CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Gameday Preview

Published on February 1, 2005 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


MEMPHIS (17-22-2, 36pts, 5TH NE, 16PB) @ SAN ANGELO (22-14-3, 47pts, 1ST SW)

DATE: Tuesday, February 1, 2005

TIME: 7:05

SITE: San Angelo Coliseum, San Angelo Texas (5,265)

RADIO: 560 AM

WEBCAST: riverkings.com

The RiverKings are coming off their second eight-goal game in their last three following their 8-0 win over Laredo on Saturday night. The shutout was the first of the season and first since February 27, 2004 in a 4-0 win over Oklahoma City. The RiverKings finished the month of January with a 6-6-1 record while outscoring their opponents 49-46. It was the first month this season that Memphis outscored the opposition. San Angelo enters tonights game having won six of their last seven and in first place in the Southwest Division by three points over Lubbock. The Saints also possess the top winning percentage in the Southern Conference. They are coming off a split of their two games this weekend...losing 3-0 to Wichita at home on Friday but then traveling to Albuquerque and picking up a 3-2 shoot-out win over New Mexico on Saturday. This is the first of two meetings in this inter-conference match-up. The teams will face off again on February 26 at the DeSoto Civic Center. This will be the sixth all-time meeting between the RiverKings and the Saints. San Angelo leads the series 3-1-1.

RIVERKINGS NOTES

Congratulations to RiverKings defenseman Derek Landmesser and his wife Tammy. They welcomed a new member of their family and a new RiverKings fan last night with the arrival of Sarah Brooke Landmesser. Derek stayed home to be with his family and will not be available for tonights game.

Don Parsons finished the month of January with a bang. His hat trick and four point performance on Saturday gave him 17 goals, 8 assists and 25 points for the month. That is his best month since December 2002 when he totaled 27 points(11g, 16a).

Rookies Phil Aucoin and Travis Banga finished with identical stats in January...8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points. Banga has scored at least a point in 18 of his 22 games played. Aucoin and Banga are also the only Rookies on the CHL Rookie Scoring Leaders List that are averaging over a point per game. Aucoin is averaging 1.26 and Banga is averaging 1.32.

Memphis five power-play goals on Saturday moved their season percentage up to 19.1 and thats currently 5th in the league.

Out of Ted Crowleys 7 goals this season, 6 are on the power-play. Since Crowleys return from his suspension on December 31, the teams power-play percentage is 25.6% (22 for 86). There were only three games in January that the RiverKings didnt score at least one power-play goal; 1/15 at Amarillo, 1/21 at Tulsa; and 1/28 versus Oklahoma City. The team scored 19 power-play goals in the 13 games they played in January. The last time they scored that many in a month was December 2002 when they tallied 20 in 14 games played.

While the power-play is heating up, the penalty kill is coming around. The RiverKings have given up just 3 power-play goals in the last 5 games. Their penalty kill percentage has inched up to 78.9% and that is no longer second to the bottom in the league. They are at number 14 in the league penalty killing category. Actually, the RiverKings have scored more short-handed goals in the last five games (4) than power-play goals given up (3). In those same five games, Memphis has scored 9 power-play goals.

COMING UP

Friday, February 5 @ Austin 7:35 Radio: 560AM Pregame: 7:20

Saturday, February 6 @ Odessa 7:05 Radio: 560AM Pregame: 6:50

A RiverKings game can be even more fun when you take it in with your group or organization. Get your group together and have a great time at the DeSoto Civic Center. For more information or to purchase season tickets, group tickets, mini-plans, or 9 game vouchers call the RiverKings at 662-342-1755 and ask for the sales department or stop by the DCC during business hours.

Catch all the exciting action of 2004-2005 RiverKings Hockey on Sports 56 WHBQ.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2005


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