in the Northern division.

Sat. Mar. 13 vs. Wheeling Nailers 7:05 p.m. Radio: WLYE 850-AM, WVSC 990-AM, and www.johnstownchiefs.com

The Chiefs will play the ECHL's best team, Wheeling Nailers (45-13-2, 92 PTS; 1st Northern div.) Saturday night at the War Memorial. The Chiefs are 4-3-0 against the Nailers this season and 60-60-15 all-time. This will be Wheeling last regular season game at the War Memorial this season.

Sun. Mar. 14 vs. Trenton Titans 2:30 p.m. Radio: WLYE 850-AM, WVSC 990-AM, and www.johnstownchiefs.com

Sunday afternoon at the War Memorial, the Chiefs will host the Trenton Titans (29-22-7, 65 PTS; 6th Northern div.). The Chiefs are 4-2-0 against the Titans this season and 10-15-2 all-time. Trenton currently trails fifth place Trenton by six points, for the final playoff spot in the Northern division. The Titans are 5-3-2 in their last ten games and winless in their last two games (0-1-1).

CHIEFS NOTES:

- The Chiefs are 17-5-3 in their last 25 games.

- Steve Hildenbrand has 9 goals and 16 points in his last ten games.

- The Chiefs are 7-3-0 in their last ten games.

- Johnstown has 22 home wins. The franchise record is 23 (2001-02).

- The Chiefs are five wins shy of a new franchise record for wins in a season (39; 2001-02).

CHIEFS TRANSACTIONS:
Mar. 6 Delete G, Dimitri Patzold, recalled to Cleveland (AHL)
Mar. 6 Add G, Shane Clifford, emergency back-up goaltender
Mar. 7 Delete F, Brent Kelly, loaned to Cleveland (AHL)
Mar. 8 Delete G, Shane Clifford, emergency back-up goaltender

TEAM LEADERS
Goals- Steve Hildenbrand (24)
Assists- Jeff Zehr (31)
Points- Hildenbrand (50)
PPG- Steve Hildenbrand (8)
PIM- Jeff Sullivan (245)
+/- - Ian Manzano (+11)
WINS- David Currie (13)
GAA- Cory Campbell (2.04)
Save %- Campbell (0.922)

Power Play- 12.7%; 37 or 292 (28th ECHL)
Penalty Kill- 88.8%; 237 for 267 (1st ECHL)

Community Appearances

March 9th - Chiefs players will be going to Ferndale Elementary School to meet with students from the fifth grade from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

March 10th- Players will be visiting with students at Conemaugh Twp. Elementary School in Davidsville, from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

March 11th- Two Chiefs players will be at the Nulton Diagnostics Treatment Center, in Riverside. The players will be reading to students in the afternoon.

For more information on Chiefs community appearances, please contact Kevin McGeehan at (814) 539-1799 x222.

Heluva Good Cheese Family Sundays

Each Sunday home game is Heluva Good Cheese Family Sunday's. After each of these games there will be a "Skate With the Chiefs." Skate rentals will not be available. The Family Fun Ticket Package (4 for $44) will also be available on Heluva Good Cheese Family Sundays.



ECHL Stories from March 8, 2004


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