CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings news and notes

February 18, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


After a bad weekend that featured their most embarrassing loss of the season, the RiverKings have to pick up the pieces and move forward. Following the Texas Brahmas' 3-0 win in Amarillo over the Gorillas last night, the RiverKings have fallen out of the Northern Conference playoff picture. The Brahmas now have 57 points while the RiverKings have 56. However, both teams have two games in hand on the Youngstown SteelHounds. The SteelHounds have 60 points and sit in fourth place in the North.

The RiverKings host the Wichita Thunder tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The pre-game show begins at 6:55 p.m. on Sports 56 WHBQ. The Thunder defeated the RiverKings on Jan. 8 in Valley Center 4-2 at the end of that awful six-game road trip following Christmas. The RiverKings had beaten the Thunder in each of the teams' three previous meetings this season.

The RiverKings get their rematch with the Brahmas at the DeSoto Civic Center on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Like Tuesday, fans can tune in to Sports 56 WHBQ at 6:55 p.m. The franchises formerly known as Memphis and Fort Worth meet for the last time this season. Thursday's game carries a lot of importance since these teams have split the first six games of the season series. Therefore, should the RiverKings and Brahmas finish with identical win and point totals at the end of the season, whoever wins Thursday's game also wins the tiebreaker in the standings.

The RiverKings visit the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The broadcast starts at 6:55 p.m. on Y 96.1 FM. The bitter rivals have split the season series 4-4, but the Mudbugs have won the last two meetings, including the Jan. 22 Face-Off Field Trip in Southaven 4-0. Both teams should have a lot at stake in this contest, between the RiverKings trying to move back into the playoff picture and the Mudbugs looking to improve their odds of repeating as Governor's Cup champions.

For a recap of this week's action and a chance to see the RiverKings up close, come to Beef O'Brady's on Goodman Road in Southaven for another installment of RiverKings Roundup next Monday at 7 p.m. Yes, we've added another show! Those who can't make it to Beef O'Brady's, however, can tune in to Sports 56 WHBQ and listen to the show live. The next (and last) show takes place on Mar. 17.

WEEK REVIEW

Thursday: Odessa 6, Mississippi 5

John Osborne, Sebastien Thinel, and Dominic Leveille each scored twice to lead the Jackalopes over the RiverKings in Southaven.

Leveille scored the game-winner with 3:59 remaining after Darrell Stoddard had scored twice in an eight-second span to tie the game for the RiverKings.

Louis Dumont and Rick Kozak each scored in the first 2:03 of the game to give the RiverKings a 2-0 lead. Osborne got the Jackalopes on the board with 1:11 remaining in the first period to make it 2-1.

Thinel scored on a power play 3:10 into the second period to bring the Jackalopes level, but Derek Landmesser scored a power play goal of his own at 6:57 to give the RiverKings a 3-2 lead. Osborne scored his second of the match at 11:43 to make it a 3-3 game, and Thinel scored with 45.1 seconds remaining in the period to give the Jackalopes their first lead of the night.

Leveille scored his first of the night with 7:11 left in the contest. Stoddard's pair of goals made it three goals in 25 seconds between the teams.

Alexandre Vincent made 34 saves for the Jackalopes. Ian Keserich made 26 saves for the RiverKings.

Friday: Tulsa 10, Mississippi 3

The Oilers scored five times in the second period to crown the RiverKings at Pink at the Rink.

Jeff Christian, Warren McCutcheon, Brendon Hodge, David Beauregard, and Kai Magnussen all scored for the Oilers in the second. Christian and Beauregard also scored in the third period, as did Lucas Burnett and Paul Kelly. Kelly also scored in the first period.

Ryan Campbell scored in the first and third periods for the RiverKings. Chad Woollard scored in the second period.

Guy St. Vincent made 38 saves for the Oilers, who defeated the RiverKings for the first time in six tries this year. Ian Keserich gave up four goals on 17 shots in net for the RiverKings. Kris Tebbs replaced him midway through the game and gave up six goals on 14 shots.

Saturday: Texas 5, Mississippi 2

The Brahmas scored three power play goals in the third period to defeat the RiverKings at the NYTEX Sports Centre.

Justin Kinnunen, Anders Strome, and Mark Carragher all scored in the final stanza with the man-advantage.

The Brahmas' all-time leading scorer gave the RiverKings a 2-1 late in the second period. Chad Woollard scored with 2:04 remaining to give Mississippi their first lead of the night. However, Jordan Cameron came right back with 1:49 left in the second to tie the game.

It took just 3:28 for the Brahmas to take a 1-0 lead, as Strome scored his first power play goal of the night. The RiverKings tied the game on a power play with 1:58 to go in the first thanks to Ryan Held.

Brett Jaeger made 46 saves for the Brahmas. Ian Keserich stopped 28 shots for the RiverKings.

STRANGE BUT TRUE FACTS

Darrell Stoddard on Thursday scored twice in a game for the first time since Feb. 7, 2007 in Colorado against the Eagles ..... The RiverKings last gave up 10 goals in one game on Dec. 18, 1998 in a 10-1 loss to the Columbus Cottonmouths ..... Derek Landmesser on Thursday moved past Andy Ross for ninth on the RiverKings' all-time goal-scoring list with 72 ..... Ryan Campbell has recorded a point in nine of the last 10 games with eight goals and seven assists ..... Chad Woollard has recorded a point in seven of the last eight games with six goals and four assists ..... Jason Lawmaster on Friday had an assist for the first time since Jan. 25 in Tulsa against the Oilers ..... Steve Makway has recorded a point in nine of the last 10 games with two goals and nine assists ..... Since returning from injury, Ryan Held has two goals and five assists in six games ..... The RiverKings gave up five goals in a period for the first time this season on Friday ..... The RiverKings have a 1-4-1 record against the Southern Conference this season ..... Rane Carnegie recorded his first RiverKings point with an assist on Saturday ..... The RiverKings have an 0-5 record when playing a third game in three days ..... The RiverKings have a 14-6-1 record when outshooting the opponent ..... Aaron Davis returned to the lineup on Friday and had an assist ..... The RiverKings have a 2-2-1 record when playing on Thursday ..... Jon Hedberg made his RiverKings debut on Thursday ..... Kris Tebbs made his RiverKings debut on Friday ..... Louis Dumont now has 991 pro hockey points.

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.

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.

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.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2008


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