Sports stats

SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Weekly Update

March 3, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The RiverKings picked up four of a possible six points over the weekend as they played three games in three nights. Friday night Indianapolis beat the ‘Kings 5-4 at the DeSoto Civic Center. On Saturday night, Memphis rebounded with a 5-2 win in Indy at Conseco Fieldhouse in front of 14,739 fans. Don Parsons led the way with his 50th goal of the season, the third straight year he has hit the half a century plateau. Sunday night the RiverKings returned home and defeated Fort Worth 3-1. Earlier in the week the ‘Kings lost 6-5 in a shootout in Wichita on Wednesday. Memphis has recorded points in seven of its last eight games to maintain third place in the Northern Conference playoff race. The ‘Kings have three games this week starting with a pair of home games this Thursday and Friday against Laredo and Oklahoma City respectively. Game time both nights is set for 7:05 p.m. Memphis then travels to Tulsa on Saturday. For tickets call (662) 342-1755 or go online at www.RiverKings.com and use the Ticketmaster link.

RECORD:

34-19-4

PLACE:

2nd Northeast Division (72 Points)

DIVISION RECORD:

17-10-1, Won 2

HOME:

21-5-1, Won 1

ROAD:

13-14-3, Won 1

W / L STREAK:

Won 2, and 6 of last 8

LAST 10:

7-2-1

GOALS FOR:

211

GOALS ALLOWED:

169

POWER PLAY:

18.3 % (4th)

PENALTY KILL:

84.8 % (6th)

THE GREAT RACE – NORTHERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE

TEAM POINTS GMS LEFT DIVISION

*Indianapolis 81 7 NE

*Oklahoma City 71 8 NW

Memphis 72 7 NE

Tulsa 69 7 NW

Amarillo 67 8 NW

Bossier-Shreveport 67 7 NE

* Division winners automatically seeded #1 and #2 in playoffs. After division winner determined next two best point totals regardless of division make the playoffs.

NEXT UP

· The ‘Kings have three games this week starting with a pair of home games this Thursday and Friday against Laredo and Oklahoma City respectively. Game time both nights is set for 7:05 p.m. Memphis then travels to Tulsa on Saturday.

RIVERKINGS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

3/6 Vs. Laredo 7:05 p.m.

3/7 Vs. Oklahoma City 7:05 p.m.

3/8 @ Tulsa 7:35 p.m.

3/11 @ Oklahoma City 7:35 p.m.

3/14 Vs. New Mexico 7:05 p.m.

3/15 Vs. Austin 7:05 p.m.

3/16 Vs. Indianapolis 6:05 p.m.

VS. LAREDO

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (0-1-0) The RiverKings lost 5-3 in Laredo on December 21st. All three RiverKings goals came on the power play. Dave Gilmore had a hat trick for the Bucks.

LAST YEAR – The teams did not meet.

VS. OKLAHOMA CITY

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (2-3-0) The ‘Kings beat the Blazers 3-2 in a shootout on February 16th at the DCC. Jonathan Gagnon had a pair of goals and an assist in the win.

LAST YEAR – The RiverKings went 3-2-0 versus the Blazers.

VS. TULSA

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (4-1-0) The RiverKings beat the Oilers 4-1 on February 15th at the DCC. Don Parsons had two of the three ‘Kings goals in the third period to lead the team to victory.

LAST YEAR – The RiverKings went 9-0-0 versus Tulsa.

2002-2003 RIVERKINGS TIDBITS

· The RiverKings are a team of streaks this season. The ‘Kings have had a four-game, six-game, and an eight-game win streak. The team also has had a pair of four-game losing streaks and a five-game winless stretch.

· Memphis exploded for five goals in the second period versus Wichita on November 15th. The ‘Kings mustered just ten shots, but capitalized on half of them. The RiverKings season high for goals in a game was also posted against the Thunder. On December 6th Memphis tallied nine goals, with three in each period in a 9-5 win.

· The RiverKings fired a season high 53 shots on goal against Lubbock on December 14th. The ‘Kings had 21 in both the first and second, which matched a season high for shots in one period.

· The RiverKings held Fort Worth to just two shots in the third period in a 7-3 win on January 3rd. That matched a season low for shots allowed in a period and was the third time this year the ‘Kings have held an opponent to two shots in a frame.

· The RiverKings 7-1 win in Tulsa on December 28th was the largest margin of victory in a game this year.

· The RiverKings 4-3 overtime win in El Paso on January 20th was their first sudden death victory since Michal Stastny scored in Game Five of the President's Cup Finals last spring.

· The RiverKings lost 6-2 in Indianapolis on February 1st. That matched the most goals allowed in a game this year by the RiverKings.

· Memphis has registered at least one power play goal in 42 of 57 games so far, including 22 multiple power-play goal games.

· 34 times in 57 games the RiverKings have had a player score multiple goals. Don Parsons has done it seventeen times. Parsons and Kahlil Thomas are the only ‘Kings to go on to turn the trick with three goals in one game.

· The RiverKings went 6-3-1 in February after going 6-4-1 in January and 8-5-1 in December. The team went 9-4-1 in November and 3-3-0 in October.

· The RiverKings have scored 109 goals in their last 26 games, an average of 4.2 per game over that stretch, and posted a 17-7-2 record.

RIVERKINGS POINT SCORING STREAKS

· Goal Streaks Games Player Gls

5 Gagnon 6

4 Parsons 6

2 Mueller 2

· Point Streaks

Games Player Pts

10 Gagnon 16

6 Parsons 14

2 Mueller 3

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY IS BIG, OR IS IT LATELY?

· In seven of the last nine games neither the RiverKings nor their opponents have enjoyed any special teams advantage, but the ‘Kings have won five of those seven even games. In the two games in which there has been an edge in special teams play the ‘Kings lost 6-5 in Wichita despite a pair of power play goals, and won 5-2 in Indianapolis despite Indy having two power play goals to the ‘Kings one man advantage lamp. Go figure.

FAST STARTING, SLOW FINISHING

· The ‘Kings have scored 76 first period goals this season which is more than any other team in the CHL. On the flip side the ‘Kings have scored just 57 goals in the third period.

GOING WITH THE HOT HAND

· RiverKings goalie J.F. Racine had started the last six games in the pipes, before Mark Richards started on Friday, February 28th, against Indy. Racine was unbeaten in his last five starts helping the ‘Kings total nine of 10 points, which is his longest streak since he reeled off eight straight wins from December 28th – January 11th. Now veteran Mark Richards has started three straight games for Memphis, winning the last two.

HOME SWEET HOME

· The RiverKings have enjoyed home ice advantage this year. Memphis is 21-5-1 at home. The RiverKings have outscored opponents 111-66 on home ice, averaging 4.1 goals per game at the DCC. Last year the ‘Kings posted a 27-2-3 record at home as they captured the first President's Cup in the franchise's history.

FEEL THE POWER

· The ‘Kings are 38 for their last 171 power play chances (22.2 %). Memphis has tallied a power play goal in 22 of the last 28 games, including nine of the last 11 games. In addition the RiverKings have scored the most power play goals in the CHL with 71.

INSIDE THE DIVISION

· The ‘Kings are 17-10-1 inside the Northeast Division this season against Fort Worth, Indianapolis and Bossier-Shreveport. Breaking it down even further, the RiverKings are 10-4-1 at home and 7-6-0 on the road in the division. The RiverKings' most wins in the division come against the rival Mudbugs with Memphis posting a 7-4-1 record. The ‘Kings are 6-5-0 versus Indianapolis and 4-1-0 against Fort Worth. Last year the RiverKings were 21-7-2 inside the division.

‘KINGS ARE HOT DESPITE THE COLD WEATHER

· The ‘Kings have totaled 17 of the last 22 possible points.

LIARS CAN FIGURE AND FIGURES CAN LIE

· The ‘Kings are 12-7-4 this year in one-goal games. Despite the positive mark, four of the last seven RiverKings losses have come by one goal. On the flip side two of the ‘Kings last several wins have come by a single goal.

ABOUT TIME

· Heading into Wichita on February 26th the RiverKings were 0-15-0 when trailing after 40 minutes of play. The ‘Kings scored four third period goals to force overtime only to lose in a shootout 6-5, but did record a point for the overtime loss to improve to 0-15-1 when trailing after two periods.

ALL-STAR OFF THE ICE

· Just Hockey magazine announced today they have selected Memphis RiverKings forward Don Parsons as the Just Hockey Magazine Player of the Year as presented by In The Crease. Parsons is the inaugural winner of what will be an annual presentation by Just Hockey and In The Crease. The award is determined by both on and off ice aspects and carries a $500 prize that is donated to the charity of the player's choosing. Players across the country at all levels of minor league hockey spanning six leagues were considered for their on-ice performance and also for the impact that they have made in their local community through their charity work.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

· This Thursday when the ‘Kings host the Laredo Bucks enjoy $1 hot dogs and cokes at the concession stands.

· This coming Friday join the ‘Kings for a wild night as wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler makes a special appearance when Memphis takes on Oklahoma City.

· Both Thursday and Friday night you can purchase a special RiverKings commemorative puck for just $5 with all of the profits from the sale going to the Make a Wish foundation to help grant a wish courtesy of the RiverKings.

IN THE COMMUNITY

· Wednesday the RiverKings will visit Florida Kansas (school in Memphis) to participate in the Newspaper In Education program.

· 03/02/03 – SUNDAY – Sunday night Jonathan Gagnon continued his red-hot play of late by scoring the game winning goal early in the third period as the RiverKings defeated the Fort Worth Brahmas 3-1. FINAL SCORE Memphis 3, Fort Worth 1. The ‘Kings finished the night 0 for 4 on power play opportunities while the kill unit contained the Brahmas to just two total shots on all three of their man advantage opportunities. The RiverKings have won two in a row and finished the season series against the Brahmas with four wins and just a single loss, coming back on November 16th.

Shots Memphis 33 Fort Worth 21

PP Memphis 0-4 Fort Worth 0-3

· 03/01/03 – SATURDAY – Saturday night the RiverKings beat the Indianapolis Ice 5-2 at Conseco Fieldhouse in front of 14,739 fans. Don Parsons provided the highlight of the night when he scored his 50th goal of the season in the third period. Parsons has hit the fifty goal plateau in all three of his seasons with the ‘Kings. FINAL SCORE Memphis 5, Indianapolis 2. Mark Richards stopped 39 of 41 shots to get the win in net and improve to 12-11-1. Shawn Silver was beaten on five of 20 shots to fall to 27-10-3. Memphis went 1-6 on the power play while Indy was 2-13.

Shots Memphis 20 Indianapolis 41

PP Memphis 1-6 Indianapolis 2-13

· 02/28/03 – FRIDAY – Friday night two more goals from Don Parsons were not enough to overcome some solid surges of play from Indianapolis as the Ice chilled the ‘Kings 5-4. With the win Indy extended their lead in the Northeast Division to 11 points with nine games to play. FINAL SCORE Indianapolis 5, Memphis 4. In what began as a defensive wash early, but erupted into a goal-fest, Mark Richards finished with 16 saves on 21 shots to drop to 11-11-1. Jamie Morris stopped 32 of 36 RiverKings shots to improve to 9-3-4, including 3-0-1 versus Memphis.

Shots Memphis 36 Indianapolis 21

PP Memphis 2-9 Indianapolis 2-4

· 02/26/03 – WEDNESDAY – Wednesday night the RiverKings slept thru the first forty minutes, but woke up in the third period to score four goals and force overtime to pick up a point in a 6-5 shootout loss in Wichita at the Kansas Coliseum. Don Parsons had a pair of goals, including the tying goal in regulation to force the extra session, and raised his league leading goal total to 47. Wichita is now 11-0 all-time in shootouts against Memphis. FINAL SCORE Wichita 6, Memphis 5 in a shootout. J.F. Racine drops to 21-8-3 as he allowed five goals on 26 shots. Kristian Antila stopped 35 of 40 shots to get the win and improve to 7-6-2. Memphis went 2-7 on the power play while Wichita went 1-5.

Shots Memphis 40 Wichita 26

PP Memphis 2-7 Wichita 1-5

ON THE AIR

· All Memphis RiverKings regular season and playoff games will be broadcast this year on RiverKings Radio Easy AM-680 WJCE. Catch the pre-game show twenty minutes prior to face-off and then stay tuned for the play-by-play.

COACHES SHOW AIRING TUESDAY THIS WEEK ON LOCATION

· The Memphis RiverKings Coaches Show will air this Tuesday night from 6-7 p.m. on location at the Roadhouse Grill in Horn Lake on Sportsplus 790-AM WMC. Dave "wolo" Woloshin will host the show and head coach Doug Shedden will join him. Call the SportsPlus 790 studio lines with your questions at 901-274-7979.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

NOTES TIME

Tuesday, March 4th Will air as scheduled 6-7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12th Moved to Wednesday 6-7 p.m.



SPHL Stories from March 3, 2003


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.

Other Recent Mississippi RiverKings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central