
Pair of Hat Tricks Propel RiverKings
November 1, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. -- Led by a pair of hat tricks by Todd Hosmer and Leo Thomas, the Mississippi RiverKings (1-1-0) defeated the Peoria Rivermen (2-1-0) 9-2 in Peoria on Friday night.
The RiverKings picked up their first goal of the season shorthanded, when Leo Thomas beat Nick Wheeler to the puck in the Rivermen zone and beat a diving Phil Cook to put the visitors up by one 11:18 into the opening frame. Thomas struck with his second goal of the game four minutes later. Matt Smyth's pass found Thomas on a breakaway and the backhander beat Cook glove side to give the RiverKings a 2-0 lead. The RiverKings struck again, this time on the power play when Tom Craig found Matt Harrington for a one-timer as they went into the locker room up by three.
The scoring picked up in the second period. Devin Mantha notched his first goal of the season at the 9:57 mark when his shot beat Cook over his blocker side to put the RiverKings ahead by four. Two minutes later, Todd Hosmer found the back of the net for the RiverKings' second shorthanded goal of the night as that put them up 5-0 and ended the night for Cook.
But Peoria battled back. Adam Hartley tallied his first goal of the season in his first game with the Rivermen from Taylor Larson and Dustin Parks to cut the lead back to four. The teams traded goals in the final two minutes as Hosmer collected his second goal of the night at the 18:16 mark and Garrett Vermeersch notched his league-leading fifth goal of the year to send the RiverKings to the second intermission ahead 6-2.
The RiverKings added a trio of goals in the third. Todd Hosmer picked up his hat-trick goal just 1:29 into the period, while Leo Thomas did the same at the 4:52 mark. Hosmer then finished the scoring for the RiverKings with a power play goal to give the RiverKings a decisive 9-2 victory.
Matt Krahn (1-0-0) took the win stopping 27 of 29 shots against. Phil Cook (1-1-0) turned aside 23 of 28 in 31:45 of action with the loss. Russ Stein stopped 8 of 12 in 28:15 of relief.
The RiverKings and Rivermen battle again tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. at Carver Arena in Peoria, Ill. Catch all the action at Old Style BBQ, the official Away Game Watch Party Headquarters of the Mississippi RiverKings.
The RiverKings return home on Saturday, November 9 for their second weekend series against the Rivermen. Be sure to bring a canned food item on Saturday to benefit the Colonial Hills Food Pantry and receive $2 off your regularly priced adult ticket. For more information, contact the RiverKings front office at 662-342-1755.
SPHL Stories from November 1, 2013
- Hosmer and Thomas Sink Rivermen in 9-2 Loss - Peoria Rivermen
- Surge, Dugas Shutout IceGators 5 - 0 - Mississippi Surge
- Surge Give IceGators First Loss in Shutout - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Bears' Youth Not Enough against Defending Champs - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Pair of Hat Tricks Propel RiverKings - Mississippi RiverKings
- Ice Flyers Down Knoxville Ice Bears 5-2 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Thunder Earn 1st Win with Huge 2nd Period - Bloomington Thunder
- Rivermen Sign Rookie Center Adam Hartley - Peoria Rivermen
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