CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings at Youngstown Preview

December 30, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Saturday, December 30

Memphis RiverKings (18-6-3, 39 pts, 1st NE Div) @ Youngstown Steelhounds (14-7-6, 34 pts, 2nd NE Div) 6:05 CST

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

RECENT SCORES

Thursday, 12/21 Youngstown 2 Austin 1 SO

Friday, 12/22 Bossier-Shreveport 5 RiverKings 2

Austin 4 Youngstown 1

Saturday, 12/23 RiverKings 4 Wichita 2

Youngstown 4 Austin 2

Tuesday, 12/26 Bossier-Shreveport 4 RiverKings 2

Friday, 12/29 RiverKings 6 Youngstown 5 SO

THE MATCH UP

By grabbing the two points with the shootout win last night, the first place RiverKings extended their lead over the Steelhounds to five points in the Northeast Division standings. Last night's 6-5 win gives the RiverKings a 3-1-1 record in the season series, an 11-2-1 all-time record versus the Steelhounds and a perfect 4-0-0 record at the Chevrolet Centre. After tonight, the teams will meet six more times this season, including three more in Youngstown in early March. The games this weekend are featuring six total all-stars: Derek Landmesser, Larry Sterling and Jason Tessier from the RiverKings; and Jeff Christian, Paul Esdale and Chris Richards from the Steelhounds. Landmesser, Christian and Richards are starters.

RiverKings Notes

Last night's 2 goal game was Rick Kozak's third in his 12 games with Memphis. He has scored 10 goals in the last 8 games and is third in the league with a 25.6 shooting percentage.

With his shootout winner last night, Travis Banga has scored 4 goals in the last 3 games and has a team leading 16 on the season. That total is also tied with Jeff Christian for 6th in the CHL. Banga also has two points in each of the last 3 games and has at least 1 point in 10 of his last 11 games. In those 11 games, he has scored 7 goals and has 9 assists.

Jason Sessa tied a single game career high with 3 assists last night. It was the 5th time in his career that he has assisted on 3 goals in a game.

The RiverKings are now 5-1 in shootouts this season.

The RiverKings have now had 15 1-goal games, tied with Youngstown for the most in the CHL. The RiverKings are 11-1-3 in those games, meaning they have taken 25 of a possible 30 points in games decided by a goal. The Steelhounds meanwhile, have a 5-4-6 record in 1-goal games.

Last night was the fourth time this season that the RiverKings have come back to win a game when trailing entering the third period.

That ties them with Oklahoma City with the most such wins this season.

Derek Landmesser's goal last night was his 99th career goal. Sixty of those have come with the RiverKings.

COMING UP

Friday, January 5

Memphis RiverKings (18-6-3, 39 pts, 1st NE Div) @ Oklahoma City Blazers (15-7-3, 33 pts, 2nd NW Div) 7:35

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Saturday, January 6

Memphis RiverKings (18-6-3, 39 pts, 1st NE Div) @ Tulsa Oilers (11-10-4, 26 pts, 4th NE Div) 7:35

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

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A RiverKings game is even more fun when you come as a group. Groups of 15 or more save up to 30% on the box office rate, plus every person in the group receives a player mini bobblehead. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.

Don't miss the next Kevin McClelland Show on Tuesday, January 2 LIVE from Beef O' Brady's in Southaven from 6-7 on Sports 56 WHBQ.

RiverKings Single-Game Tickets for all 2006-2007 home games are on sale now at the DeSoto Civic Center box office and at all TicketMaster locations and at ticketmaster.com.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Sunday, January 7 --- Post Game Skate with Players; Tuesday, January 9 --- WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix to first 1,500 fans; Friday, January 12 --- Cellular South Darrell Stoddard Mini Bobbleheads to first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate; Friday, January 19 --- RiverKings Drawsting Backpacks to the first 1,500 fans; Post Game Skate

After every RiverKings home game, the party heads to the new Buffalo Wild Wings on Airways in Southaven, the official Post Game Hang-Out of the RiverKings.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2006


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