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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings This Week

December 22, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


December 20th at Amarillo Gorillas - RiverKings 2, Amarillo 1

In the first and only matchup between the RiverKings and Gorillas this season, and also the first game between the pair since March of 2005, Dallas Steward and Matt Summers scored power play goals for the RiverKings 2-1 victory. Steward opened the scoring at 5:43 of the first period, assisted by Joe Markusen and Matt Pierce. After Amarillo tied the game later in the first frame, Summers gave Mississippi the game-clinching tally at 10:39 of the third period, assisted by Louis Dumont and Derek Landmesser. Goaltender Tyler Sims (3-3-0) was the game's number one star with a 25-save performance. The RiverKings were 2-for-9 on the power play and held the Gorillas scoreless in four power play chances.

December 19th at Wichita Thunder - Wichita 2, RiverKings 1

The Wichita Thunder made two first period goals stand up, holding on to a 2-1 victory over the RiverKings at the Kansas Coliseum. Troy Ofukany and Chris Greene (power play) scored in a four minute span that started at the 13 minute mark of the first period for Wichita. Mississippi answered with a goal from Matt Pierce at 3:34 of the third period, assisted by Dallas Costanzo and Adam Smyth, but could get no closer. The RiverKings put up season highs for shots on goal (54) and shots in one period (23) in the losing effort. Goaltender Kevin Beech stopped 37 shots on goal in the loss (12-7-0). Mississippi was scoreless in eight power play chances, while Wichita was 1-for-8 with the man advantage. The RiverKings out shot the Thunder 54-39.

Roster Notes

Matt Summers returned to the active roster Friday after being on the 14-day injured reserve list.

David Simoes is on the 14-day injured reserve list from December 6th.

Stephen Margeson is on the 14-day injured reserve list from December 16th.

Individual Player Notes

Adam Smyth has 28 penalty minutes in his last five games.

Brad Bonello has 21 penalty minutes in his last three contests.

Darrell Stoddard has seven penalty minutes in his last two games. Stoddard has 44 penalty minutes in the club's last ten games, but is tied for the team lead in power plays in the last ten at two.

Jeff Nelson is tied for the team lead in power play goals scored in the last ten games with two.

Louis Dumont is the CHL leader in shorthanded goals with four, his last one coming November 21st at Tulsa. Dumont has scored two of his four "shorties" at home. Dumont paces the RiverKings in assists at home with seven.

Garrett Larson is tied for the CHL lead in shorthanded assists with three, his last one coming at Tulsa November 21st. Larson leads the RiverKings in points scored in the team's last ten games with ten, including a team-leading seven goals scored.

David Simoes is second in the CHL in major penalties with 16, which is tops among CHL defensemen. Simoes' 98 penalty minutes ranks him fourth among CHL blue liners. Simoes leads the team in penalty minutes at home with 43.

Bobby Chaumont is in a tie for second in the CHL in game-winning goals with four, his last one coming December 13th at home against Texas. Chaumont stands third in the CHL three-star standings with 28 points, including five number-one stars. In home games this year, Chaumont is leading the team in points scored with 11 on a team-leading seven goals and four assists. Chaumont also leads Mississippi in power play goals at home with four and in game-winning goals before the home fans with three.

Derek Landmesser leads the team in assists at home with seven.

Goaltender Kevin Beech is tied for the CHL lead in victories with 12. Beech leads the CHL in minutes played with 1146.

Goalie Tyler Sims has posted a .957 save percentage in his last four appearances, winning three and losing once. His goals-against-average for those four games is 1.26.

Team Extras

- Mississippi is eighth in the CHL for average penalty minutes per game at 25.68. The total includes 36 major penalties, five ten-minute misconduct penalties, and one game misconduct penalty.

- When scoring first, the RiverKings have a record of 12-4-0.

- In shootouts, Mississippi has a record of 2-0. RiverKings goaltenders have not allowed a goal in the two shootout victories they've played in. No games have been decided in overtime.

- Against the Northwest Division, Mississippi has a record of 5-3-0, losing in their last outing at Wichita last Friday night.

- In Northeast Division games, the RiverKings have posted a 4-4-0 mark, defeating Tulsa 6-4 in their last division matchup on November 21st.

- Mississippi is scoring at an average of 3.16 goals per game and is allowing an average of 2.72 goals per contest, which is the fourth-best average in the CHL.

- The RiverKings remain second in the CHL in shots allowed at 26.52 per game.

- Mississippi has won four straight home games, dating back to a 3-2 victory against Oklahoma City on November 15th.

RiverKings' FYI...

- At home, the RiverKings have a record of 7-3-0 and have outscored their opponents 36-27.

- Against Wichita, the RiverKings are 2-1-0 for the season. In games against Oklahoma City, Mississippi is also 2-1-0 for the year. Versus Tulsa, the RiverKings have won both encounters this season (2-0-0).

- At home, the RiverKings have the seventh-best power play in the CHL at 18.3%. In home games on the penalty kill, the RiverKings also have the seventh-best unit in the league at 83.6%.

- Two of the team's five shorthanded goals have come at home.

- When ahead after two periods at home, the RiverKings have a 5-0-0 record, but are 0-3-0 when trailing after forty minutes. When tied after forty minutes, Mississippi has a 2-0-0 ledger.

- In one-goal games at home, Mississippi is 3-0-0.

The Next Time...

Mississippi vs. Wichita: The teams next meet February 3rd at the DeSoto Civic Center. Last Friday's game was the last time the RiverKings will meet at the Kansas Coliseum this season. Mississippi opened the 2008-09 season with a 3-2 victory over the Thunder on Opening Night, October 17th.

Mississippi vs. Oklahoma City: The RiverKings will open the 2009 portion of their schedule on January 2nd at home against the Blazers, and then will return the favor in the Sooner State's capital city on January 3rd. It will be the first time for Mississippi in OKC since a 3-2 shootout victory on October 24th.

Mississippi vs. Tulsa: Mississippi plays host to the Oilers on January 9th at the DCC, where the RiverKings defeated Tulsa 3-1 on November 18th. The RiverKings do not return to the BOK Center until March 6th.

RiverKings Hold Spot in CHL Coaches Poll

Mississippi remains in the seventh place among the Central Hockey League's top-ten teams, according to the league's last bi-monthly coach's poll. Mississippi garnered 77 points in the latest poll, four behind sixth place Texas and 29 ahead of eighth-rated Rio Grande Valley. Colorado returned to the number one spot in the poll, getting five first-place votes. They were second in the last ratings. Odessa moved up four spots to number two from number six in the poll, getting seven first-place votes and was one point short of Colorado in the overall vote total. Northeast Division-leading Oklahoma City fell to third from number one in the last poll and was eight points short of Odessa's 137 point total. The Blazers received four first-place votes in the balloting.

Broadcasts

The three games this week for the RiverKings will be heard in the Mid-South and across the globe through the team's broadcasts on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. Veteran broadcaster and RiverKings' Media Coordinator Bob Bakken provides the play-by-play. Coverage begins at 6:50 PM Tuesday and Friday nights, and on Saturday at 7:20 PM from Tulsa. RiverKings hockey is also available on the Internet through CHL-TV, although Saturday's game from Tulsa will not have video capabilities.

Tickets

RiverKings season and group tickets, fundraiser programs, and more are available by contacting the RiverKings' front office at 662-342-1755 or by e-mail at tickets@riverkings.com. Single game tickets for RiverKings hockey are available through the DeSoto Civic Center box office, or by contacting Ticketmaster.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2008


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