CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Report

Published on October 23, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Friday, October 24th: RiverKings at Oklahoma City (7:10 PM - 96.1 WIVG-FM)

Saturday, October 25th: RiverKings at Bossier-Shreveport (7:05 PM - 1210 AM WMPS)

The Week That Was: The RiverKings opened the 2008-09 season last weekend with a split of two games, one on home ice at the DeSoto Civic Center, and away from home at North Richland Hills, Texas against the Brahmas. Friday night, October 17th, the RiverKings faced a depleted Wichita Thunder team that brought just 13 players to the Mid-South, added two players and picked up the RiverKings' last three cuts from the training camp roster for the night. In addition, Wichita named their equipment manager as the backup goaltender. The Thunder came short-handed to the season opener, thanks to visa difficulties with five players on their opening night roster.

On the ice, Dane Marshall, Mike Tuomi, and Darrell Stoddard scored Mississippi goals, with Stoddard's power play goal in the third period being the difference in the 3-2 RiverKings' win. Kevin Beech notched the win in the net with a 23-save performance.

Saturday night, the RiverKings traveled to the home of the Brahmas and never could seem to gain the upper hand in a 4-2 loss. Marc Belanger scored the Brahmas' last two goals, the game-winner and empty-net tally at the end of the game in the victory.

Garrett Larson and Stephen Margeson scored the RiverKings' goals and Beech (1-1-0) stopped 31 shots and allowed three goals in the loss.

Tuesday Night with the Mudbugs: Tyler Sims made his first CHL start in goal for the RiverKings Tuesday evening against Bossier-Shreveport, but the Mudbugs scored six times on the former Providence College standout in a 6-2 win at the DeSoto Civic Center. Kevin Cooper scored twice and added an assist for the Mudbugs, while Joe Blaznek and Travis Clayton scored a goal and chipped in a pair of assists each in the victory.

Mississippi received a shorthanded goal from Louis Dumont and a power play goal by Margeson in the loss. Sims made 20 saves of 26 shots on goal as the RiverKings outshot Bossier-Shreveport 34-26, but scored only once in ten trips to the power play.

The Week to Come: Mississippi meets the two teams with perfect 3-0-0 records in the Central Hockey League this weekend at Oklahoma City and at Bossier-Shreveport.

Friday night, the RiverKings travel to Oklahoma City for the first time in the regular season for a 7:10 PM start. D.J. Jelitto leads the Blazers in scoring in the early going with three goals and five points. A former goaltender for Youngstown and for current RiverKings' Coach Kevin Kaminski, Andy Franck has won all three games in the crease for OKC so far this year.

Saturday, Mississippi goes to Louisiana for the first of six trips into Mudbug country and a rematch of Tuesday night's encounter at the DCC. It'll actually be the fourth meeting already for the teams, who played two exhibition games against each other in Southaven prior to the start of the regular season.

RiverKings Leaders: Stephen Margeson's two goals in three games puts him on top of the leaderboard for goals scored by the RiverKings, and has him on top of the league for goals scored by a defenseman. David Simoes has two assists from the blue line, also putting him among the CHL leaders in points by a defenseman. Another defenseman, Dane Marshall, has scored a goal in his only shot on net.

RiverKings Acquire Constanzo, Waive Tuomi: On Thursday, the RiverKings picked up Bossier-Shreveport forward Dallas Costanzo off waivers and added him to the roster. To make room for Costanzo, Mississippi waived Mike Tuomi. Costanzo played two games for Bossier-Shreveport this season, but failed to score. Prior to his appearance in Louisiana, Costanzo played three years at South Alberta Institute of Technology, where he captained his squad to two conference championships his last two seasons. Tuomi, a native of Toronto, Ontario, and played 45 games for Rio Grande Valley last season in the CHL, appeared in three Mississippi contests this season, scoring one goal and taking 11 penalty minutes.

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Central Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2008


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