ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Our West Work Is Done… For Now

Published on January 10, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria (12-15-4, 28 points) has closed out eight straight against the West Division and a four-city, six-game West Division road trip after two in a row with the Las Vegas Wranglers last weekend. To open the stretch, they won two games at home against the Fresno Falcons last Tuesday, December 28 (3-1) and Wednesday, December 29 (4-3 OTW); beat the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads on New Year's Eve (last Friday, December 31, 5-2) and New Year's Day (Saturday, January 5, 4-1); fell to the Falcons on the road in extra time on Tuesday (4-3 SOL); beat the San Diego Gulls last Wednesday (5-2 W); and got shut out by Las Vegas last Friday night (3-0 L) and then were unable to come back last Saturday night against the Wranglers (4-3 L) . The Rivermen are 10-4-1 lifetime in the ECHL regular season against West Division opponents, against whom Peoria plays 12 games this season. Last year, the Rivermen posted a 5-2-0 record against West Division clubs. They notched a 1-2-0 record against the Alaska Aces, a 2-0-0 mark against the Wranglers and a 2-0-0 record against the Steelheads. Including their game on December 26 in Dayton (2-1 L), the Rivermen played nine games in 14 days after the Christmas Holiday. The Rivermen played their first 23 games (7-13-3) of the season against teams in their own North Division with 60 of their 72 total games coming against the North.

Leaving Las Vegas, Cooing For Carver

The Rivermen (12-15-4, 28 points) return to Carver Arena for the first time since December 29 on Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 15, when they host the Trenton Titans. Peoria will be looking to win its third straight home for the first time this season after moving a game above .500 at Carver Arena through 13 games (6-5-2) with a 4-3 overtime win over the Fresno Falcons on December 29.

Three Is For Wins... Thank You Very Much

For the second time in four games last Saturday and just the third time this season, the Rivermen scored three goals and did not win a hockey game. Peoria is 11-2-1 when scoring three or more goals in a game this season. Heading into last Friday's 3-0 shutout loss, the Rivermen had tallied three or more goals in six straight games with a 5-0-1 record. The Rivermen are tied with the South Carolina Stingrays for 22nd in the ECHL in goals scored per game, averaging 2.55 tallies per contest.

This Is The Stringer Way To Do It

Six-year veteran Reggie Stringer (pronounced STRAIN-zhay) is averaging a point per game in 12 games with the Rivermen but has tallied all of those points in five of the last seven games. Last week, he had two three-point games (one with three assists-4-3 SOL @ Fresno, January 4 & one with two goals and an assist-4-3L @ Las Vegas, January 8), a one-goal game and posted an Even plus/minus in three of four contests, despite the fact that the Rivermen were 1-2-1. In all, he collected seven points (3g, 4a) and a +3 plus/minus. In 12 games with Peoria, he has 12 points (6g, 6a) and a +5 plus/minus. Including his Las Vegas totals, the 30-year-old native of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, has 26 points (9g, 17a) in 31 games, which ranks second on the Rivermen. Before competing last year in Austria's Second Division, he amassed 96 points (37g, 59a) in 72 games for the Columbia Inferno in 2002-2003 – ranking first in the ECHL in game-winning goals (11), second in points and fourth in assists. He helped guide Columbia to the 2003 ECHL Kelly Cup Finals, where they lost to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in five games (4-1). He led the team in the 2003 ECHL playoffs in assists (14) and points (17), ranking second in the League in assists and tying for fourth in points He was named to the 2003 ECHL All-Star Team, while receiving the ECHL Sportsmanship Award, the PHPA (Professional Hockey Players' Association) Ironman Award and 2003 All-ECHL Second Team honors.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 01/08/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Patrick Wellar has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 01/08/04.

· Defenseman Aaron Forsythe acquired from the South Carolina Stingrays as part of a four-team deal, 01/05/05.

· Defenseman Trevor Johnson has been traded to the Las Vegas Wranglers & moved to South Carolina as part of a four-team deal, 01/05/05.

· Rivermen Captain and center Trevor Baker has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 01/05/05.

· Rivermen left wing Scott Turner has been activated from the 30-day injured reserve, 01/04/05.

· Rivermen defenseman James Sanford remains on reassignment to the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), 01/03/04.

· Defenseman Trevor Byrne remains on loan from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/28/04.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/26/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Chad Starling remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 12/16/04.

· Rivermen rookie center Troy Riddle remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/01/04.

· Rivermen forward Colin Hemingway remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 11/25/04.

· Forward Colin Hemingway remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL), 11/03/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

GAMES:

· On Friday, January 14, the Rivermen host the Trenton Titans in the first of two in a row between the clubs at Carver Arena. It is also the first of seven meetings on the season and four in Peoria. Last year, the Rivermen were 2-1-0 in just three games between the clubs. Peoria is 8-4-1 lifetime in the ECHL in the regular season against the Titans. Trenton (19-8-4, 42 points) is in second place in the eight-team North Division, just three points back of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies with a game in hand. The Titans are led by right wing Rick Kowalsky (13g, 14a) and left wing Scott Bertoli (12g, 15a), who have 27 points each. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:15 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, January 15, Peoria and Trenton face off again in the second of two in a row between the clubs. It is CEFCU Trevor Baker Wobblehead Night. The first 2,500 fans through the turnstiles will receive a wobblehead of Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker, courtesy of CEFCU. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 8:00 p.m. CT.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 10, 2005


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