AHL Peoria Rivermen

Peoria-Iowa game ends early due to unplayable ice

Published on November 13, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Des Moines, IA (November 13, 2005) - Considering how this game between the Peoria Rivermen and the Iowa Stars turned out, one might guess that it took place on a Friday the 13th, rather than on Sunday, November 13. With the Rivermen leading the Stars by a score of 4-3 after two periods, this game was stopped because the ice surface was deemed to be unsafe for further play.

After preliminary consultation with all parties involved, the American Hockey League (AHL) has officially suspended this game. In the next few days, AHL officials will make a final determination as to whether the game will be declared final, resumed at a later date, or replayed in its entirety in the future. If the game is declared final or if it is picked up where it left off, the statistics from the game will be valid. If the contest is replayed in its entirety, however, the game's statistics will be wiped out.

The Rivermen jumped out on top early in this game thanks to left winger D. J. King. After the puck was thrown into the Iowa end off of the opening face-off, King chased it down and beat Stars goaltender Dan Ellis to it at the end boards. Taking it with one hand on his stick, King then wrapped the puck around the left post and into the goal before Ellis could get back into position. The goal gave Peoria a 1-0 lead just 36 seconds into the game.

Peoria went up 2-0 on a power-play marker. Defenseman Mike Mottau took a shot from the top of the right circle that was headed well wide of the goal, but left wing Charles Linglet skated to the bottom of the left circle as Mottau fired it and tipped the shot inside the left post of the Iowa goal at the 5:40 mark of the first period.

Midway through the opening frame, Rivermen defenseman Trevor Byrne entered the Iowa zone along the right wing boards and dished the puck to Troy Riddle at the center point. Riddle then conveyed the puck to winger Brendan Brooks at the top of the left circle, and Brooks unleashed a snap shot from the left face-off dot that went by Ellis to the stick side at 10:04 to stake Peoria to a 3-0 lead. Following that goal, the Stars replaced Ellis in net with Mike Smith.

The Stars finally got on the scoreboard at 11:58 of the first. During an Iowa power play, center Jamie Johnson fired a shot on net from above the left circle, and winger B. J. Crombeen deflected the puck by Rivermen goalie Jason Bacashihua while standing at the top of the crease to make the score 3-1 in favor of Peoria.

The first goal of the second period was scored more quickly than that of the first period, which came just 36 seconds into the game. As defenseman Trevor Byrne carried the puck up ice through the Peoria slot, he over-skated it, and Iowa center Toby Petersen came upon it as he trailed Byrne. Falling down, Petersen then quickly backhanded the puck from below the hash marks, and it sailed by a surprised Bacashihua to bring the Stars to within one goal of the Rivermen at 3-2 just 12 seconds into the second period.

After taking a nifty backhanded drop pass off of the left wing boards from right winger Colin Hemingway, Rivermen center Troy Riddle beat Smith to the stick side with a slapper from the top of the left circle at 8:12 of the second frame. The lamp-lighter gave Peoria a 4-2 lead.

The Stars then struck for a shorthanded goal near the end of the second period. On a two-on-one shorthanded break with Petersen, Iowa blueliner Matt Greene fired a snap shot at Bacashihua from the left face-off dot. Although Bacashihua got his glove on it, the puck popped up into the air and fluttered down into the goal as Bacashihua lunged at it in vain. The goal pared the Peoria lead down to just one goal again at 4-3 at 17:38 of the second period.

When the two teams returned to the ice to start the third period, the game was delayed due to the poor condition of the playing surface. Eventually, however, the game was suspended when it was determined that the game could not continue on this evening.

Next up for the Rivermen is a four-game homestand that will begin this coming Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Chicago Wolves. On Saturday, the Rivermen will host the San Antonio Rampage at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2005


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