SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Gameday vs. Austin

April 23, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The RiverKings host the Austin Ice Bats tonight in Game Four of their best of seven President's Cup Finals match up at the DeSoto Civic Center, located 15 minutes south of downtown Memphis. The RiverKings hammered the Ice Bats 6-1 in Game Three to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Jonathan Gagnon and Don Parsons led the ‘Kings attack with a pair of goals. World famous juggler Albert Lucas will be on hand to entertain the fans tonight. Game time is 7:05 p.m. For tickets call (662) 342-1755 or go online to www.RiverKings.com and use the Ticketmaster link.

SPECIAL EVENTS

World famous juggler Albert Lucas will be on hand to entertain tonight and for Game Five of the President's Cup Finals on Friday night at the DCC. Lucas will dazzle the crowd as he juggles while ice skating. Lucas has performed at events such as the NHL All-Star game and the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

MEMPHIS VS. AUSTIN PRESIDENT'S CUP FINALS SCHEDULE

Date Time Location Result

4/17 – Thursday – Game One 7:30 p.m. Austin 3-0 Memphis (1-0 Series MEM)

4/18 – Friday – Game Two 7:30 p.m. Austin 2-1 Austin (1-1 Series)

4/21 – Monday -Game Three 7:05 p.m. Memphis 6-1 Memphis (2-1 Series MEM)

4/23 – Wednesday - Game Four 7:05 p.m. Memphis

4/25 – Friday - Game Five 7:05 p.m. Memphis

*4/30 – Wednesday - Game Six 7:30 p.m. Austin

*5/02 – Friday - Game Seven 7:30 p.m. Austin

* If Necessary

MEMPHIS VS. AUSTIN REGULAR SEASON RESULTS 2002-2003

12/15/02 Memphis 3 at Austin 4 (OT)
01/17/07 Memphis 3 at Austin 5
03/15/03 Austin 1 at Memphis 3

The ‘Kings went 1-1-1 this year against Austin, including 1-0-0 at the DCC.

REGULAR SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS

Memphis 19.1 % PP (3rd) 84.8 % PK (5th)

Austin 18.8 % PP (4th ) 88.2 % PK (1st)

POST-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS

Memphis 29.3 % PP (2nd) 88.2 % PK (2nd)

Austin 18.0 % PP (3rd ) 85.3 % PK (3rd)

RED LIGHT FLASHING

· The RiverKings currently lead the CHL Playoffs with 49 goals scored in 12 games, an average of 4.2 goals per game. In the regular season the ‘Kings averaged 3.67 goals per game, which was #2 overall in the CHL.

RED LIGHT FLASHING PART DEUX

· Don Parsons and Jonathan Gagnon lead the CHL Playoffs with 11 goals. Gagnon leads the post season with seven power play goals while Parsons has five on the man advantage.

BAD BOYS

· The ‘Kings are first in the CHL Playoffs with an average of 28.3 PIM per game. Memphis has committed the most minors (122) and majors (13). The ‘Kings have been shorthanded 84 times in 12 playoff games, an average of 7.0 times per game, which is by far the most in the post-season.

MVP BACK-TO-BACK?

· RiverKings forward Don Parsons is currently tied for first in the CHL Playoffs with 19 points and is also tied for first with 11 goals. In addition, Parsons has registered points in 10 of 12 playoff games. Last year Parsons led the playoffs in scoring with 14 goals and 27 points and captured the CHL Playoff MVP award. The last back-to-back CHL Playoff MVP was Ron Handy from Wichita in 1994 and 1995. Handy was coached by Doug Shedden when the Thunder won two straight CHL titles.

SMOKIN'

· The RiverKings have managed a power play goal in all 12 playoff games. Three times in the playoffs the ‘Kings have scored three power play goals in a game, including Game One of the first round against Oklahoma City , Game One of the Northern Conference Finals against Indianapolis, and Game Three of the Finals against Austin.

QUIETLY MAKING NOISE WITH HIS PLAY

· Kahlil Thomas doesn't make a whole lot of noise other than with his play. Thomas is currently tied for first in the CHL Playoff scoring race with 19 points. Thomas had the game winning goal and two assists in the RiverKings Game Five win against Oklahoma City. Furthermore Thomas had two goals, including the game winner, plus two assists in the Game Four win against Indianapolis.

THE WALL

· RiverKings goalie Mark Richards is nicknamed ‘The Wall.' After a shaky start in the playoffs he has lived up to that title. In the four-game sweep of the Indianapolis Ice he allowed just nine goals. In Game One versus Austin he turned aside all 40 Ice Bats' shots that he faced for his first shutout of the 2003 playoffs. In Game Two the Ice Bats won 2-1 in overtime to end Richards' seven-game winning streak, despite the fact he stopped 35 of 37 shots. In Game Three he stopped 23 of 24 shots to get a 6-1 win. In the Finals Richards has allowed just three goals on 101 shots.

THE SHOTS ARE COMING

· The RiverKings mustered only 169 shots in their first seven playoff games, an average of 24.1 shots per game, the lowest in the post season. In Game Three of the Northern Conference Finals against Indianapolis the ‘Kings mustered 45 shots and in Game Four they totaled 39. In Games One, Two and Three against Austin, the RiverKings fired 100 combined shots to raise their average to 29.6 shots per game in the playoffs. In the regular season the ‘Kings averaged 32.5 shots per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS BONANZA

· The RiverKings have scored 27 special teams goals in 12 playoff games. Twenty-two goals have come on the power play while five have been shorthanded tallies. Both totals are tops in the post-season. The ‘Kings in the regular season recorded a CHL-best 77 power play goals.

MEMPHIS ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORD

· The RiverKings are 40-33 in franchise history in the post-season. The ‘Kings are 24-11 under Doug Shedden in the playoffs.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

· So far in the playoffs there has been a lot of goal scoring, at least in games involving the RiverKings. Memphis and their opponents (Indianapolis, Oklahoma City and Austin) have combined for 80 goals in 12 playoff games, an average of 6.7 per game. The Finals have been lower scoring with Memphis and Austin combining for 13 goals in three games, an average of 4.1 per game.

KISS OF DEATH

· Normally when a team scores first it is a good sign, considering that the RiverKings were 31-9-4 in the regular season when scoring first. In the ‘Kings five-game win over the Blazers in the first round, the team that scored first was 1-4. Memphis was the only team to score first and win when they potted the first lamp in Game Four and won 5-3. Memphis scored first in Game One of the Northern Conference Finals and held on to win by the score of 5-4. In the Northern Conference Finals the team scoring first went 1-3. Overall in games in the playoffs involving Memphis, the team that scores first is 4-8.

WORKING OVERTIME

· The Austin Ice Bats have played in a CHL Playoff high six overtime games. The Ice Bats have gone 4-2 in sudden death, including a Game Two win in the Finals over the RiverKings.

ON THE AIR

· Catch the RiverKings on the air when they take on the Austin Ice Bats tonight on RiverKings Radio Easy 680 AM – WJCE. The pre-game show starts at 6:45 p.m., face-off at 7:05 p.m. For the latest stats, scores and more go online to www.RiverKings.com.



SPHL Stories from April 23, 2003


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