Kingfish Weekly

December 30, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Baton Rouge Kingfish News Release


Kingfish Leaders: Through 35 games this season, Bryan Richardson leads the Kingfish in scoring. The center man has he has tallied 16 goals and 17 assists for 33 points in 32 games for the Kingfish. Jeff Blair has started 22 games this season for the Kingfish and has posted a 2.96 goals against average and a .907 save percentage.

All-Star: Kingfish forward Joe Guenther has been selected to represent the Kingfish in the 2003 Compuware ECHL All-Star game in Estero, Florida. The West Seneca native has been averaging a point-a-game as he has picked up 6 goals and 11 assists for 17 points in just 17 games this season with the Kingfish.

Down a man: Kingfish center man Bryan Richardson tallied his 3rd shorthanded goal of the season in the Kingfish's 4-1 loss at Jackson on Saturday night. With the goal, Richardson ties the Kingfish record for most shorthanded goals in a season. Mike Rucinski (00-01), Dan Shermerhorn (99-00) and Jon Sturgis (99-00) have each tallied three shorthanded goals in a season. Tyler Rennette of Peoria and Steffon Walby of Mississippi are tied for the lead in shorthanded goals this season in the ECHL with four, Richardson's three places him in a tie for third in the ECHL.

Movin' on up: Bryan Richardson is just four goals shy of the 100-goal plateau as a Kingfish. He entered the season just 20 goals shy of the century mark and has tallied 16 markers on the season. He is seven goals shy of the Kingfish's team record of 103 goals, a mark held by Kingfish Head Coach Cam Brown. With 96 goals in his Kingfish career, Richardson is in sole possession of fourth place on the franchise list for goals scored. Cam Brown holds the franchise record with 139 goals.

No more than three: Despite a 10-19-6 record, the Kingfish have not lost a game by more than three goals this season. For just the third time this season, the Kingfish lost by three goals in last night's 4-1 loss at Jackson. The Mississippi Sea Wolves are the only other 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 21 one-goal games this season and are 5-10-6 in those contests.

End of Regulation: The Kingfish have gone to overtime in four of their last seven games. They have won just one of those games in the extra sessions. Brian Leitza stopped all five Cincinnati shooters over a week and a half ago for the Kingfish's only overtime/shootout win in that seven game span. The Kingfish lost in a shootout to Toledo, 3-2, Arkansas, 4-3 and in overtime to Louisiana, 4-3.

Back Home: The Kingfish played their first game in Baton Rogue in over two weeks yesterday. They fell to the IceGators 4-3 in overtime after going 2-3-2 in their previous seven away from the ‘Fish Tank'. The Kingfish went 2-1-1 against the Northwest division, the middle part of the trip before visiting Arkansas on Friday and Jackson on Saturday. During the road trip, the Kingfish tallied one shorthanded goal, one empty net goal and three power play goals while out shooting their opponents 232-161.

Last Week's Games: 0-1-2, 2 points

December 27th, @ Arkansas 4, Kingfish 3 (SOL)

Ryan Trsek was at the right place at the right time to give the Kingfish a 1-0 lead before the end of the first period of play. Jason Saal tried to clear the puck with just 16 seconds left in the first period and threw the puck off of Tresk, and bounced back into the net. The RiverBlades tied the contest up five minutes into the second period as Jason Bermingham beat Leitza over the shoulder. The Kingfish answered two and a half minutes later on the power play as Sam Paquet's one-timer beat Saal giving the Kingfish a 2-1 lead. Arkansas rattled off the first two goals of the third period, another from Bermingham and one from Mike Cirillo, to take the 3-2 lead. Garnet Jacobson answered at the 4:58 mark of the third, just 19 seconds after Arkansas' go-ahead third goal. The RiverBlades needed seven rounds in the shootout to get past the Kingfish.

December 28th, @ Jackson 4, Kingfish 1

Nick Theriault and John McNabb scored seven minutes apart in the first period as the Bandits jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the end of the opening period. A great individual effort by Bryan Richardson on the penalty kill cut the Jackson lead to one as he slipped past the Bandits' defense off an offensive zone draw and beat Adam Hauser at the 3:08 mark of the second for the shorthanded goal. Jackson regained the two-goal lead before the end of the second period as Scott Kelman beat Jeff Blair at the 9:25 mark of the period. Jackson added an insurance tally late in the third as Brent Gauvreau beat Blair at the 15:26 mark of the third. Jeff Blair made 40 saves in the loss.

December 29th, Louisiana 4, Kingfish 3 (OTL)

Louisiana jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the end of the first period of play. Cal Benazic gave the IceGators the 1-0 lead at the 3:25 mark of the first, and Bobby Brown took advantage of a Kingfish miscue with five seconds remaining in the first period. Jason Norrie answered for the Kingfish in the second period with a little over 10 minutes to play in the period to cut the lead back to one. The IceGators regained the two-goal advantage as Nathan Rempel beat Blair at the 11:49 mark of the third. The Kingfish battled back as Jerry Gernander cut the IceGator lead to one with three minutes remaining and Mike Kiesman tied the contest at three with a power play goal as he picked up a rebound and flipped the puck over Kyle Kettles for the goal with just four seconds remaining in the third period. Louisiana scored the game winner 24 seconds into the overtime session as Daniel Goneau beat Blair over the shoulder.

This Week's Games:

Tuesday, December 31, 2002, @ Louisiana, 7:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Second of three meetings in four games against the IceGators. Louisiana leads the season series 3-2-0, including two wins at the Cajundome this season. IceGators won the last meeting, a 4-3 overtime win at the Fish Tank.

Friday, January 3, 2003, vs. Pensacola, 7:05 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

First meeting against the Ice Pilots in a month and the fourth trip for the Kingfish this season to Florida. The Kingfish are 1-3-2 this season against the Ice Pilots. Baton Rouge's only win came in a shootout in Pensacola on December 5th.

Saturday, January 4, 2003, vs. Louisiana, 7:05 p.m. (sportsjuice.com)

Last meeting against Louisiana in the month of January. IceGators lead the all time series against he Kingfish 40-18-7. Kingfish have outscored the IceGators in the third period this season, 6-5 and have out shot the IceGators overall 138-133.

Sunday, January 5, 2003, @Pensacola, 5:00 p.m. (104.5, WZRB)

Kingfish won the last meeting against the Ice Pilots in Pensacola. Kingfish are 35-34-6 all time against the Ice Pilots. Second of four meetings against the Ice Pilots in January this season.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

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

Monday: day off

Tuesday: Game @ Louisiana, 7:05 face off (bus leaves approx. 3:30 p.m.)

Wednesday: day off

Thursday: 10 a.m. to 12 noon skate @ Centroplex

Friday: Game vs. Pensacola, 7:05 face off (pre game skate approx 10 a.m.)

Saturday: Game vs. Louisiana, 7:05 face off (pre game skate approx 10 a.m.)

Sunday: Game @ Pensacola, 5:00 p.m. (bus leaves approx. 11 a.m.)

Get Your Group On: Call the Kingfish office at 225-336-GOAL to find out about special rates and benefits for groups and birthday parties at a Kingfish game. Check out all the fun an excitement at the ‘Fish Tank' this season.

Around Town: Join a handful of Kingfish players at the Albertson's on College Drive this Thursday, January 2nd. The Kingfish will be signing autographs while Jam ‘N 107.3, WJNH will be broadcasting live from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. A few of the IceBreakers, the Kingfish dance team, will also make an appearance at Albertson's.



ECHL Stories from December 30, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central