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CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Update

February 5, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


RiverKings Player Stat Leaders

Bobby Chaumont paces the RiverKings in goal scoring with 25 and in points with 44. Chaumont also leads the club with nine power play goals. Louis Dumont leads the team in assists with 29 and in shorthanded goals with four. Matt Summers has the best plus-minus statistic on the team at plus-17 (plus-15 with the RiverKings). Adam Smyth is the team penalty minute leader with 180. Jeff Nelson has scored the most game-winning goals with six. In goaltending statistics, Kevin Beech leads in all categories, including games played (34), minutes (2048), wins (22), shutouts (3), goals-against-average (2.34), and save percentage (.908).

The Last Time Out...

Tuesday, February 3rd, at RiverKings 9, Wichita 2

Mississippi forward Darrell Stoddard erupted for four goals in the third period of the 9-2 conquest of the Thunder at the DeSoto Civic Center. Stoddard fashioned the team's first hat-trick of the season and the four goals were the most scored in one game and in one period by a RiverKings player this season. The last time a CHL player scored four goals in a period came in the 2004-05 season, when Chris Minard (then of San Angelo) scored four times, also against Wichita.

Stoddard Four-Goal Final Period First in Nearly Five Years

When RiverKings forward Darrell Stoddard scored four times in the third period of Tuesday night's 9-2 defeat of the Wichita Thunder, it marked a few firsts and also equaled an effort not seen in the Central Hockey League in nearly five years. Stoddard's four goals in one period was the first time that event had occurred in a CHL game, since Chris Minard (then of San Angelo) scored four times in the second period of a 5-2 victory by the Saints over the Wichita Thunder on February 8th, 2004. Minard scored all five goals in that particular game, scoring once in the first, followed by four straight in the second period, including one power play goal. The performance was the first RiverKings hat-trick of the season and the first four-goal effort by a RiverKings player in a game this year. It also marked Stoddard's first multi-goal game of the year and third multi-point performance.

Beech Named CHL Goaltender of the Month

RiverKings goaltender Kevin Beech was named the Central Hockey League Sher-Wood Goaltender of the Month during January. It's Beech's first Goaltender of the Month award, to go with twice being recognized as the league's Goaltender of the Week, once in November and once in January. During January, Beech won eight of 12 games he played between the pipes (8-2-2), posted a scintillating 1.83 goals-against-average and earned a .927 save percentage. In 722 minutes, he fashioned two shutouts, allowed 22 goals, and made 280 saves. The two shutouts included a 22-save performance in a 6-0 victory at home against Tulsa, on January 9th, followed by a 26-save effort in a 4-0 win over Rapid City January 31st, also at the DeSoto Civic Center. That effort marked his seventh career professional shutout effort in goal. Also in the month of January, Beech assisted on two RiverKings' goals in one game, including the game-winner by Jeff Alcombrack, on January 10th when Mississippi defeated Texas 4-1 in Southaven.

Beech Shutout Nominated for Performance of the Week

Last Saturday's shutout performance by RiverKings' goaltender Kevin Beech has been nominated for the CHL Performance of the Week. Beech stopped 26 shots on goal in the RiverKings 4-0 shutout of the Rapid City Rush. Fans can vote online through Monday, February 9th, at www.centralhockeyleague.com with the Performance of the Week winner to be announced on Tuesday, February 10th.

This Weekend's Opponents

Odessa Jackalopes at RiverKings, Friday, February 6th, 2009 (7:05 PM Start - DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, MS)

This is the first meeting of the season between the RiverKings and the Southwest Division-leading Jackalopes. It will also be the second game of the year for the RiverKings against a Southwest Division team.

Last season, the Jackalopes beat the RiverKings in both meetings during the regular season. Odessa shut out Mississippi 6-0 in Texas on December 1st, followed by a 6-5 victory at the DeSoto Civic Center last February 14th. The last time the RiverKings defeated Odessa was March 15th, 2007, when the Memphis RiverKings handled the Jackalopes 5-3 in Texas.

Last season, Derek Landmesser was the RiverKings scoring leader against Odessa with a goal and two assists for three points. Darrell Stoddard added a pair of goals to lead the team in goal scoring.

Sebastien Thinel led Odessa in scoring against Mississippi with six points on three goals and three assists. Dominic Leveille was the team's goal scoring leader with four. Nathan Ward and Mike Rutter each had four assists against the RiverKings.

Mississippi plays twice in Odessa, on February 24th and again on March 8th.

Rocky Mountain Rage at RiverKings, Sunday, February 8th, 2009 (5:05 PM Start - DeSoto Civic Center, Southaven, MS)

The Rage comes to Mississippi for the first in a Sunday-Tuesday series in this late afternoon meeting, followed by a Tuesday night encounter at the DCC to complete the RiverKings' five-game home stand.

The RiverKings have met the Rage just once this season, a 5-2 victory for Mississippi on November 7th at the DCC. In that game, the now-departed Brad Bonello scored two goals and added an assist for the RiverKings in that victory. Matt Summers scored a goal and added an assist, and Louis Dumont added a pair of helpers for Mississippi. Goals by Summers and Bobby Chaumont in the game came on the power play. Kevin Beech picked up the win in net for the RiverKings with a 25-save performance.

Simon Watson and Nathan O'Nabigon each had a goal and an assist for Rocky Mountain in the game, while Scott Wray chipped in with a pair of helpers. Scott Reid took the loss in goal for Rocky Mountain with a 27-save effort.

Mississippi was 2-for-9 on the power play in the November victory, while Rocky Mountain scored one power play goal in five chances.

Special Teams Update

In Tuesday's victory over the Thunder, the RiverKings scored three power play goals in seven opportunities. It marked the most power play goals scored in one game by Mississippi since a 4-for-14 effort against Rio Grande Valley on January 23rd.

In the last five games, the RiverKings have gone 6-for-28 on the power play (21.42%). In home games, Mississippi is 35-of-160 for 21.9% and overall, the RiverKings are 19.2% with the man advantage (59-of-308).

Mississippi held the Thunder scoreless in five Wichita power play chances during Tuesday's contest. It marked the second straight game where the RiverKings' penalty kill team held the opposition off the scoreboard with the man advantage (six straight periods).

During the past five contests, Mississippi is 86.36% on the penalty kill (3-of-22). In home games this season, the RiverKings are 86.0% on the penalty kill (19-of-136), and overall this year, Mississippi stands 44-of-277 on the penalty kill, or 84.2%.

Mississippi has scored six shorthanded goals this season and has allowed five. Three of the shorthanded goals scored have come on home ice, while four of the five shorthanded goals allowed have also been on Mississippi ice.

RiverKings against the Southwest Division

Friday's game is the second encounter of the season for the RiverKings against a Southwest Division team. The last game against the Southwest came in Amarillo on December 20th, when Mississippi prevailed 2-1. Matt Summers' power play goal in the third period was the deciding factor in the contest. Dallas Steward also scored on the power play in the first period for the other RiverKings' goal.

RiverKings against the Northwest Division

In games against the Northwest Division, Mississippi has a 7-3-0 record. Three of the victories have been against Wichita, Two against Rapid City, and one each against Colorado, and Rocky Mountain. Losses against the Northwest have come against Rapid City, Wichita, and Colorado.

The Next Time...

Derek Landmesser assists on a goal, it will be his 500th career professional assist.

Jeff Alcombrack assists on a goal; it will be his 150th career professional assist.

ETC.

Jeff Nelson is within two assists of 710 career professional assists earned.

Garrett Larson is within two assists of 100 career professional assists earned.

Stephen Margeson is within two games of 300 career professional games played in.

David Simoes is within two games of 100 career professional games played in.

Coach Kevin Kaminski is within two wins of 200 career coaching victories.

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. New season ticket packages for the 2009-2010 season are now available for sale through the RiverKings offices or by calling the front office. Single game tickets for RiverKings hockey are available through the DeSoto Civic Center box office, or by contacting Ticketmaster.

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