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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings make trade

December 13, 2006 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


RiverKings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin McClelland announced today (Wednesday) that the team has traded forward Ryan Olynyk to the Laredo Bucks for future considerations. Olynyk was signed by the RiverKings on November 9 after the team placed Sheldon Wenzel on the 45-day IR. Olynyk played in eight games and had 21 PIM for Memphis.

WEEKEND PREVIEW

The first place RiverKings are home for a pair of games this weekend after picking up their fifth road win at Tulsa on Tuesday. The Wichita Thunder make their third visit to the DCC already this season on Friday while the Oilers come to Southaven for the first time on Saturday. At midweek, the RiverKings own a four point lead over Youngstown in the Northeast Division.

COMING UP

Friday, December 15

Wichita Thunder (9-9-2, 20 pts, 3rd NW Div) @ Memphis RiverKings (13-4-3, 29 pts, 1st NE Div) 7:05

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Featured Non-Profit: Mississippi Nurses Association

Promotion: First 1,500 fans receive a Mercury Printing Team Poster. Teddy Bear Toss-Bring a new or gently used stuffed animal to toss on the ice after the RiverKings first goal and get a $12 Red Level ticket for $7. All stuffed animals will be donated to the North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center's "Gifts from the Heart" program. POST GAME SKATE.

Saturday, December 16

Tulsa Oilers (10-6-2, 22 pts, 4th NE Div) @ Memphis RiverKings (13-4-3, 29 pts, 1st NE Div) 7:05

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Featured Non-Profit: Home for the Holidays Pet Adoption

Promotion: First 1,500 fans receive a Hockey Mr. Potato Head sponsored by CW-30. Q 107.5 "Ice on Ice" Diamond Giveaway-First 107 women through the doors will have a chance to win a genuine diamond.

Tuesday, December 12

Oklahoma City Blazers (12-4-2, 26 pts, 2nd NW Div) @ Memphis RiverKings (13-4-3, 29 pts, 1st NE Div) 7:05

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Featured Non-Profit: DeSoto Sunrise

Promotion: First 1,500 fans receive WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix.

WEEK IN REVIEW (1-1-1)

Friday, December 8

Wichita 8 Memphis 3 @ WIC

The Thunder scored six power play goals in the win and snapped the RiverKings' four game winning streak. After the RiverKings tied the score at three with eight minutes left in the second period, the Thunder score five unanswered to hand the RiverKings their first road loss this season. Jason Sessa, Ryan Held and Darrell Stoddard scored goals for Memphis. Sessa's goal was his team leading 10th of the season. For Held, it was his fourth while it was Stoddard's sixth. For Wichita, Scott Rozendal had a hat trick with Daniel Tetrault also adding a pair of goals. Jason Duda assisted on five of the eight Thunder goals.

Saturday, December 9

Bossier-Shreveport 3 Memphis 2 OT @ DCC

Dan Wildfong scored the game winner 1:01 into overtime to lift the Mudbugs. The RiverKings came back twice from one goal deficits to tie the game in the second period. Jason Sessa scored for the fifth straight game with his goal in the second period with Ryan Campbell scoring the other RiverKings goal, a shorthanded effort later in the second to tie the score at two.

A physical, scoreless third period gave way to the overtime session. Wildfong's goal to end the game came off a corner feed by Forbes McPherson and rebound from his initial shot. Ken Carroll was the winner with 24 saves on 26 shots while Sterling was tagged with the OTL, stopping 25 of 28 Bossier-Shreveport shots.

Tuesday, December 12

Memphis 5 Tulsa 4 SO @ TUL

Rick Kozak scored twice and Larry Sterling stopped all five Tulsa shootout attempts as the RiverKings snapped the Oilers' six game win streak. Ryan Campbell was credited with the game-winner as he was the only one to convert in the shootout. All eight goals in regulation were scored on the power play as the RiverKings went 4-for-8 and Tulsa went 4-for-9 with the man advantage. Larry Sterling picked up his 12th win on the season with 32 saves while Tulsa's Jason Montgomery made 34 saves in his first loss in seven games. Travis Banga and Derek Landmesser scored the other RiverKings goals.

Northeast Division Standings (Through 12/12/06) TEAM GP W L OTL PTS WPCT GF GA PIM HOME ROAD L-TEN STREAK Memphis 20 13 4 3 29 .725 71 60 532 8-3-3 5-1-0 6-3-1 1-0-0 Youngstown 21 10 6 5 25 .595 80 74 606 5-1-2 5-5-3 4-4-2 0-1-0 Tulsa 19 10 6 3 23 .605 83 73 575 3-2-2 7-4-1 7-2-1 0-0-1 Bossier-Shreveport 22 10 9 3 23 .523 49 51 664 7-3-0 3-6-3 5-5-0 2-0-0

RIVERKINGS AND EAGLES SWITCH PLACES IN WEEKLY POLL

The RiverKings slipped to the number two slot in this week's CHL Coach's Poll that was released today (Wednesday) by the league. The RiverKings, who were number one last week, received 135 points and four first place votes. The Eagles received 153 points and 12 first place votes. Oklahoma City, Youngstown and Laredo round out the top 5. The complete poll and details can be found at www.centralhockeyleague.com.

RIVERKINGS HERE AND THERE

In the last 7 games, the RiverKings power play has converted at a 37% clip. In that time they have scored on 17 of 46 opportunities and have moved up to 3rd in the CHL with a season percentage of 22.5.

The shootout win on Tuesday at Tulsa improved the RiverKings' record in shootouts to 3-1 on the season. Three of their last four games have gone past regulation.

Forward Jason Sessa had his five game goal streak snapped on Tuesday, although his fantastic no look pass to set up Travis Banga's goal extended his point streak to 7 games (5-2-7).

Forward Ryan Campbell extended a point streak of his own Tuesday night. His goal and assist in the win at Tulsa gives him a 5 game point streak (2-4-6). Travis Banga also is on a 4 game point streak (1-3-4).

With his two markers on Tuesday, Rick Kozak becomes the 5th RiverKing to have a two-goal game this season. Jason Sessa, Ryan Campbell, Travis Banga and Louis Dumont are the others.

The game with the Oklahoma City Blazers on Tuesday ends a stretch where the RiverKings play 17 of their first 23 games at home. The team will play 7 consecutive games away from the DCC beginning next weekend.

THE STAT

"7-1-2" --- The RiverKings' record within the Northeast Division.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS RETURNS

Save money on your ticket and help a less fortunate child at the same time. This season's Teddy Bear Toss is going to take place this Friday, December 15 when the RiverKings host Wichita. For that game, anyone who brings a bear (or any new or gently used stuffed animal) to toss onto the ice after the first RiverKings goal gets a $5 discount on a red level seat . Red level seats are normally $12. All stuffed animals collected will be given to the North Mississippi Sexual Assault Resource Center's "Gifts From the Heart" program, which is in conjunction with the U.S. Marines' "Toys for Tots" program.

HELP SOMEONE STAY WARM THIS WINTER

The RiverKings Kids' Club is conducting a coat drive during the month of December and you can help with your donation of a gently worn winter coat or jacket. All coats will go to the Salvation Army for distribution to those in need. During games, donations can be dropped off at the Customer Service booth, the Kids' Club Table behind section 118 and also behind section 112. On non-game weekdays, you can drop your coats off at the RiverKings' front office at the DeSoto Civic Center from 8:30 am to 5:30 p.m. The deadline for the donations is the Tuesday, December 19 game with Oklahoma City.

KWAC SELLING CD-ROM HOCKEY MANAGER GAME WITH CHL TEAMS

Experience what it would be like to be the general manager of a team in the CHL with Sega's NHL Eastside Hockey Manager 2007. You can also be general manager of teams in the NHL, AHL, European leagues...in total, over 20 leagues and over 45,000 players and staff are at your disposal. The game is a CD-ROM that you can use on your desktop or laptop PC. The sale of the games will serve as a fundraiser for RiverKings With A Cause and can be purchased for $20 dollars at the KWAC table behind section 118 during games.

BE A GUEST RADIO COMMENTATOR

RiverKings With A Cause (KWAC) is holding a silent auction for the opportunity to join RiverKings radio broadcaster Jim Erickson in the broadcast booth as a guest color analyst for the game on December 16. Proceeds from the auction will go to the RiverKings With A Cause Charity Fund. The bidding started at last Saturday's game and will conclude at the end of the second intermission during this Friday night's game. You can make your bid at the KWAC table located behind section 118 on the DCC concourse. The highest bidder at the end of the second intermission on December 15 will then be the guest broadcaster for the game versus the Tulsa Oilers the next night on Saturday, December 16. If that date doesn't work for the auction winner, another mutually agreed upon date will be found. For more information about RiverKings With A Cause, call Cristin at 662-342-1755.

RIVERKINGS PROGRAMS ARE TRUE COLLECTORS ITEMS THIS SEASON

The RiverKings Game Day Program is a must purchase when you come to a game. There will be 13 different editions printed throughout the season with several updated features from edition to edition, including a different cover each edition, an updated schedule with game results and updated player photos for any future roster changes (great for player autographs). The program has also gotten into the spirit of the team's 15th anniversary. Each program edition will have a different RiverKings history story that goes back and profiles a former player or coach from past RiverKings seasons. To go even farther back, each program edition will also have a feature about when hockey was here in the 60's when the Memphis Wings and South Stars called the Mid-South Coliseum home. A program sells for $2 and includes a game-day insert with rosters and notes about that night's game included. The game-day insert sells for $1 by itself. Programs are sold at the main west entrance to the DCC arena before the game and also at the two merchandise stands before and during the game.

KEVIN MCCLELLAND SHOW OFF UNTIL NEW YEAR, REMEMBER TO EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS

With the team playing the next three Tuesdays, the Kevin McClelland Show on Sports 56 WHBQ will be on hiatus until January 2. Also, remember to e-mail your questions to jim@riverkings.com by 4pm on the day of the show and you could win a $10 Beef O' Brady's gift certificate if your question is selected as the Email Question of the Week. Stop by Beef O' Brady's for a great meal and listen to the show. Host Jim Erickson will talk with the coach and RiverKings player guests. Beef O'Brady's is located at the corner of Goodman and Malone in the Shops of Southaven in Southaven.

HEAD TO BUFFALO WILD WINGS AFTER EVERY HOME GAME

The new Buffalo Wild Wings on Airways Blvd. in Southaven is the "Official Post-Game Hangout of the RiverKings." Fans are invited to the post game party after every RiverKings home game. Grab some great wings, a post game beverage and talk with the players.

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RiverKings tickets make great Christmas gifts. Flex Plan packages start at only $88 for 8 Red Level Coupons that can be used for any home game. Ticket Gift Certificates are also available.

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.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Friday, December 15 --- Mercury Printing Team Poster to first 1,500 fans; Teddy Bear Toss; Post Game Skate; Saturday, December 16 --- CW-30 Mr Potato Head to first 1,500 fans; Tuesday, December 19 --- WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix to first 1,500 fans

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.

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