CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Late goal leads to shootout win at Youngstown

December 29, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OH --- Phil Aucoin tied the game late in the third and Travis Banga finished it with the shootout clincher as the Memphis RiverKings squeaked out 6-5 win over the Youngstown Steelhounds Friday night in Youngstown. The game pitted the top teams in the CHL's Northeast Division. The shoot-out win increases the RiverKings' advantage over the Steelhounds by one point and now have a five point lead. The two teams play again tomorrow night at 6:05 CST at the Chevrolet Center.

Rick Kozak had his third two-goal in his first 12 games with the RiverKings. Derek Landmesser and Ryan Held also scored for Memphis. Jason Sessa finished with three assists, matching a single-game career high. For Youngstown, Brad Patterson had a hat trick while Chris Richards scored a pair.

Kozak and Held scored in the first 5:24 of the game to get the RiverKings off to a 2-0 lead. Patterson came back :15 after Held's goal and then again at 16:27 to even the score through the first period.

The second period was a rollercoaster. Landmesser scored his sixth of the season at 2:17 on the power play to give the lead back to Memphis. Youngstown's Patterson completed the hat trick less than a minute later to tie it back up at three.

Kozak reclaimed the lead for his team on a redirection of a Landmesser shot at 5:13 of the second. For Kozak, it was his 11th of the season and 10th goal in the last eight games. He also added an assist later on Aucoin's goal for a three point game. The lead lasted until 8:44 of the period as Richards scored the first of his two goals with his second, at 18:08, giving the Steelhounds their first lead.

Youngstown maintained the 5-4 lead until Aucoin's backhanded rebound effort found the net on a power play at 17:21 of the third period. After a scoreless overtime, the RiverKings outscored the Steelhounds 2-1 in the shootout with the two conversions coming from Ryan Campbell and Banga in the final two rounds. Goalie Larry Sterling then snuffed out Paul Esdale's attempt to seal the win.

The RiverKings improved 5-1 in shootouts and 18-6-3 overall. Sterling picked up his CHL leading 17th win. The Steelhounds had the shots advantage at 31-25. The RiverKings went three for six on the powerplay while Youngstown went two for six.

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A RiverKings game is even more fun when you come as a group. Groups of 15 or more save up to 30% on the box office rate, plus every person in the group receives a player mini bobblehead. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.

Don't miss the next Kevin McClelland Show on Tuesday, January 2 LIVE from Beef O' Brady's in Southaven from 6-7 on Sports 56 WHBQ.

RiverKings Single-Game Tickets for all 2006-2007 home games are on sale now at the DeSoto Civic Center box office and at all TicketMaster locations and at ticketmaster.com.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Sunday, January 7 --- Post Game Skate with Players; Tuesday, January 9 --- WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix to first 1,500 fans; Friday, January 12 --- Cellular South Darrell Stoddard Mini Bobbleheads to first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate; Friday, January 19 --- RiverKings Drawsting Backpacks to the first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate

After every RiverKings home game, the party heads to the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Airways in Southaven, the official Post Game Hang-Out of the RiverKings.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2006


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