CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings news and notes

Published on March 15, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Tonight, the RiverKings begin a three game swing through Texas with the Jackalopes in Odessa. After tonight, the team heads to Laredo and Rio Grande Valley for games on Saturday and Sunday. Tonight's visit to the Ector County Coliseum is the RiverKings' only one of the season and the first since the 2004-05 season. The RiverKings swept two from the Jackalopes at the DCC right after the all-star break back in January. The RiverKings are 8-2-0 all-time in match-ups with Odessa, 3-0-0 at Ector County. Saturday's game at Laredo is the first and only at the LEC this regular season while the game at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo will be the second visit there for the RiverKings this season, having doubled up the Bees 4-2 there on February 16.

COMING UP

Thursday, March 15

Memphis RiverKings (36-15-6, 78 pts, 2nd NE Div) @ Odessa Jackalopes (23-28-7, 53 pts, 4th SW Div) 7:00 CST

Radio: 96.1 FM WYYL

TV: chltv.com

Saturday, March 17

Memphis RiverKings (36-15-6, 78 pts, 2nd NE Div) @ Laredo Bucks (39-15-5, 83 pts, 1st SE Div) 7:30 CST

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Sunday, March 18

Memphis RiverKings (36-15-6, 78 pts, 2nd NE Div) @ Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (24-26-8, 56 pts, 3rd SE Div) 4:05 CST

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Tuesday, March 20

Tulsa Oilers (25-25-7, 57 pts, 4th NE Div) @ Memphis RiverKings (36-15-6, 78 pts, 2nd NE Div) 7:05 CST

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com

TV: chltv.com

Promotion: First 1500 fans receive WMC TV Channel 5 CheerStix.

WEEK IN REVIEW (2-0-1)

Friday, 3/9

Memphis 3 Oklahoma City 2 @ DCC

The line of Ryan Campbell, Travis Banga and Darrell Stoddard weighed heavily in the outcome of the game as those players accounted for all three RiverKings goals. Campbell was involved in all three as he scored his 25th goal and added two assists. Banga finished with the game-winner on his 23rd of the season and also added an assist. Stoddard also added an assist to go with his 13th goal of the season. Larry Sterling, who stopped 29 of 31 shots, made several key saves down the stretch to preserve the win. Shots were even for the game at 31 apiece. Sebastien Centomo took the loss with 28 saves. The RiverKings held Oklahoma City scoreless on 4 power play chances. The win snapped a five game winless streak for the RiverKings.

Saturday, 3/10

Memphis 5 Youngstown 4 SO @ DCC

The RiverKings, playing the Steelhounds for the fifth time in 16 days, battled back after falling behind 2-0 in the first period. Goals by Ryan Held, Jason Sessa and Sheldon Wenzel kept the RiverKings in the game with Louis Dumont tying the game by scoring the lone goal of the third period. Tyler McGregor won it for the RiverKings with his goal in the 10th round of the shootout. McGregor added a pair of assists to his game-winning goal. Larry Sterling made 30 saves to pick up the win.

Tuesday, 3/13

Tulsa 5 Memphis 4 SO @ TUL

In what was a typical RiverKings/Oilers game at the Tulsa Convention Center this season, the RiverKings rallied from a 4-2 third period deficit to force overtime but fell to the Oilers for the first time in eight games this season. Each team scored a goal in the first period with Will Bodine tallying his first of the season for the RiverKings. After a scoreless second period, Ryan Held gave the RiverKings a 2-1 lead on a perfect power play pass from Phil Aucoin at 1:31. Tulsa countered with a power play goal to tie the game at 5:12 of the third and then followed that with two more goals to take a 4-2 lead. Travis Banga and Ryan Campbell each scored in the final five minutes to even it up and send a Tulsa/Memphis game to overtime for the sixth time in the eight meetings this season. In the shootout, the Oilers' David Beauregard, who finished with a hat trick, was credited with the game winner.

Northeast Division Standings (Through 3/7/07) TEAM GP W L OTL PTS WPCT GF GA PIM HOME ROAD L-TEN STREAK xBossier-Shreveport 58 38 14 6 82 .707 186 142 1721 23-5-1 15-9-5 7-2-1 4-0-0 xMemphis 57 36 15 6 78 .684 207 183 1483 21-4-4 15-11-2 4-3-3 0-0-1 xYoungstown 58 31 17 10 72 .621 213 181 1601 17-7-5 14-10-5 8-1-1 0-1-1 Tulsa 57 25 25 7 57 .500 202 222 1784 13-13-4 12-12-3 5-5-0 3-0-0 X-clinched playoff

TONIGHT'S GAME WILL BE ON 96.1 FM

Tonight's RiverKings at Odessa game will be heard on WYYL 96.1 FM due to a conflict with Sports 56's play by play coverage of the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament. Tonight's face-off will be at 7:00 with the pregame show starting at 6:40 from the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa. The remaining games this weekend, Saturday at Laredo (7:30) and Sunday at Rio Grande Valley (4:05) will be back on Sports 56 (AM 560). As a result, the usual webcast through the WHBQ website will be unavailable. Web coverage will be available at chltv.com or the Jackalopes site at www.jackalopes.org.

LAREDO HANGS ON TO NUMBER ONE POSITION IN CHL POLL, RIVERKINGS FOURTH

The Laredo Bucks held onto the top ranking in this week's CHL Coaches Poll. The Bucks took over the top spot last week for the first time and edged out the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs by one first place vote and two overall points. The rest of the top five went: Colorado, RiverKings and Youngstown. The bottom five were Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City, New Mexico Arizona, and Amarillo.

RIVERKINGS HERE AND THERE

Beginning tonight, the RiverKings play 7 games in the final 10 days.

After further review of the RiverKings' first goal on Tuesday, defenseman Will Bodine was awarded the goal on his shot from the point. The goal was originally announced as Sheldon Wenzel's. Wenzel did earn an assist as did Derek Campbell as the RiverKings tied the game at one. The goal was Bodine's first as a RiverKing and the second of his pro career.

Wenzel's assist gives him the first 2 game point streak of his career.

After collecting his 16th goal of the season on Tuesday night, forward Ryan Held has scored 9 goals in his last 11 games.

The last time the RiverKings played a game at the Ector County Coliseum was on February 5, 2005. Travis Banga had his first pro hat trick, as well as 2 assists, to lead the RiverKings to a 6-4 win. Banga's 5 points that night are still a career high.

Winger Phil Aucoin has an assist in each of the last 3 games.

Steve Makway has moved up to 12th in the CHL in defensive scoring with 38 points. Steve picked up his 30th assist of the season in Tuesday's game at Tulsa.

Larry Sterling set the franchise record for single season victories by a goalie with his 28th last Friday in the win over Oklahoma City. He broke the previous record of 27 shared by Mark Richards and the late Scott Brower.

Entering tonight's game in Odessa, the first of 3 straight versus Southern Conference foes, the RiverKings are 8-1-0 in games with teams from the south this season.

RIVERKINGS IN THE COMMUNITY THIS WEEK

Wednesday, Mar 21... Appearance at Walls Library 3pm

Thursday, Mar 22... Appearance at Southaven Library

FORMER FULL HOUSE STAR TO SPEAK AT FAITH AND FAMILY NIGHT GAME ON 3/24

Candace Cameron Bure, who played DJ Tanner TV's Full House, is going to be the featured speaker for Faith and Family Night when the RiverKings host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Saturday, March 24. Candace's testimony, titled "Walk Through Faith" tells of her faith and how it has transformed her life as a person, wife and mother. Her "Walk Through Faith" will take place at 5:30 with the game starting that night at 7:05. Candace has been married to former NHL star Valeri Bure for 10 years. She will be signing autographs during the first intermission and is scheduled to drop the ceremonial first puck. Groups of 20 or more can get tickets for just $5 a ticket for the game. A game ticket will get you in for Candace's presentation at 5:30 as well. Doors will open at 5pm. The RiverKings are also encouraging all fans to wear white for the Fan Appreciation Night White Out. Call the RiverKings office to purchase group tickets or for more information at 662-342-1755.

RIVERKINGS PROGRAMS COLLECTORS ITEMS THIS SEASON

Don't forget to pick up your RiverKings Game Program at every game for $2. Throughout the season, programs will feature different covers, updated player roster photos, team history features and more. The program for next week's games will feature defenseman Steve Makway on the cover, a player profile of defenseman Will Bodine and a history article featuring former coach Doug Shedden. Each program also includes a game day insert with game notes and player stats.

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.

PICK A COLOR, ANY COLOR AND HELP THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Several RiverKings players have committed to dying their hair for the playoffs and the fans can choose the color. Boxes representing the potential colors will be placed at the RiverKings With A Cause table behind section 117 for the remaining regular season home games. To vote, place your money in the bucket representing the color you want the players to dye their hair. On Saturday, March 24, fans will learn the winning color with the money collected being donated to the American Cancer Society.

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A RiverKings game is even more fun when you come as a group. Groups of 10 or more save up to 30% on the box office rate, plus every person in the group receives a player mini bobblehead. Call 662-342-1755 for more information.

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 and at ticketmaster.com.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: Tuesday, March 20-First 1500 fans receive WMC TV Channel CheerStix; Friday, March 23- First 1500 fans get a RiverKings Zamboni Bank; Post Game Skate;

Saturday, March 24-First 1500 fans take home a 15th Anniversary T-Shirt; Former "Full House" star Candace Cameron Bure to speak at 5:30 about her "Walk Through Faith"; RiverKings White Out-fans where white and get a ticket for just $5, also groups of 20 more can get tickets for just $5 each; Post Game Skate with players.

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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Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2007


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