League-Leading Rivermen Host 2nd-Place Ice Bears Thursday and Friday
Published on February 17, 2015 under SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA - Sitting on top of the Southern Professional Hockey League standings, the Peoria Rivermen begin their final home stand of the season by facing the team that's a close second.
The Knoxville Ice Bears visit Carver Arena on Thursday and Friday at 7:05 each evening in a battle for first place. The Rivermen (27-13-3, 57 points) own a four-point lead over the runner-up Ice Bears (25-14-3, 53 points). Knoxville is 23-7-2 against the rest of the SPHL, but only 2-7-1 against Peoria as the Rivermen have won 8 of the previous 10 match-ups. The Rivermen captured the last meeting on January 22 by a 6-4 count in Knoxville.
Both teams won two of their three games from the past weekend. The Rivermen won the last two contests at Fayetteville while the Ice Bears won a pair of home games over Louisiana before dropping a Sunday decision at Columbus.
The Rivermen are led in scoring by Alex Hudson (11 goals, 21 assists, 32 points), who is on a four-game point streak and has collected a point in six of his last seven games. Of his total, 7 goals and 7 assists have been tallied against Knoxville. Hudson leads the Rivermen in assists while Jake Trask has scored a team-high 19 goals. Goalie Kyle Rank is second in the SPHL with a 2.23 goals against average and his 1,880 minutes are the most among league netminders.
Ryan Salvis leads the Ice Bears with 10 goals and 33 assists for 43 points, good for third in SPHL scoring. Salvis has collected 12 points against the Rivermen with just one goal.
The first 1,250 fans on Friday will receive a Bruce Saurs commemorative bobblehead courtesy of Unity Point Health Methodist/Proctor. Select lower bowl seats for Friday's game are available for only $8 through a special Facebook offer that expires Wednesday. Rivermen games can be heard inside Carver Arena on 93.7 FM and online at www.rivermen.net, and viewed via subscription at SPHLLive.com.
Season tickets on sale: The Rivermen have announced season ticket plans for 2015-16 with prices unchanged from the current campaign. Season tickets go on sale beginning Wednesday at the team offices in the Peoria Civic Center or by calling 309-676-1040. A list of season ticket benefits and plans can be found on the Rivermen's Facebook page and www.rivermen.net.
Single game tickets for Peoria's 33rd season of professional hockey are on sale weekdays at the Peoria Civic Center. Season ticket packages and group ticket options for the 2015-16 campaign are on sale now through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook (www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen ) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen ).
SPHL Stories from February 17, 2015
- Greiner Named Easton Player of the Week - Huntsville Havoc
- Joey Holka Called up to ECHL-Greenville - Mississippi RiverKings
- Huntsville's Luke Greiner Named Easton Player of the Week - SPHL
- Cottonmouths to Hold Legends Weekend - Columbus Cottonmouths
- League-Leading Rivermen Host 2nd-Place Ice Bears Thursday and Friday - Peoria Rivermen
- RiverKings Game vs. Havoc Postponed - Mississippi RiverKings
- Columbus Boosted by Szabados' Play in Net, Beats Knoxville 4-1 - Columbus Cottonmouths
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