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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Battle The Rage Tonight

February 8, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


This Week's Schedule

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 - RiverKings 9, Wichita Thunder 2

Friday, February 6th, 2009 - RiverKings 4, Odessa Jackalopes 1

Sunday, February 8th, 2009 - Rocky Mountain Rage at RiverKings

(DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, MS - 5:05 PM) (Sports 56, WHBQ-AM)

-RiverKings Player Stat Leaders

Bobby Chaumont remains the RiverKings goal scoring leader with 26 goals and in power play goals with nine. Louis Dumont paces the RiverKings in assists with 30 and in shorthanded goals with four. Both Chaumont and Dumont are tied for the team lead in points with 45. Matt Summers has the best plus-minus statistic on the team at plus-17 (plus-15 with the RiverKings). Adam Smyth has the most penalty minutes for Mississippi with 187. Jeff Nelson has scored the most game-winning goals at six. Kevin Beech leads in all goaltending statistics, including games (35), minutes (2108), wins (23), shutouts (3), goals-against-average (2.30), and save percentage (.909).

-On the CHL Leader Board

Louis Dumont is tied for the CHL lead in shorthanded goals scored with four. Jeff Nelson is tied for second in the CHL in game-winning goals scored with six. David Simoes is second in the league in major penalties taken with 22 (tops among league defensemen), while Adam Smyth is fourth in majors at 17. Smyth is third in the Central Hockey League for penalty minutes with 187. Matt Summers is fourth in shooting percentage at .213 (10 goals, 47 shots on goal). For goaltenders, Kevin Beech is second in goals-against-average at 2.30, second in victories with 23, first in minutes played (2108), and first in shutouts (3).

-The Last Time Out...

Friday, February 6th, at RiverKings 4, Odessa 1 Four RiverKings scored goals in the first meeting of the season between Mississippi and Odessa. Jeff Nelson and Derek Landmesser earned two assists each, with Landmesser passing the 500 career assist mark with his first helper on a goal scored by Louis Dumont nearly four minutes into the first period of play. Jeff Alcombrack scored a goal and added his 150th career professional assist on Dumont's first period power play marker. Mississippi was 3-for-10 on the power play, while Odessa was 1-for-7. Mississippi outshot the Jackalopes 33-22, including 14 in the first period, while holding Odessa to only three in the second period of play.

-Beech Shutout Nominated for Performance of the Week

The shutout performance by RiverKings' goaltender Kevin Beech has been nominated for the CHL Performance of the Week. Beech stopped 26 shots on goal in the RiverKings 4-0 shutout of the Rapid City Rush on January 31st. Fans can vote online through Monday, February 9th, at www.centralhockeyleague.com with the Performance of the Week winner to be announced on Tuesday, February 10th.

-Today's Opponent

Rocky Mountain Rage at RiverKings, Sunday, February 8th, 2009 (5:05 PM Start - DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, MS) The Rage comes to Mississippi for the first in a Sunday-Tuesday series in today's late afternoon meeting, followed by a Tuesday night encounter at the DCC to complete the RiverKings' five-game home stand.

The RiverKings have met the Rage just once this season, a 5-2 victory for Mississippi on November 7th at the DCC. In that game, the now-departed Brad Bonello scored two goals and added an assist for the RiverKings in that victory. Matt Summers scored a goal and added an assist, and Louis Dumont added a pair of helpers for Mississippi. Goals by Summers and Bobby Chaumont in the game came on the power play. Kevin Beech picked up the win in net for the RiverKings with a 25-save performance.

Simon Watson and Nathan ONabigon each had a goal and an assist for Rocky Mountain in the game, while Scott Wray chipped in with a pair of helpers. Scott Reid took the loss in goal for Rocky Mountain with a 27-save effort.

Mississippi was 2-for-9 on the power play in the November victory, while Rocky Mountain scored one power play goal in five chances.

-Special Teams Update

In Friday's victory against Odessa, the RiverKings were 3-for-10 on the power play. It marked the second straight game the RiverKings had scored three power play goals in a game. In Mississippi's last five games, the RiverKings have scored seven power play goals in 32 tries; a percentage of 21.88%. In home games, the RiverKings rank fourth on the power play at 22.4% (38-of-170). Overall, Mississippi is fifth in the league on the power play at 19.5% (62-of-318).

Friday night against the Jackalopes, Mississippi was 1-for-7 on the penalty kill. It was the first time in three games an opponent had scored a power play goal against the RiverKings. In the team's last five contests, the RiverKings are 83.3% on the penalty kill (4-of-24). On home ice, the RiverKings are fifth in the CHL on the penalty kill at 86.0% (20-of-143). Overall this season, Mississippi is 7th in penalty killing at 84.2% (45-of-284).

Mississippi has scored six shorthanded goals and has allowed five this season. The RiverKings have netted three of the six shorties on home ice, and opponents have scored four of the five shorthanded goals allowed at the DeSoto Civic Center.

-Playing For Playoff Position Today, Tuesday

Both today's action and Tuesday night's contest are very important for future Northern Conference playoff positioning for both teams. The RiverKings enter today's action in fourth place in the Northern Conference playoff chase and can jump past Oklahoma City into third position with a victory today. At the same time, the RiverKings would take over second place in the Northeast Division standings with a victory and be three points behind front-running Bossier-Shreveport. Meanwhile, the Rage can squeeze the gap between them and the RiverKings with a victory today, as Rocky Mountain is six points behind Oklahoma City and the RiverKings in fifth position in the playoff chase, and can cut that deficit to four points with a win today.

-RiverKings against the Northwest Division

In games against the Northwest Division, Mississippi has a 7-3-0 record. Three of the victories have been against Wichita, Two against Rapid City, and one each against Colorado, and Rocky Mountain. Losses against the Northwest have come against Rapid City, Wichita, and Colorado.

-Kaminski Nears 200 Career Coaching Wins

RiverKings coach Kevin Kaminski is one win away from 200 career professional coaching victories. The first-year RiverKings coach is in his seventh season as a professional head coach, after two seasons as an assistant coach and a playing career that included 139 games played in seven seasons in the National Hockey League. Entering today's action, "Killer's" overall coaching record is 199-203 with five ECHL ties and 30 shootout/overtime losses. Kaminski came to Mississippi after two seasons with the Youngstown SteelHounds, earning a 73-40-15 record and taking the team to the CHL playoffs in both campaigns.

-THE NEXT TIME.....

Garrett Larson earns as assist, it will be his 100th career professional assist. Joe Markusen earns an assist, it will be his 60th career professional assist. Matt Summers earns an assist, it will be his 50th career professional assist. Louis Dumont collects a point, it will be his 1050th career professional point. Dallas Steward collects a point, it will be his 110th career professional point. Dallas Steward gets a penalty minute, it will put him over 220 career professional penalty minutes. Stephen Margeson takes the ice, he will be playing in his 300th career professional game. David Simoes takes the ice, he will be playing in his 100th career professional game.

-RECENT MOMENTS OF NOTE

Two assists Friday night against Odessa brought Jeff Nelson to 710 career professional assists. Two assists from Derek Landmesser Friday against Odessa brought him over 500 career professional assists (now at 501). An assist by Jeff Alcombrack Friday against Odessa was his 150th career professional assist. Darrell Stoddard played in his 220th career professional contest. Jeff Alcombrack earned career penalty minute number 270 in Friday's game against Odessa. The final save made by Kevin Beech Friday against Odessa was career professional save #1450.

-ETC.

Bobby Chaumont is within two of 60 career professional goals. Matt Pierce is within two of 30 career professional assists. Andrew Lackner is within two of 110 career professional penalty minutes.

-Broadcasts

RiverKings games are heard in the Mid-South and around the world primarily on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM and on www.sports56whbq.com. Veteran broadcaster and RiverKings' Media Coordinator Bob Bakken provides the play-by-play, with pre-game coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening faceoff. Coverage is also available on your computer through the CHL-TV broadcast. For more information, click on the CHL-TV link on the RiverKings' web site, www.riverkings.com. Games not heard on WHBQ due to other programming commitments are aired on fellow Flinn Broadcasting station "The Pig," WIVG-96.1-FM.

-Tickets

RiverKings season and group tickets, fundraiser programs, and more are available by contacting the RiverKings' front office at 662-342-1755 or by e-mail at tickets@riverkings.com. New season ticket packages for the 2009-2010 season are now available for sale through the RiverKings offices or by calling the front office. Single game tickets for RiverKings hockey are available through the DeSoto Civic Center box office, or by contacting Ticketmaster.

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