CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings This Week

Published on January 19, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


RiverKings Stat Leaders

The RiverKings are led in points scored by Louis Dumont with 35. Bobby Chaumont is the team's goal scoring leader with 20. Eight of Chaumont's goals have come on the power play. Dumont, Matt Summers, Jeff Alcombrack, and Derek Landmesser each have 22 assists at the top of that list for the RiverKings, although 19 of Summers' helpers have come with Mississippi. The other three were with Laredo before a trade sent him to the RiverKings earlier this season. Summers also leads the RiverKings in plus-minus stats at plus-14 (plus-12 with Mississippi). Adam Smyth is the RiverKings' penalty minute leader with 138. Dumont leads the team in shorthanded goals scored with four. Jeff Nelson paces the RiverKings in game-winning goals scored at five. Between the pipes, Kevin Beech is the leader in goaltending statistical categories for the RiverKings, including games played (28), minutes (1689), wins (18), shutouts (2), goals-against-average (2.38), and save percentage (.907).

On the CHL Leader Board

Louis Dumont is tied for first in the Central Hockey League for shorthanded goals scored with four. Garrett Larson is tied for third in shorthanded assists with three. David Simoes is tied for the league lead in major penalties with 19. Matt Summers is third in shooting percentage at .250 (nine goals, 36 shots on goal). Kevin Beech is fourth in goals-against-average by a goaltender at 2.38. Beech is tied for second in victories with 18, leads the league in minutes played with 1689, is tied for first in shutouts with two, and is fifth in shootout percentage at .923 (12 saves, 13 shots). Among rookies, Dane Marshall is fourth in plus-minus statistics at plus-eight. Among defensemen, Jeff Alcombrack is seventh in points scored with 28. Alcombrack is also tied for second in power play assists by a defenseman with 15. David Simoes is fifth in penalty minutes by a blue liner at 117 and first in major penalties with his 19.

The Last Time Out...

January 17th, 2009 - Tulsa 3, RiverKings 2 (SHO)

Sean Collins scored the tying goal with less than three minutes remaining, and followed that with the only goal in the shootout to defeat the RiverKings in Tulsa 3-2 on Saturday night, January 17th. Mississippi opened the scoring on a goal from Stephen Margeson nearly eight minutes into the first period, but Jeff Christian tied it later in the first for a 1-1 tie after twenty minutes. Former Oiler Dallas Steward tied the game early in the second period, but Collins took over and tied the game at 17:05 of the third period and beat RiverKings goaltender Kevin Beech for the game winning goal in the shootout. The goal was the first time Beech (18-9-1) had been scored on in a shootout this year and the shootout loss was the team's first defeat after two straight shootout wins. Mississippi outshot the Oilers 39-16, but Tulsa beat the RiverKings for the first time this year.

This Week's Opponents

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees at RiverKings, Friday, January 23rd, 2009 (7:05 PM Start - DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, MS)

This contest will be the second meeting of the season between Rio Grande Valley and the RiverKings, who won the previous meeting between the clubs 4-1 in Texas on November 26th. This will be the final meeting between the teams during the regular season. Rio Grande Valley enters the week in third place in the CHL Southeast Division.

Jeff Nelson scored two power play goals for the RiverKings in the win at RGV in November, including the game-winner at 9:45 of the second period during a four-goal second-period outburst. Louis Dumont, Bobby Chaumont, and Jeff Alcombrack added two assists in the victory. Garrett Larson and Andrew Lackner scored the other RiverKings' goals in the game. Kevin Beech earned the win in goal with a 34-save effort. Mississippi was 2-for-4 on the power play and 1-of-7 on the penalty kill, outshooting the Bees 41-35.

Robin Bouchard scored the lone Rio Grande Valley goal in the game, and Wylie Rogers took the loss with a 34-save, 4-goal performance.

Laredo Bucks at RiverKings, Friday, January 23rd, 2009 (7:05 PM Start - DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, MS)

This meeting will be the RiverKings' second matchup with the second-place team in the CHL Southeast Division Laredo Bucks. Mississippi rallied with three goals in the third period to defeat the Bucks in Laredo 5-3 on November 25th. This will be the final meeting between the clubs during the regular season.

Former Laredo Buck Bobby Chaumont scored two goals against his old team in the November victory, but it was Dane Marshall who earned the game-winning goal nearly six minutes into the third period of play. Dallas Costanzo assisted on two goals in the win, and Darrell Stoddard and Matt Pierce added goals for the RiverKings. Another former Buck, Kevin Beech, stopped 19 shots on goal in posting the win in net for Mississippi.

Former RiverKing Rick Kozak scored two goals for Laredo in the contest and Darryl Smith had three assists. Another former RiverKing, Sebastien Centomo, took the loss in goal by allowing five goals and making 26 saves.

Special Teams Update

In the shootout loss to Tulsa on Saturday, Mississippi failed to score in seven chances on the power play. It marked the third straight game the RiverKings have failed to score a power play goal (0-for-19).

In home games this year, the RiverKings are 21.5% on the power play (26-of-121). Against Rio Grande Valley, the RiverKings were 2-for-4 on the power play, while versus Laredo, Mississippi was 1-for-6 with a shorthanded goal scored.

Saturday against the Oilers, Mississippi allowed one power play goal in eight tries, marking the second straight game opponents have scored a power play goal against the RiverKings (3-for-14).

At home this season, Mississippi is 83.2% on the penalty kill (23-of-137). Against Rio Grande Valley, the RiverKings allowed one power play goal in seven tries, while at Laredo, the RiverKings allowed two power play goals in six opportunities.

Home Ice Not So Kind on Friday

Friday night's loss against Oklahoma City was the first defeat on home ice by the RiverKings after four straight home victories. Ironically, the last loss on DCC ice came against the Blazers, a 4-3 setback on December 26th.

Oops...I Did It Again

The Saturday loss at Tulsa marked the second straight night the RiverKings failed to come away with a victory. It was the first time since mid-November that Mississippi was defeated in two straight games, although with the shootout loss on Saturday, the RiverKings did earn a standings point. On November 12th, Mississippi was defeated at Bossier-Shreveport 4-3, followed by a 3-1 loss to Oklahoma City at home on November 14th.

It's Bunched Up At The Top

The Central Hockey League's Northeast Division race is the most hotly-contested race in the league heading into this week's schedule of games. Oklahoma City regained the lead in the division over the weekend after losing it to the RiverKings on Sunday, January 11th in Mississippi's 2-1 come-from-behind victory at the Ford Center. The Blazers' lead is only two points, however, 49-47, with the RiverKings and Bossier-Shreveport tied for second place. Entering the week, the RiverKings have the tie-breaker with the Mudbugs by virtue of having one more win that Bossier-Shreveport. The second tie-breaker is head-to-head, where the Mudbugs have the advantage, but the third tie-breaker is goal differential, where the RiverKings again have the advantage over the Mudbugs. Bossier-Shreveport plays at Tulsa on Thursday before Friday's schedule of games.

Score When You Can

Mississippi is leading the Central Hockey League in shots allowed per game with an average of 26.27 and is second in goals allowed per game at 2.59. Only Oklahoma City has a better goals against per game average at 2.35 and is second to the RiverKings in shots allowed per game at 26.57.

Smyth Likes Tulsa

RiverKings' forward Adam Smyth has found Tulsa to his liking when putting the puck in the net or helping make that happen. The Wiarton, Ontario native has four goals and ten points for the season. Half of his points this year have come against the Oilers, including a goal on January 9th at home against Tulsa and an assist at Tulsa last Saturday night. Smyth has scored a goal and has four assists in games against the Northeast Division rivals this season.

Margy Lights the Lamp

Stephen Margeson opened Saturday night's game against the Oilers with his third goal of the year; his first since October 21st against Bossier-Shreveport. Margeson also has scored a goal against Texas which came on October 18th. For the year, Margeson has added eight assists for a total of eleven points. He spent some time on the shelf with an injury from mid-December to a return January 9th against Tulsa. The goal Saturday was Margeson's first point since an assist against Texas on December 13th.

RiverKings' M*A*S*H Report

Dallas Costanzo was placed on the 14-day injured reserve list January 2nd.

Broadcasts

RiverKings games are heard in the Mid-South and around the world primarily on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM and on www.sports56whbq.com. Veteran broadcaster and RiverKings' Media Coordinator Bob Bakken provides the play-by-play, with pre-game coverage beginning 15 minutes prior to the opening faceoff. Coverage is also available on your computer through the CHL-TV broadcast. For more information, click on the CHL-TV link on the RiverKings' web site, www.riverkings.com. Games not heard on WHBQ due to other programming commitments are aired on fellow Flinn Broadcasting station "The Pig," WIVG-96.1-FM.

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.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2009


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