CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Meet Rocky Mountain Today

Published on February 15, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Colorado Road Trip Winds Up Battling the Rage in Rocky Mountain

Fresh off a two-game sweep of the Northern Conference-leading Colorado Eagles, the Mississippi RiverKings finish their Centennial State swing by taking on the Rocky Mountain Rage in a Sunday matinee contest. Today's game will be the third meeting of the RiverKings and Rage in the last seven days, with the RiverKings winning one of the previous two meetings and losing the other in a shootout.

RiverKings Player Stat Leaders

Bobby Chaumont leads the RiverKings in goal scoring with 25 for the season and in power play goals with nine. Martin Gascon has 40 assists for the year, with two of those coming since his acquisition from Tulsa. Louis Dumont leads the RiverKings in points with 50 and in shorthanded ghoals scored with four. Matt Summers, Jeff Nelson and Matt Pierce each are plus-15 with the RiverKings, with Summers at plus-17 for the year, including time spent in Laredo before his move from the Bucks to the RiverKings. Adam Smyth has the team lead in penalty minutes with 205. Nelson leads the team in game-winning goals scored with six. At the crease, the RiverKings are led in all statistical categories by Kevin Beech, including games (39), minutes played (2353), wins (26), shutouts (3), goals-against-average (2.29), and save percentage (.911).

On the CHL Top-Five

Adam Smyth ranks fourth in the CHL in penalty minutes with 205. Louis Dumont is tied for first in the league in shorthanded goals scored with four. Jeff Nelson is tied for second in game-winning goals with six. At the crease, Kevin Beech is the league leader in wins (26), minutes played (2353), and shutouts (3). Beech is second in goals-against-average at 2.29.

The Last Time Out...

Saturday, February 14th, RiverKings 5, at Colorado Eagles 3

Adam Smyth tallied a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner about 13 minutes into the second period, as the RiverKings defeated the Northern Conference-leading Eagles for the second straight night in Colorado, 5-3. The win marked the first time in three years the Eagles had lost back-to-back games at home. It was also RiverKings Coach Kevin Kaminski's second straight coaching victory, after having never won in Loveland as a coach before Friday's 5-2 Mississippi victory. Kevin Beech stopped 36 of 39 shots on goal in earning his league-leading 26th victory of the year in goal. Joe Markusen, Garrett Larson, and Stephen Margeson also scored goals for the RiverKings. Margeson's empty net goal in the final minute of the game was his 100th career professional point. Mississippi was out shot 39-25 for the game and scored once in three power play chances, while holding the top-rated power play team in the CHL scoreless in three man advantage opportunities.

Tonight's Matchup

RiverKings at Rocky Mountain Rage, Sunday, February 15th, 2009 (4:05 PM Central Start, Broomfield Event Center, Broomfield, Co)

Today's game is the final meeting in the season series with the RiverKings and Rage, with the RiverKings holding a 2-0-1 season advantage in the three previous games.

In the last meeting, Rocky Mountain came away with a 4-3 shootout victory over the RiverKings on Tuesday, February 10th, using third period goals from Colt King and Daymen Rycroft to forge a lead, which Jeff Alcombrack evened with a power play just 2:48 remaining in the final frame. King and Simon Watson provided goals in the shootout period to get the victory.

Stephen Margeson, Matt Pierce, Joe Markusen, and the since-departed Brad Bonello each have scored two goals in games against Rocky Mountain this season. Matt Summers has earned five assists and has six points for the season series with the Rage. Margeson is plus-four against Rocky Mountain this year. Andrew Lackner has 17 penalty minutes against the Rage. In goal for the RiverKings, Kevin Beech is 2-0-1 against the Rage with a goals-against-average of 1.95 and a save percentage of .909.

Mississippi has scored five power play goals against the Rage for a percentage of 26.3%. Of the RiverKings 13 goals scored, seven have come in the first period and four have come in the third period of play.

M*A*S*H Unit Report

Just prior to last night's game against the Eagles in Colorado, Andrew Lackner was activated to the roster after being on the 14-day injured reserve list since January 27th. Darrell Stoddard was placed on the 14-day injured reserve list retroactive to Friday, when he was hurt during the RiverKings' 5-2 victory against Colorado.

From the Etcetera Department

The RiverKings are 5-0-0 in games decided by five or more goals and 5-0-0 in contests determined by a three-goal difference.

Mississippi has not won a game in overtime (0-1), has not had 40 or more shots against them taken (39 by Wichita, December 19th and 39 by Colorado last night), and has not been shut out this season.

Special Teams Update

In last night's contest against the Eagles in Colorado, Mississippi scored once on the power play in three opportunities. In the last five games, the RiverKings have scored seven power play goals for a percentage of 25.9%.

The RiverKings stopped all three power play chances by the Eagles last night in Colorado, marking the first time in three games an opponent has been held scoreless with the man advantage. In the team's last five contests, Mississippi has allowed three opposing power play goals for a percentage rate of 89.3%.

Mississippi has scored six shorthanded goals and has allowed six shorthanded goals.

Against the Northwest Division

The RiverKings enter today's game against the Rage with a 11-3-1 record against the Northwest Division of the CHL. The only blemishes on the record have been losses to Colorado, Wichita, and Rapid City, along with a shootout loss to Rocky Mountain last Tuesday night. Twenty of the thirty RiverKings victories this season have been against the Northern Conference (20-11-2).

2008-09 RiverKings Hat-Tricks: Darrell Stoddard (4 goals, February 3rd, 2009 vs. Wichita)

2008-09 RiverKings Penalty Shots: Jeff Nelson (miss, January 17th, 2009 at Tulsa)

2008-09 RiverKings Goaltender Shutouts: Tyler Sims (November 29th, 2008 at Corpus Christi), Kevin Beech - December 31st, 2008 vs. Bossier-Shreveport; January 9th vs. Tulsa; January 31st vs. Rapid City)

Streaking

Goals: Adam Smyth (2 games - 3 goals)

Assists: Louis Dumont (5 games - 5 assists); Garrett Larson (4 games - 5 assists)

Points: Garrett Larson (7 games - 10 points); Louis Dumont (7 games - 9 points); Adam Smyth (2 games - 3 points)

Penalty Minutes: Adam Smyth (2 games - 12 PIMS); Dane Marshall (2 games - 4 PIMS); Jeff Nelson (2 games - 4 PIMS)

Goaltender Appearances: Beech (16 games)

Goaltender Wins: Beech (2 victories)

Please To Note....

Stephen Margeson scored his 100th career professional point with an empty net goals late in Saturday's win at Colorado.

Garrett Larson is three away from 200 career professional points.

When Matt Summers takes the ice today, he will be playing in career professional game number 100.

Back in the Thirties Again

Friday's victory over Colorado marked the RiverKings' 30th victory of the season; the third straight year that the franchise has reached the thirty win plateau in the regular season. The 2007-08 team finished 39-21-4 and the 2006-07 Memphis RiverKings were 39-19-6. With the exception of one season, Mississippi/Memphis teams have won thirty or more games in eight out of the last nine seasons, with the 22-37-5 RiverKings of 2005-06 being the only bump along that particular trail. The streak includes the two President's Cup championship teams of 2001-02 and 2002-03. The 2001-02 RiverKings won 46 games in their first CHL championship year.

Kevin Kaminski has now coached teams to thirty or more victories in his last three seasons and four out of his last five campaigns. The last two seasons he coached the now-departed Youngstown SteelHounds to 34 and 39 wins, respectively, in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. His 2004-05 Missouri River Otters of the United Hockey League won 42 games in an 80-game season.

Broadcasts

RiverKings hockey games are heard in the Mid-South and around the world on "The Voice of the Fan," Sports 56, WHBQ-AM and www.sports56whbq.com. Veteran hockey broadcaster and RiverKings media coordinator Bob Bakken provides the play-by-play coverage on Sports 56 and also on CHL-TV. "Never Miss another Away Game" with the CHL-TV link found on the team web site at www.riverkings.com. Games not broadcast on Sports 56 due to other programming commitments are heard on fellow Flinn Broadcasting station 96.1 "The Pig," WIVG-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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Central Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2009


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