Record Setting Night for the Blades

March 25, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Arkansas RiverBlades News Release


Mike Sandbeck tallied two assists to lead the Arkansas RiverBlades to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Cottonmouths Tuesday night at Alltel Arena, setting a new team record for wins a season with 35.

The win also set a new team record for home wins in a season with 22, and was head coach Chris Cichocki's 100th career coaching victory.

Buddy Smith kicked off the scoring at 4:05 of the opening frame, assisted by Jason Bermingham and Dean Stock. The goal gives Buddy Smith 99 points on the year as he edges closer to becoming the first RiverBlade ever to score 100 points in a season.

Columbus would tie it with a power-play goal at 15:40, as Carlyle Lewis got his 14th of the campaign from John Morlang and Chad Hamilton.

However, in the second, the Blades would regain the lead at 6:38, as Damon Whitten got his career-high 12th goal set up by Mike Sandbeck and Garry Toor.

Then, at 15:43, Dean Stork lit the lamp with his 15th of the year. Jeremy Bachusz and Mike Sandbeck got helpers on the play.

Columbus would score the only goal of the third, as Phil Cole got his 4th of the year from Darren McAusland and Mike Lee.

Columbus would get no further, and the Blades held on for the 3-2 victory.

Scott Fankhouser made 22 saves to earn his 9th victory with the RiverBlades, and Matus Kostur took the loss with 34 saves.

For the game, Arkansas outshot Columbus 37-24, and the Blades were 0-for-4 on the power-play. The Cottonmouths were 1-for-5 with the man advantage.

The same two teams meet tomorrow night, with the faceoff coming at 7:05 p.m. at the Alltel Arena.



ECHL Stories from March 25, 2003


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