CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings news and notes

Published on February 12, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


DEADLINE DEALS

The Mississippi RiverKings had a busy day just prior to the Central Hockey League's trade deadline yesterday. The RiverKings acquired defenseman Jon Hedberg from the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees for forward Jason Weitzel. They also traded defenseman Peter Kennedy to the Wichita Thunder for forward Rane Carnegie.

Carnegie, 23, scored 13 goals and had 16 assists in 46 games with the Laredo Bucks this season. The Thunder traded him to the RiverKings right after acquiring him from the Bucks. As a rookie with the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors last year, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Carnegie scored 13 goals and assisted on 25 others in 55 regular season games. However, he only had a goal and an assist in 10 playoff games.

Hedberg, 25, scored three goals and assisted on seven others in 37 games with the Killer Bees this season. He spent most of last season with Peiting in the German OberLiga, where he had five goals and 12 assists in 37 games. The 6-foot, 210-pound Hedberg broke into pro hockey in 2005-2006 with the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs, where he had a goal and three assists in 16 games.

Kennedy, 23, had just three assists in 15 games with the RiverKings this season. As a rookie last season, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound blueliner had a goal and 17 assists in 64 regular season games with the New Mexico Scorpions. Kennedy also had a goal and five assists in 18 playoff games.

Weitzel, 27, scored one goal and assisted on two others in 13 RiverKings games this season. The 5-foot-10, 182-pound rookie had three goals and 10 assists in 19 games with the Oklahoma City Blazers before the RiverKings traded for him.

WEEK PREVIEW

Following a solid weekend in Youngstown and a strong overall performance away from the DeSoto Civic Center over the last six games, the RiverKings will play a pair of home games later this week before a brief return to the road. What follows below serves more as a datebook than anything else as to the RiverKings and their happenings this week:

TUESDAY

Beef O'Brady's on Goodman Road in Southaven will host another installment of RiverKings Roundup. Those who cannot make it to Beef O'Brady's can tune in to the show beginning at 7 p.m. on Sports 56 WHBQ. Fans should have great incentive to come to the pub for this show, as it won't host another one until the last one of the season on St. Patrick's Day.

Meanwhile, RiverKings captain Derek Landmesser will step into the CHL Chat Room. Fans can click here to view the chat log.

WEDNESDAY

After both the RiverKings and the Odessa Jackalopes practice, the ice at the DeSoto Civic Center will turn pink in advance of Thursday's mass wedding and vow renewal extravaganza and Friday's Pink at the Rink fundraiser. Media outlets interested in covering the coloring should contact Nikolai Busko for information and arrangements at the RiverKings office at (662) 470-2158. They can also try his cell phone at (662) 404-0600 or E-mail him at nik@riverkings.com.

THURSDAY

The RiverKings will host the Jackalopes at 7:05 p.m. The pre-game show will begin at 6:55 p.m. on Sports 56 WHBQ. The Jackalopes blew out the RiverKings 6-0 in Odessa on Dec. 1 in their only other meeting this season. However, the RiverKings had played on the road against the Texas Brahmas the night before and in Oklahoma City against the Blazers on Nov. 29. Furthermore, the RiverKings played the Jackalopes with a short bench because of suspensions stemming from the game against the Brahmas. Therefore, RiverKings fans have good reason to hope for a better result this time. Nevertheless, the Jackalopes' situation parallels the RiverKings'. The Jackalopes want to improve their playoff positioning. Not only do they want to avoid having to play in the Southern Conference's opening round best-of-three series, but they also feel like they still have a shot at first place in the Southwest Division. Anticipate a playoff-like atmosphere in this game!

After Thursday's game, the DeSoto Civic Center will morph into a wedding chapel for couples wanting to make Valentine's Day a day they will always remember. However, fans can't simply show up for the game on Thursday and expect to get married! They will need to make the normal matrimonial arrangements as county and state law mandate, including the acquisitions of marriage licenses and getting blood tests. Above all else, however, couples wanting to get married on Thursday at the DeSoto Civic Center will need to call the RiverKings office at (662) 342-1755 to reserve a spot on the ice.

FRIDAY

The RiverKings will host the Tulsa Oilers at 7:05 p.m. The pre-game show will begin at 6:55 p.m. on Sports 56 WHBQ. The RiverKings have defeated the Oilers in all five meetings this season, and the two teams will play each other three more times after Friday's encounter. The Oilers will not make the playoffs, but that does not mean the RiverKings can simply show up at the DeSoto Civic Center and receive an easy two points. The Brahmas beat the mighty Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs twice this past weekend, showing that anyone can beat anybody in this league on any given day.

Off the ice, the RiverKings will host Pink at the Rink to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The players will skate with pink jerseys that will go to auction following the game to benefit Susan G. Komen, which will also receive two dollars from every ticket. The first thousand fans will receive Pink at the Rink T-shirts from the DeSoto Athletic Club.

Thompson Dunavant, PLC of Memphis will sponsor Pink at the Rink by making a 250-dollar donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Murphy & Sons, Inc. will also help sponsor Pink at the Rink with a 100-dollar donation.

SATURDAY

The RiverKings will visit the Texas Brahmas at 7:05 p.m. The pre-game show will begin at 6:55 p.m. on Sports 56 WHBQ. The RiverKings lead the season series 3-2 and will play at the NYTEX Sports Centre for the final time this season. However, after a pair of wins over the Mudbugs, the Brahmas have re-entered the Northern Conference playoff race. So just like the game on Thursday against the Jackalopes, fans should expect a tense confrontation.

Additionally, fans can E-mail hockey questions to msrkradio@aol.com as Saturday's intermissions will feature "Hockey 101" segments. They can E-mail their questions either during the game or early on in the week.

LAST WEEKEND IN YOUNGSTOWN

Friday: RiverKings 5, SteelHounds 1

Ryan Held and Peter Kennedy hooked up for the winning goal as the RiverKings defeated the SteelHounds in Game One. Held deflected Kennedy's wrist shot from the right point 5:58 into the second period for his 18th goal of the season.

Sheldon Wenzel tied the game for the RiverKings early in the second. He scored his first goal of the season at 2:02 by beating Andy Franck to the stick side.

The RiverKings scored three times in the third period. Chad Woollard's 22nd and 23rd goals of the season sandwiched Rick Kozak's 18th.

Milan Maslonka beat Ian Keserich over the right shoulder from the left circle 5:25 into the game on a power play for his third goal of the season to give the SteelHounds a 1-0 lead.

Keserich made 37 saves. Franck stopped 25 shots.

Saturday: RiverKings 6, SteelHounds 5 (RiverKings win shootout 3-1)

Rick Kozak and Ryan Held scored in the shootout to lead the RiverKings over the SteelHounds in Game Two. The win temporarily put the RiverKings in third place in the Northern Conference.

For the second straight night, the SteelHounds struck early. Petr Pohl's 18th of the year 1:56 into the game made it 1-0. However, Steve Makway scored on a bomb from the left point on a power play for his eighth of the season at 9:03 of the first period to tie the game.

Jason Baird registered his 10th goal of the year at 3:38 of the second period and Pohl scored his second of the game at 8:32 to make it 3-1 SteelHounds. Nevertheless, the RiverKings rallied. Rick Kozak scored his 19th of the season on a power play, and Ryan Campbell scored his 19th on the year shorthanded to tie the game before the end of the period.

Sheldon Wenzel scored his second of the year and Chad Woollard registered his 24th late in the third period to make it a 5-3 game in favor of the RiverKings, but the SteelHounds tied the game immediately. Following Baird's second of the game, Bryan Lachapelle scored his third of the year with 45 seconds remaining to force overtime.

After a scoreless overtime and a 1-1 shootout after three rounds, Kozak scored on Andy Franck to give the RiverKings the lead. Keserich then stopped Pohl, giving Held a chance to end the contest. Held beat Franck to seal the deal.

Keserich made 22 saves in relief. Franck made 27 saves.

Sunday: SteelHounds 4, RiverKings 0

Joel Irving scored twice in the first period to help the SteelHounds avoid a sweep.

The RiverKings ended their six-game road swing with a 4-1-1 record and moved down to fifth place in the Northern Conference. The SteelHounds moved into a tie for third place in the North with the Colorado Eagles.

Irving scored his 18th of the season on a power play two minutes into the game. He scored his 19th at 16:55.

Chris Richards scored his 16th goal of the year into an empty net late in the third period. Petr Pohl also netted his 20th in the final minute.

Kevin Beech made 38 saves for a shutout in his SteelHounds debut. Ian Keserich made 22 saves.

STRANGE BUT TRUE FACTS

With an assist each on Saturday, Brian Mullally and Zach Pearson each recorded a point for the first time since Jan. 12 ... The league suspended Darrell Stoddard for Saturday's game for leaving the bench to join an altercation ... Ryan Held returned to the lineup on Friday after missing both games last weekend due to injury ... With an assist on Friday, Cody Blanshan recorded a point for the first time since Dec. 21 ... Sebastien Centomo on Saturday made his first start since Jan. 12, but left due to injury ... The RiverKings have not lost a shootout since Mar. 13, 2007 in Tulsa against the Oilers ... Steve Makway recorded a point in six straight games for the first time on Saturday ... Sheldon Wenzel on Saturday scored a goal in two straight games for the first time ... Rick Kozak recorded a point in five straight games for the first time on Saturday ... Derek Landmesser on Saturday recorded his 400th RiverKings point ... The RiverKings have an 0-4 record when playing a third game in three days ... Ian Keserich on Sunday lost his first RiverKings decision in eight games ... Ryan Campbell recorded his 100th RiverKings assist on Friday ... Louis Dumont played his 900th professional game Sunday ... The RiverKings have an 0-2 record on Sundays.

ELVIS NIGHT JERSEYS

Additional jerseys from the RiverKings' Elvis Night on Jan. 12 have gone to auction on eBay. The "Jailhouse Rock" jerseys the team actually wore that night went to auction following the game. Like the ones auctioned off on game night, the money the jerseys on eBay raise will go to the Kings Court Booster Club and Hernando Youth Sports.

GUITAR GIVEAWAY

You can save up to 53 percent off the box office ticket price by purchasing a 2008-2009 season ticket package. By purchasing or renewing season tickets for next year, you can also win a custom RiverKings Gibson Guitar. Only 10 of these guitars exist. Contact the RiverKings office at (662) 342-1755 or log on to www.riverkings.com to find out more about season tickets for next year and how you can win this guitar. The guitar will sit on display for the rest of the season at the fan services booth behind Section 105 on the DeSoto Civic Center concourse.

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.

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.

VOUCHER 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 February 12, 2008


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