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Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights Weekly Report

October 2, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Abbotsford Heat News Release


Omaha, NE - After two preseason tune ups, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights embark on their second season in the American Hockey League beginning Friday when they visit the Peoria Rivermen. The Knights will open the new season with four straight road games including a Saturday match-up with the defending Western Conference Champion Milwaukee Admirals. Omaha, the top development team of the NHL's Calgary Flames, is coming off an inaugural campaign in which the team went 35-31-3-11, good for sixth place in the West Division of the AHL. Again this season, the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights will be slugging it out in a competitive division. Last year, six of the seven teams in the West Division had a record above .500 while no other division had more than four teams higher than that mark. Last season, the West also had two teams in the top five in goals per game (Houston and Chicago) and two teams in the top five in goals against per game (the Knights and Peoria).

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights return three of their top four scorers from their inaugural season including leading goal scorer Carsen Germyn (24-31-55), leading rookie scorer Dave Moss (21-27-48) and Justin Taylor (16-19-35). The Knights also return defenseman Richie Regehr who was second in scoring among blueliners last season (7-23-30). Goaltenders Brent Krahn and Curtis McElhinney return as battery mates. Both netminders finished in the top five in the AHL in goals-against average (Krahn-2.50, McElhinney-2.52) while combining for the AHL's fourth-best goals-against average (2.76). In all, the Knights will begin the season with a solid nucleus of players. Eighteen of the Knights' 24 players suited up last year in Omaha.

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights also will welcome several rookies into the fold. Center Dustin Boyd had 90 points (48-42-90) for the Moose Jaw Warriors and finished third in Western Hockey League scoring. Right wing Adam Cracknell was second in WHL scoring (42-51-93) while playing for the Kootenay Ice. Center Andrei Taratukhin was Calgary's second round draft choice in 2001 and played five games for Russia in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. David Van der Gulik recently finished a standout four-year career at Boston University while forward Kris Chucko comes to the Knights from the University of Minnesota. Defenseman Tim Ramholt is playing his first season in North America after playing several years in his native Switzerland.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS:
Saturday, September 30: Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 3, Iowa Stars 0
In their first pre-season game of the season, the Knights rode the goaltending of rookie Matt Keetley to a shutout win. Keetley had 23 saves and earned an assist in the contest. Training camp invitee Steve McJannett had a powerplay goal in the first period that stood up until fellow invitee Derek Edwardson beat Stars' goalie Tobias Stephan with a wrist shot early in the third period. Justin Taylor scored a shorthanded, empty-net goal with an assist from Keetley to finish the scoring.

Sunday, October 1: Iowa Stars 3, Ak-Sar-Ben Knights 1
The Knights again scored first in the rematch when Kris Chucko knocked in a rebound for a powerplay goal midway through the first period. Iowa's Joel Lundqvist tied the game early in the second before John Lammers gave the Stars the lead at 17:09. Marty Sertich added a goal 2:09 later for the final score. Curtis McElhinney played 31:29 of the game, allowing just one goal on 24 shots. Mike McKenna went the rest of the way, surrendering two goals.

THE WEEK AHEAD:
DAY/DATE EVENT TIME BROADCAST
Mon., Oct. 2 Day Off
Tues., Oct. 3 Practice @ OCA 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 4 Practice @ OCA 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 5 Practice @ OCA 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Fri., Oct. 6 Morning Skate @ CA 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Game @ Peoria 7:30 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2
Sat., Oct. 7 Morning Skate @ BC 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Game @ Milwaukee 7:30 p.m. 1420 AM, Web, B2
Sun., Oct. 8 Day Off

Legend

OCA--Omaha Civic Auditorium
CA-Carver Arena
BC-Bradley Center
Web-Free live audio broadcast of game at omahaaksarbenknights.com (Choose "Listen Live" link from home page)
B2-B2 Networks live, pay-per-view webcast, available at omahaaksarbenknights.com for $6 per game by clicking on B2 Networks link.

All times Central time (Subject to change)

OPPONENTS THIS WEEK:
Friday, October 6 @ Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues), 7:30 p.m.
First of ten meetings; first of five meetings in Peoria, IL
The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights open the season on the road for the first time as they travel to Peoria to play the St. Louis Blues' top prospects. Last season, the Knights were 2-6-1-1 against Peoria with both wins coming on the ice of Carver Arena. After getting together this weekend, the two West Division foes will not play again until a home and home series on November 24th and 25th. The Rivermen return four of their five top scorers from a year ago in Jon DiSalvatore (22-45-67), Mike Glumac (25-32-57), Trent Whitfield (19-34-53) and Peter Sejna (19-31-50). The Blues also signed veteran forward Denis Pederson during the off season. He has played in more than 400 NHL games and is coming off a stint in the Germany Hockey League where he won two championships. Friday's game marks the season opener for both teams.

Saturday, October 7 @ Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators/Edmonton Oilers), 7:30 p.m.
First of ten meetings; first of five meetings in Milwaukee, WI
The Knights conclude the opening weekend with a trip to Milwaukee to take on the reigning Western Conference Champions. The Admirals stormed to the Calder Cup Finals, winning a tough seven-game series with Iowa before sweeping Houston and Grand Rapids in four games each. The Admirals then lost to the Hershey Bears 4-2 in the Calder Cup Finals. The Admirals will be without their leading scorer from last year, Darren Hadar. After spending nearly his entire pro career with Milwaukee and helping the team earn a Calder Cup, Haydar signed with the Atlanta Thrashers during the off season. He takes with him 35 goals and 92 points from the 2005-06 squad. The Admirals also will be without goaltender Pekka Rinne in the opening months of the season. The Finnish netminder is rehabbing an injury and isn't expected to play until December or January. Rinne was 6-1-0 against the Knights last season. Saturday's game is the Admirals' season opener.

KNIGHTS NOTES:
The Knights released several players from training camp following their game in Iowa last night. Those players released include: Goaltenders (2) - Matt Keetley, Mike McKenna; Defensemen (2) - Jason Josza, Jakko Harikkala; Forwards (3) - Derek Edwardson, Rane Carnegie, Steve McJannett

Defenseman Tim Hambly led the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in scoring in the preseason with two assists.

The Knights won a majority of their games in 2005-06 on the road where they posted a record of 19-18-1-2. They were 2-3-0-0 in Peoria and 1-4-0-0 in Milwaukee.

In 2005-06, the Knights powerplay on the road clicked at 18.4% to rank in the top ten in the AHL. That was a full percentage point better than their season average.

TRANSACTIONS:
9/22/05, ADD Goaltender Matt Keetley; defensemen Tim Hambly, Steve Marr, Brett Palin, Adam Pardy, Tim Ramholt; forwards Kris Chucko, Derek Couture, Adam Cracknell, Cam Cunning, Ryan Donally, Carsen Germyn, Tomi Maki, David Moss, Chris Neiszner, Warren Peters, Aki Seitsonen, Justin Taylor, David Van der Gulik, assigned on loan from Calgary (NHL)

9/26/06, ADD Goaltender Curtis McElhinney, assigned on loan from Calgary (NHL)

10/1/06, ADD Goaltender Brent Krahn; defenseman Richie Regehr; forwards Dustin Boyd, Brandon Prust, Andrei Taratukhin, assigned on loan from Calgary (NHL)

10/1/06, DELETE Goaltenders Matt Keetley, Mike McKenna; defensemen Jason Josza, Jakko Harikkala; forwards Derek Edwardson, Rane Carnegie, Steve McJannett

IN THE COMMUNITY:
Alegent Fitness Program, Tuesday, October 3: Knights' players Dave Moss and Tomi Maki and play-by-play voice Dave Ahlers will present the Alegent Fitness Program, a full school assembly, to students at the All Saints School in Omaha at 2:15 p.m.

Hospital Visit, Wednesday, October 4: Knights' players Justin Taylor, Steve Marr, Tim Hambly and Brett Palin are scheduled to visit patients at Children's Hospital in Omaha at 2:00 p.m.

Season Ticket Holder Pick-Up Party, October 4: Knights' players will be on hand at The Ice House at 108th and Maple in Omaha as the team hosts its annual event for season ticket holders. The night begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' Speakers Bureau is available to provide speakers to local businesses, civic and church groups and other interested organizations holding weekly or monthly meetings and special events. There is no charge for this program. For more information on the Speakers Bureau or to schedule an appearance for your group's next meeting, call Dave Ahlers at (402) 344-GOAL or contact him by e-mail at dahlers@omahaaksarbenknights.com.

CALGARY FLAMES UPDATE:
After posting a record of 3-3-1 during the preseason, the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' National Hockey League affiliate, the Calgary Flames, begins its season on Thursday, October 5th when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for a resumption of the "Battle of Alberta". The two teams will square off again on Saturday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Flames and Oilers split a pair of preseason games with the visitors winning both games.

For more information on the Flames, visit calgaryflames.com.

OMAHAAKSARBENKNIGHTS.COM
The Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' official web site, omahaaksarbenknights.com, is the comprehensive source for all information about the Knights during the season. Log on for player bios and stats, game recaps, a list of community appearances, stats, photos, great downloads and live links to listen to and watch Ak-Sar-Ben Knights' hockey all season.



American Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2006


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