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Kingfish Complete Northern Swing

December 23, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Baton Rouge Kingfish News Release


The Kingfish finished up their northern swing with a 3-2 shootout loss to the Toledo Storm on Sunday. The Kingfish went 2-1-1 against the Northwest division and are 2-2-1 on their seven game road trip away from the ‘Fish Tank. The Kingfish close out the road trip with games Friday in Arkansas and Saturday in Jackson before hosting Louisiana on Sunday.

"I like biscuits..." ...hockey pucks that is, as Jeff Blair stopped over 80 shots in his last two appearances. He turned aside 49 shots in the Kingfish's 2-1 last second loss to Peoria on Saturday and stopped 40 Toledo shots in Sunday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Storm.

On fire: Kingfish defenseman Trevor Demmans has picked up 6 points in his last four games for Baton Rouge. He has tallied two goals and four assists including the Kingfish's only tally in Saturday's last second loss to Peoria. In addition he was a plus six rating in his last four games for the Kingfish.

Richardson on a Roll: Kingfish forward Bryan Richardson continues to produce for the Kingfish. In his last 10 games, the center man has tallied 6 goals and 8 assists for 14 points. He picked up the game-tying goal to send the game to overtime in yesterday's 3-2 shootout loss to Toledo.

On the Penalty Kill: The Kingfish were successful on the penalty kill during their four game swing against the Northwest division. The Kingfish were successful in killing off 87% of their opponents' power play opportunities. After giving up two goals on their first two penalty kills against Cincinnati on Wednesday, the Kingfish gave up just one goal on the man advantage on the ensuing 21 opponent opportunities.

No more than three: Despite a 10-18-5 record, the Kingfish have not lost a game by more than three goals this season. The Mississippi Sea Wolves are the only team to beat the Kingfish by three goals, two 4-1 scores, the first on October 27th, the second on December 14th. The Kingfish have played in 20 one-goal games this season and are 5-10-5 in those contests.

Bumps and Bruises: The Kingfish played with a short bench for much of the northern swing. Sam Paquet missed Wednesday's match-up with Cincinnati and Friday's game at Peoria with the flu. The Kingfish lost the services of Steve Cheredaryk due to a shoulder injury on Saturday as well as the services of Forrest Gore due to a groin injury early in Saturday's contest.

Last Week's Games: 2-1-1, 5 pts.

December 18th, Kingfish 5, @ Cincinnati 4, (SOW)

Marquis Mathieu opened the scoring for the Kingfish as he scored just four minutes into the contest. Cincinnati tied the game up at one on the power play on a goal by Evan Cheverie. Cincinnati took the 2-1 lead on their second power play of the game as Ryan Gaucher beat Brian Leitza for the goal. Mike Kiesman answered on the power play early in the second period. Joe Guenther regained the lead for the Kingfish on the power play at the midway mark of the second period. Joe Cardarelli tied the game up at three before the end of the middle stanza. The Kingfish took the 4-3 lead on a laser slap shot from Sean Peach midway through the third period. Cincinnati sent the game to overtime as Cheverie added his second of the game at the 17:10 mark of the third. The Kingfish won the contest in a shootout as Leitza stopped all five Cyclone shooters while Joe Guenther was the only player on both teams to score in the shootout.

December 20th, Kingfish 3, @ Peoria 1

Peoria score the first goal of the game as Mike Stuart's blast from the point beat Jeff Blair over the shoulder four minutes into the game. Forrest Gore answered just two minutes later to tie the game at one. The Kingfish took the 2-1 lead as Marquis Mathieu beat Duane Derksen six minutes into the third for the game winner. Sean Peach added an empty net goal with 43 seconds remaining in the game to ice the contest for the Kingfish.

December 21st, @ Peoria 2, Kingfish 1

The second of back-to-back games with the Rivermen in as many nights was another tight checking contest. The Kingfish opened the scoring on a blast from the high slot from Trevor Demmans that ricochet off the posts and past Mathieu Chouinard with about three minutes left in the opening stanza. The lead stood till the midway mark of the third as Brendan Brooks picked up a power play goal to tie the game at one. Peoria won the game on a controversial goal with less than a second to play. With 2.6 seconds left on the clock, a defensive zone draw to the right of Jeff Blair ensued. Peoria won the face-off and sent a shot to the front of the net that Jeff Blair saves, the rebound came right out to Trevor Baker who threw the rebound past Blair as time expired on the clock. Peoria came away with the 2-1 win in regulation as Blair made 49 saves for the Kingfish in the losing effort.

December 22nd, @ Toledo 3, Kingfish 2 (SOL)

Playing with a short bench, the Kingfish added another blemish to Toledo's almost perfect home record. Toledo jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period, as Brandon Fleenor scored the first goal for the Storm late in the first period. Toledo took the two-goal advantage early in the second period on a goal by Alexandre Jacques. The Kingfish answered as Trevor Demmans fired a slap shot over the shoulder Tom Draper to get the Kingfish on the board midway through the second period. With a minute left in the third, Bryan Richardson threw the puck into an empty net to tie the game at two, Jason Norrie set up the play as he dumped the puck into the right corner. Tom Draper wandered out of his net and was beat to the puck by Joe Guenther, who found Richardson wide open in front of the empty net and slapped the puck home. Toledo's Eric Anderson scored the only goal in the shootout to pick up the win for the Storm.

This Week's Games:

Friday, December 27, 2002, @ Arkansas, 7:00 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Kingfish battle RiverBlades for the sixth time this season. Baton Rouge is 2-3-0 against Arkansas so far this season. Arkansas won the last meeting between these two teams, a 3-1 win on the first game of the Kingfish's seven game road trip. Arkansas has held three goals leads over the Kingfish in every game between these teams this season.

Saturday, December 28, 2002, @ Jackson, 7:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Kingfish finish out their seven game road trip in Jackson. First and only meeting between the Kingfish and Bandits in the month of December. Kingfish are 2-3-1 this season against the Bandits. Jackson won the last meeting, a 4-3 win on November 19th at the Fish Tank.

Sunday, December 29, 2002, vs. Louisiana, 4:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Kingfish beat IceGators on December 11th, a 6-5 win at the Fish Tank. Baton Rouge is 2-2-0 this season against the IceGators. Home ice has been key as the home team has won every game in this series so far this season. First home game for the Kingfish in over two weeks.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

All practices are open to the public unless otherwise specified, Please call to verify practice times.

Monday: Travel Day – Return to Baton Rouge from Toledo – arrive approx 5 p.m.

Tuesday: holiday break – day off

Wednesday: holiday break – day off

Thursday: 10 a.m. skate – Riverside Centroplex (leave for Arkansas @ 1 p.m.)

Friday: Game @ Arkansas, 7:00 face off (pre game skate approx 11 a.m.)

Saturday: Game @ Jackson, 7:05 face off (pre game skate approx 11 a.m.)

Sunday: Game vs. Louisiana, 4:05 face off (pre game skate approx 10 a.m.)

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