CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings weekly news and notes

Published on January 18, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


WEEK IN REVIEW (2 games / 1-1-0)

Friday, January 13 RiverKings 5 Oklahoma City 4 @ DCC

Travis Banga scored two goals, including the game winner, as the RiverKings rallied from an early 2-0 deficit and then held on as they killed a 4:41 Blazer power play right up to the final horn. Ryan Watson added a goal and two assists as the RiverKings made it back-to-back Friday night wins over Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City bounced out to a 2-0 lead in a wild first period on goals by Michel Beausoleil and Joe Dustin. Peter Robertson scored just 16 seconds after Dustin's goal when Don Parsons threw the puck to the front of the net and Robertson buried it for his fourth of the season. Ryan Watson added his team high 10th power play goal of the season tying the game on a nice weak-side feed from Derek Landmesser. That 2-2 score lasted only 53 seconds as Beausoleil scored his second of the night. That goal also ended the night for Memphis starting goalie Michael Dilorenzo as he was relieved by Guy St. Vincent. New RiverKings defenseman Dion Hyman made a slick move into the Blazers zone and then slipped the puck to the left doorstep where Darrell Stoddard scored his 10th of the season at 15:22 of the first to tie the game back up at 3. Banga's goals were the only two in the second and both were assisted by Ryan Watson. Memphis had a 5-3 advantage entering the third period. Mario Chinelli sawed that lead to one as he tipped in a Kahlil Thomas slap shot from the high slot on the power play at 2:31 of the third. Later in the period with the RiverKings nursing the 5-4 lead, Hyman was called for a five minute cross check and a game misconduct that put the Blazers on the power play for the final 4:41 of the game. Memphis was able to keep the Blazers off the board to secure the win. St. Vincent stopped 22 of 23 shots after entering the game midway through the first period. Sean Connors suffered the loss with five goals against on 36 shots.

Saturday, January 14 Laredo 6 RiverKings 1 @ DCC

The Bucks built a 5-0 second period lead on their way to a 6-1 win. Winger Brent Cullaton scored twice as the Bucks defeated the RiverKings for the second time this season. The teams meet for the third and final time in the regular season on March 17 at Laredo. Laredo led 2-0 after the first on goals from Cullaton and Chris Grenville. Second period goals from Cullaton, Jeff Bes and Steve Simoes made it 5-0 before Paul McBrien tipped in a Chad McIver shot for his first professional goal at 17:05. Laredo added one more goal in the final minute of the second period to make the score 6-1. Laredo out-shot Memphis 53-30. Both teams used both of their goalies in the contest. Michael Dilorenzo replaced starter Guy St. Vincent for Memphis midway through the second period. St. Vincent took the loss allowing five goals on 35 shots to fall to 8-11-0 on the season. Laredo sent David Lemanowicz in for Dov Grumet-Morris late in the second period after Gromet-Morris suffered an injury.

STATS AT THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE SEASON, DEFENSIVE NUMBERS HAVE IMPROVED

The all star break falls directly at the midway point of the season for the RiverKings. Their 13-18-1 record is the exact record the team had through 32 games last season. The RiverKings will enter the second half of their season with the league's top power play at 19.6% and the sixth rated penalty kill at 84.7%. Through 32 games, the team is 10th in the league in goal scoring at 2.94 per game and 13th in goals against per game at 3.44. In the shots on goal category, Memphis is 10th in the CHL with an average of 32.69 shots per game and is 6th in shots against at 32.47 per game. At one time in mid-November, the RiverKings were 13th in the league in shots against at over 39 and were last in the league in goals against at 4.9.

Derek Landmesser leads the team in overall scoring with 40 points and 31 assists and is second among all CHL defensemen in points and tied for the lead in assists. Travis Banga paces the team with 15 goals.

ALL STAR GAME IS TONIGHT

The 2006 CHL All Star Game Presented by Obra Homes is tonight in Hidalgo, TX. The puck will drop at 7:30 from the Dodge Arena. RiverKings defenseman Derek Landmesser and forward Don Parsons will be participating. Parsons is participating in his sixth straight CHL all-star gathering. For Landmesser, who will start for the second straight year, it's his fourth consecutive all star appearance. Parsons enters the game as the leading goal scorer in CHL All Star Game history with seven and is tied for the overall scoring lead with Colorado's Greg Pankewicz. Both have 13 points in their All Star careers. Landmesser will serve as an assistant captain for the Northern Conference squad. The game will be available on a pay-per-view basis on CHL TV at www.chltv.com. The radio broadcast of the game will be available at www.killerbeehockey.com.

RIVERKINGS HERE AND THERE

The 53 shots on goal by Laredo on Saturday night were a season high for shots against for Memphis and also marked the first time that the RiverKings have allowed an opponent 40 or more shots since December 3.

Forward Paul McBrien scored his first professional goal when he deflected Chad McIver's shot at 17:05 of the second period Saturday night. In addition, the assist was McIver's first point in a RiverKings jersey.

Defenseman Derek McKinlay played in his 200th professional game on Friday night against Oklahoma City.

Twelve of Travis Banga's team leading 15 goals have been scored at home. Also 22 of his 30 points have come at the DCC.

Both Banga and Don Parsons had streaks ended in Saturday night's game. Banga had six game point and three game goals streaks stopped while Parsons had a seven game assist streak halted.

Derek Landmesser extended his current assist streak to five games with a helper in Saturday's game.

Memphis' 53 penalty minutes in Saturday's game was a season high.

JEREMY WRAY ON THE RADIO

RiverKings forward Jeremy Wray will be back on the 98.1-The Max Afternoon Power Play tomorrow (Thursday) from four to five. Wray and on-air host Michael Lee will talk about the RiverKings and hockey in general in between the great rock tunes that The Max is known for. Don't miss the radio fun. Who knows what they are going to say next?

RIVERKINGS IN THE COMMUNITY THIS WEEK

Monday, January 23....RiverKings players will be visiting the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis.

KEVIN MCCLELLAND SHOW RETURNS TUESDAY

The Kevin McClelland Show on Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560) will be back on the air from O'Charley's in Southaven on Tuesday 1/24 from six until seven. Fans are encouraged to call in and ask a question of the coach or stop in to listen to the show and have dinner with the players in attendance. The call-in number for the show is 901-360-8255. The remaining dates for the show at O'Charley's this season are 2/14, and 3/7.

SCHEDULE REMINDERS

This is a reminder that the game this Sunday, January 22 versus the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees is a 6pm start. Gold level tickets will also be sold "two for one" for that game. "Two for one" tickets can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 901-525-1515, going to www.ticketmaster.com or at the DeSoto Civic Center box office during business hours.

Also, this Saturday's (1/21) game is at Bossier-Shreveport and the Friday, 1/27 game is versus Tulsa at Tulsa. The pocket schedule handed out by the team earlier has errors on those dates. There were also date changes for March that are not reflected on early versions of the RiverKings' schedule. On March 14, the RiverKings will host Bossier-Shreveport and on March 21, they will be at Bossier-Shreveport. For the most up-to-date and accurate game schedule, please go to www.riverkings.com.

POST GAME SKATE SCHEDULE

There will be a post game skate following both games this weekend. The post game skate following Sunday's game will also be with RiverKings players. Admission for the post-game skate is $2 with skate rental available for $3.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS ON RIVERKINGS.COM

Fans are invited to check out the photo galleries on the RiverKings' website at www.riverkings.com. The photos are in the "Fanzone" drop down menu on the home page. Pictures from the 1/7 game versus Bossier-Shreveport and a recent school appearance have recently been posted.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS AND GIVEAWAYS

This Friday night, the first 1,500 fans receive a handy RiverKings/DAC water bottle. On Friday, 2/10, the first 1,500 fans will get slick Ford key chains and the next night, February 11, the first 3,000 fans will receive Cellular South CheerStix.

Be sure to take advantage of 2 for 1 deals on Tuesdays: 2 for 1 gold level tickets, 2 for 1 hot dogs, 2 for 1 soft drinks and $2 draft beer. There are 2 for 1 gold level tickets for all remaining Thursday and Sunday games, too.

Don't forget to head to TGI Fridays on Goodman Road after every home game for the "Official RiverKings Post-Game Party."

You can hear all regular-season RiverKings games on Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560).

The Kevin McClelland Show returns to the air on Tuesday night,1/17 from O'Charley's in Southaven at 6 on Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560).

COMING UP

Friday, January 20, 7:05

Tulsa Oilers (16-14-3, 35 pts, 4th place NW Div) @ Memphis RiverKings (13-18-1, 27 pts, 4th place NE Div)

Promotion: The first 1,500 fans receive handy RiverKings/DAC water bottles.

DeSoto Civic Center (8,400)

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com (Click "Listen Live")

TV: CHLTV.com

Saturday, January 21, 7:05

Memphis RiverKings (13-18-1, 27 pts, 4th place NE Div) @ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (15-12-5, 35 pts, 1st NE Div)

CenturyTel Center, Bossier City, LA (7,353)

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com (Click "Listen Live")

TV: CHLTV.com

Sunday, January 22, 6 pm

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (19-12-3, 41 pts, 2nd SE Div) @ Memphis RiverKings (13-18-1, 27 pts, 4th place NE Div)

Promotion: Two for One Gold Level Tickets

DeSoto Civic Center (8,400)

Radio: Sports 56 WHBQ (AM 560)

Webcast: riverkings.com (Click "Listen Live")

TV: CHLTV.com

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central