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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings news and notes

November 26, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


With the RiverKings on a roll, they will have their busiest stretch of the season to date. Tomorrow night, they will host the Wichita Thunder for the first time this year. The RiverKings soundly defeated the Thunder at the Kansas Coliseum on Friday in their first meeting of the season. They'll have four more get-togethers after tonight.

The team will then hit the road for three games in as many nights. On Thursday, the RiverKings will return to the Ford Center to battle the Oklahoma City Blazers. The RiverKings are 3-0 against the Blazers this season, and the teams will meet three more times following this contest.

On Saturday, the RiverKings head into unchartered territory and face the Texas Brahmas for the first time. After a year away from the rink, the former Fort Worth franchise has re-invented itself and taken residence at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, which is just 10 miles northeast of Fort Worth. The RiverKings will see the Brahmas seven times this year.

On Sunday, the RiverKings will make their only visit to Odessa this season to face the Jackalopes. The teams will only play each other again on Valentine's Day at the DeSoto Civic Center. Sunday's game will mark the first time the RiverKings will have played a team in the Southern Conference.

COMING UP

Tomorrow

Mississippi RiverKings vs. Wichita Thunder, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday

Mississippi RiverKings @ Oklahoma City Blazers, 7:05 p.m.

Friday

Mississippi RiverKings @ Texas Brahmas, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday

Mississippi RiverKings @ Odessa Jackalopes, 7:05 p.m.

Next Monday

RiverKings Replay on The Big 990, 6 p.m.

Radio: http://www.kwam990.com

Internet: http://www.nifty-tv.com/chl/

WEEK IN REVIEW (2-0)

Wednesday: Mississippi 2, Oklahoma City 1 (SO)

Chad Woollard scored the winner in the shootout for his second of the game as the RiverKings rallied to defeat the Blazers at the Ford Center. Woollard scored his eighth of the season with 5:04 remaining in regulation. He fired a shot below the right wing circle near the goal line that found the top shelf of the net. Then as the first man to shoot for the RiverKings in the shootout, Woollard faked the backhand and went to the forehand to put his team ahead in the game.

And that's when Sebastien Centomo did all the rest. Centomo stopped all four shooters in the shootout to go with his 40 saves on the night. He made his return to the Ford Center after playing for the Blazers over the last couple seasons.

In a matchup between the league's best power and the league's best penalty kill, the Blazers scored just once in seven chances. As for the RiverKings, they failed to score on any of their nine power plays.

Friday: Mississippi 5, Wichita 1

Chad Woollard recorded a natural hat trick in the second period as the RiverKings defeated the Thunder at the Kansas Coliseum. With the RiverKings ahead 2-1 after the first period, Woollard scored a pair of goals from the right wing circle on the power play in the first half of the second period. Then with 2:40 remaining in the period, he took a pass from Ryan Campbell and scored from the left slot to cap five straight goals for the RiverKings in a span of 21:49.

Derek Landmesser and Rick Kozak also scored for the RiverKings, who improved to 11-3 and won four straight games for the first time this season. Kozak's goal ended up as the winner, giving him his league-leading fifth game-winning goal on the season. Goalie Adam Hanna won his first start of the season and made 30 saves.

The RiverKings rode Woollard's hot hand and scored on the power play four times in seven tries. The Thunder went empty in eight chances with the extra man.

STRANGE BUT TRUE FACTS

Chad Woollard has scored seven goals in the last three games, giving him 12 on the season and moving him into the league's top five. His six power play goals have him tied for second in the league. Woollard's seven assists give him 19 points and move him into the league's top 20 in that category. His 73 shots on goal rank him fifth in the CHL ..... Even after missing a game, Rick Kozak found a way to score his fifth game-winning goal of the season on Friday to increase his league lead in that category. He has also maintained his lead on the team in penalty minutes with 60 and shooting percentage with 18.9% ..... The RiverKings are 4-1 when scoring first, but 7-2 when allowing the first goal. They are 6-0 when leading after two periods, but still 5-3 otherwise. They are also 6-0 when playing on Fridays, and they are 6-0 when the opponent outshoots them ..... Sebastien Centomo now has a 23-3 career record with the RiverKings with a 2.01 GAA and a .935 save percentage. This season, Centomo leads the CHL with .937 save percentage and is second with a 1.87 GAA ..... Ryan Campbell has recorded eight assists in the last four games, giving him 11 on the season and allowing him to crack the league's top 25 ..... Derek Landmesser and Steve Makway continue leading the team in plus-minus with a +7 rating each ..... Aaron Davis has had an assist in each of the last four games ..... The RiverKings' penalty killing has risen to 91.5% and still leads the league. Meanwhile, the power play has climbed to ninth-best in the league at 16.7% ..... Bernie Chmiel's fight in the first period on Friday in Wichita earned him his first professional major penalty.

RIVERKINGS HERE AND THERE

'Tis the season

The RiverKings tomorrow night will highlight the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and host 10 other local charities. Toys for Tots believes every child deserves a little Christmas, and donations of money and new toys allows the program to provide the underprivileged with the simplest holiday joys that most people take for granted. For more information on the Memphis are Toys for Tots program, please visit www.memphistoysfortots.org.

Also tomorrow, Project Package of Southaven will come to the DCC to collect for its next shipment from RiverKings fans. People can donate items to send to military personnel overseas who will spend the holidays away from their families. These items include unscented baby wipes, batteries, beef jerky, Chap Stick, chips, cereal bars, cookies, deodorant, flip flops, foot powder, fruit cups, hand sanitizer, lotion, tooth paste, tooth brushes with case, and Vienna sausages.

Meanwhile, RiverKings With A Cause, the team-sponsored, fan-based volunteer organization that supports RiverKings players in their charitable efforts, is raising money this holiday season by wrapping your holiday presents for you. Either bring in your gifts, or stop by the RiverKings With A Cause table with your RiverKings merchandise to have it gift-wrapped for a donation. Gift-wrapping will start at tomorrow's home game and run through next month. For more information, contact Vicki Wahl at the RiverKings office at (662) 342-1755 or E-mail her at vicki@riverkings.com.

Also, the Gifts from the Heart giving tree will return for the holiday again this year. Help make someone in DeSoto County's Christmas a little brighter! The Gifts from the Heart Angel Tree will stand on the DeSoto Civic Center concourse during tomorrow's home game, as well as on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7 & 8. Contact the RiverKings' office for more information, or visit www.riverkings.com.

Head to The Boiling Point after every home game

Join the RiverKings' players and fans at their "Official Post-Game Party Spot" after every home game this season. The Boiling Point is located conveniently by the DeSoto Civic Center on the corner of Church Road and Pepper Chase Drive.

Never miss another away game!

Catch all CHL games live over the Internet for FREE on the new CHL Network. For more information, surf the Internet to www.nifty-tv.com/chl, powered by Nifty Online Television.

TICKETS

Season Tickets

It's never too late to purchase a RiverKings season ticket package! Full season tickets are currently on sale at prorated prices. Season ticket holders receive benefits that include invitations to exclusive parties, year-long ticket discounts, and RiverKings merchandise specials. For more information, call the RiverKings at (662) 342-1755, or log on to the Internet at http://www.riverkings.com.

Group Outings

Schedule your next family, work, church, school, or team outing at a RiverKings game. Group tickets start as low as $7 per person for groups of 10 or more. Group leaders receive great benefits, including tickets to future games and entry into a contest for FREE airline tickets. Groups also receive recognition on the scoreboard and the assistance of their personal RiverKings account executives.

Birthday Parties

Come celebrate your birthday party at a RiverKings game! Birthday packages include tickets and RiverKings goodies for the birthday child and guests. Before the game, enjoy having cake with your birthday party in one of our special birthday party rooms located in the DeSoto Civic Center's banquet hall area.

Mini Plans

RiverKings ticket packages are available now and throughout the rest of the season. Get your package of either four, eight, or 16 vouchers that you can redeem for tickets to ANY home game, regular season or playoff. You can also use these vouchers in ANY quantity.

Fundraising

The RiverKings Ticket Fundraising Program allows your non-profit organization to raise money by selling tickets to a RiverKings game. Your non-profit organization can raise up to $9 per ticket sold. It can sell tickets for any RiverKings home game this season.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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