RiverDogs week in review

Published on February 7, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Richmond RiverDogs News Release


February 1, 2006 vs. Roanoke Valley Vipers (4-2 W)

After a scoreless first period, the RiverDogs blew the game open with three 2nd period goals from Warren Cooper, Bobby Kukulka and Mike Oliveira. With a 3-0 lead going into the final frame, the Vipers came back with a pair from Matt Miller and Mark Scott. With the score 3-2, Roanoke Valley put lots of pressure on RiverDogs goaltender Mike D'Alessandro. The Vipers pulled starter Trevor Cunning for an extra attacker but to no avail as John DiPace scored into the empty net to seal the victory for the RiverDogs 4-2. Attendance: 2,314.

February 3, 2006 vs. Danbury Trashers (3-2 W)

The battle between the Danbury Trashers and Richmond RiverDogs also marked the final contest for General Manager/Head Coach Robbie S. Nichols, who would step down and move on to Chicago to help start up the new UHL expansion team to begin play in 2006-2007. Danbury got the first goal of the night in the first period, Donny Grover with the tally. Richmond got on the board in the second period on a power play goal from Joey Bastien. The two teams, tied up at one, would play a defensive battle on both ends of the ice. In the third period, Jean-Michel Daoust broke the tie with a goal at 6:48. But the RiverDogs did not quit as the Vandermeer Brothers combined on the game-tying goal at 12:12 when Billy Vandermeer executed a fake move on Danbury Jayme Platt and put a backhand by him to make the score 2-2. In the shootout, Billy Vandermeer and Mike Oliveira converted while goaltender Doug Groenestege blanked Danbury on all four attempts. The win gave Head Coach Robbie Nichols a record of 20-21-4 as the reigns were handed over to Assistant Coach Kris Waltze. Attendance: 3,912.

February 4, 2006 vs. Roanoke Valley Vipers (3-2 W)

27 year old Kris Waltze took his place on the bench as the youngest head coach in all of pro minor league hockey February 4 as the RiverDogs took on Roanoke Valley. The Vipers looked like they were to spoil Coach Waltze's debut as they got goals from Mike Wiggins and David Beauregard as the period ended 2-0. During the first intermission, Coach Waltze must have said something inspirational in the locker room as the RiverDogs came roaring back in the 2nd period with three straight goals, with two on the power play. Joey Bastien got the party started with a goal at 3:08. 33 seconds later, Mike Oliveira tied the game, extending his point-scoring streak to 14 games. The game winner was scored on 2-0 breakaway with the RiverDogs on the man advantage, John DiPace scoring from nifty passing from Lyon Porter and Mike Owens. The third period went scoreless, preserving the Dogs 3-2 win. Mike D'Alessandro got the win for the RiverDogs. Kris Waltze, as RiverDogs Coach, is now 1-0-0. Attendance: 4,712.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

The RiverDogs take to the road for the first three games of a long six game road trip beginning on Friday, February 10, with a 7:05 pm contest with the Elmira Jackals. Following the contest, the Dogs travel to Danbury on Saturday night before ending the first part of the roadtrip with a 5:15 pm game against Adirondack.

RIVERDOGS KIBBLES & BITS -Season tickets, FlexPaks, and group packages are available through the RiverDogs office. For more information call the RiverDogs at 804-225-PUCK (7825). All game tickets can be purchased at the Richmond Coliseum Box Office during normal business hours or by contacting ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. Fans can follow the RiverDogs and be "in the know" by going to www.riverdogsuhl.com. All RiverDogs game action can be viewed on the net by accessing the B-2 Network link on www.riverdogsuhl.com. For complete game information while the RiverDogs are playing both home and away, or game information for any UHL team, log on to www.pointstreak.com and choose UHL. Pointstreak provides updated game information along with team rosters, stats, and more about the RiverDogs and all the UHL teams.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 7, 2006


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