CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Fall to Eagles, 5-2, in Hard-Fought Contest

Published on November 29, 2003 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


LOVELAND - The two-time defending CHL champion Memphis RiverKings lost a hard-fought game to the host Colorado Eagles Friday night, falling 5-2 before a capacity crowd of 5,211 at the Budweiser Events Center.

Eagles forward Ryan Tobler scored the game-winning goal under a minute into the first period, putting the Eagles up 3-2.

The game featured a scoreless first period of action, as Memphis and Colorado struggled to find their offenses. Physical play was the order of the day for the contest, as the two teams made several trips to the penalty box throughout.

Memphis would break the scoreless tie halfway through the second period, as center Alexandre Mathieu scored on a rebound off a Juraj Durco slapshot. The powerplay goal was Mathieu's eleventh of the season.

The RiverKings would score again a minute later, as a turnover deep in the Eagles' zone led to an unassisted marker by forward Brent Ozarowski. The goal was Ozarowski's second of the campaign.

But the Eagles would respond in short order, scoring two goals before the period ended to tie things up at two apiece. Tobler's game-winner was followed by two empty-net goals by the Eagles in the closing minutes, as the RiverKings scrambled to tie things up.

The RiverKings were forced to play the game without two key members of the offense. Forward Jonathan Gagnon, one of the team's leaders in goals scored, was called up by the RiverKings' AHL affiliate in St. John's prior to the start of the contest. Forward Kahlil Thomas did not play for personal reasons.

The loss dropped the RiverKings to 14-6-0 on the season, while Colorado moved to 13-5-1 on the campaign.

Memphis's next contest will be Saturday Night at 7:10 central standard time, as the RiverKings visit Amarillo to take on the Southwest Division-leading Gorillas.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 29, 2003


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