SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Weekly Update

Published on March 10, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The RiverKings dropped two of three games over a tough three-game-in-three-night stretch this past weekend. Thursday night Memphis beat the visiting Laredo Bucks 7-3 powered by a Don Parsons hat trick. On Friday night Oklahoma City came into the DeSoto Civic Center and beat the ‘Kings 7-2. Saturday night Memphis traveled to Tulsa and lost 4-1 to the Oilers. Despite the tough weekend the RiverKings are still one of the four playoff teams in the Northern Conference going into the final week of the season. For tickets call (662) 342-1755 or go online at www.RiverKings.com and use the Ticketmaster link.

RECORD:

60 GMS - 35-21-4

PLACE:

2nd Northeast Division (74 Points)

DIVISION RECORD:

17-10-1, Won 2

HOME:

22-6-1, Lost 1

ROAD:

13-15-3, Lost 1

W / L STREAK:

Lost 2

LAST 10:

6-3-1

GOALS FOR:

221

GOALS ALLOWED:

183

POWER PLAY:

18.2 % (4th)

PENALTY KILL:

85.0 % (6th)

THE GREAT RACE –

NORTHERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE

TEAM PTS GMS LEFT DIVISION

*Indianapolis 85 4 NE - Clinched Division Title

*Oklahoma City 77 4 NW

Amarillo 74 4 NW

Memphis 74 4 NE

Tulsa 73 4 NW

Bossier-Shreveport 73 3 NE

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

NEXT UP

· The ‘Kings have four games this week. Tuesday they are in Oklahoma City. The RiverKings then close the regular season with three games at home. Memphis hosts the New Mexico Scorpions Friday, the Austin Ice Bats come to town Saturday, and the Northeast Division Champion Indianapolis Ice visit Sunday to close the regular season.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

· This coming Friday when the ‘Kings host the New Mexico Scorpions all upper bowl tickets are just $5. Also water bottles courtesy of the DeSoto Athletic Club will be given to the first 1,500 fans, plus skate on the DCC ice after the game.

· Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South, Inc. will sell commemorative pucks Friday and Saturday. Average cost of granting a wish is $5,000. The organization made $2,000 this weekend, thanks to RiverKings fans who by their purchase will help grant the wish of a child with a life-threatening illness to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.

· Saturday join the ‘Kings for a President's Cup Finals rematch as they host the Austin Ice Bats. The RiverKings will wear special commemorative jerseys from Bumpus Harley Davidson of Memphis. The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game with the profits benefiting Cystic Fibrosis and the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. Also Don Parsons will be honored by Just Hockey Magazine as the Minor League Player of the Year during the first intermission.

· Sunday is the final game of the regular season as the ‘Kings host the Indianapolis Ice on Fan Appreciation night. Join the ‘Kings after the game for a post-game skate with the whole team, plus great giveaways. The American Diabetes Association will be the RiverKings' featured non-profit of the night.

RIVERKINGS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

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. OKLAHOMA CITY

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (2-4-0) The ‘Kings got hammered 7-2 by the Blazers this past Friday at the DCC. It was the most goals allowed in a single game this year by Memphis.

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

VS. NEW MEXICO

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (1-0-0) The RiverKings beat Scorpions 5-1 on February 7th at the DCC in the first ever meeting between the franchises. Five different ‘Kings scored and Memphis went 2-5 on the power play.

LAST YEAR – The RiverKings and the Scorpions did not play.

VS. AUSTIN

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (0-1-1) The RiverKings lost 5-3 in Austin on January 17th. The loss broke the RiverKings' season high eight-game win streak. Tab Lardner had a pair of goals in the game for the Ice Bats.

LAST YEAR – The RiverKings went 1-1-1 in the regular season against the Ice Bats. Memphis beat Austin 4-1 for the President's Cup Finals.

VS. INDIANAPOLIS

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (6-5-0) The RiverKings beat the Ice 5-2 at Conseco Fieldhouse in front of more than 14,000 fans on March 1st. Don Parsons recorded his 50th goal of the season in the win.

LAST YEAR – The RiverKings went 10-2-1 versus Indy.

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 7-2 to Oklahoma City at the DCC on Friday, March 7th, which is the highest goals allowed in a game this year.

· Memphis has registered at least one power play goal in 43 of 60 games so far, including 22 multiple power-play goal games.

· 35 times in 60 games the RiverKings have had a player score multiple goals. Don Parsons has done it eighteen times. Parsons and Kahlil Thomas are the only ‘Kings to go on to turn the trick with three goals in one game, with Parsons tallying three hat tricks.

· The RiverKings are 3-2-0 in March. The team 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 ‘Kings have scored 119 goals in their last 29 games, an average of 4.1 per game over the stretch, and posted an 18-9-2 record.

RIVERKINGS POINT SCORING STREAKS

· Goal Streaks

Games Player Gls

· Point Streaks

Games Player Pts

3 Neal 4

2 Gagnon 2

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY IS BIG, OR IS IT LATELY?

· In eight of the last twelve games neither the RiverKings nor their opponents have enjoyed any special teams advantage, but the ‘Kings have won five of those eight even games. In the four games in which there was been an edge in special teams play the ‘Kings have gone 2-2-0.

FAST STARTING, SLOW FINISHING

· The ‘Kings have scored 79 first period goals this season which is more than any other team in the CHL. On the flip side the ‘Kings have scored just 60 goals in the third period. Despite the fast starting numbers the ‘Kings have lost the last two games in which they have potted the first goal.

HOME SWEET HOME

· The RiverKings have enjoyed home ice advantage this year. Memphis is 22-6-1 at home. The RiverKings have outscored opponents 120-76 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 39 for their last 180 power play chances (21.7 %). Memphis has tallied a power play goal in 23 of the last 31 games, including 10 of the last 14 games. In addition the RiverKings have scored the most power play goals in the CHL with 72.

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 19 of the last 28 possible points.

OKLAHOMA BLAZING

· Twice this year the Blazers have beaten the ‘Kings by five goals. Oklahoma City won 6-1 on December 13th at the Ford Center and 7-2 at the DCC last Friday night. In addition the seven goals were the most allowed by the RiverKings in a game this year. Also the ‘Kings are 0-3-0 at the new Ford Center.

PARSONS MILESTONES

· On March 1st Don Parsons scored his 50th goal of the season, it came in a game against the Indianapolis Ice. Parsons has scored 50 goals in a season five times in his career, including three straight with Memphis. On March 7th Parsons recorded his 100th point of the season, it came in a game against Oklahoma City. It is the fourth time in his career he has reached 100 points.

ALL-STAR OFF THE ICE, AWARD TO BE PRESENTED ON SATURDAY

· Just Hockey magazine announced recently 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. Just Hockey will be on hand this Saturday night to present the award to Parsons.

· 03/08/03 – SATURDAY – Saturday night Tulsa got a strong effort from goalie Rod Branch who stopped 29 of 30 shots to lead the Oilers to a 4-1 win over the visiting Memphis RiverKings. FINAL SCORE Tulsa 4, Memphis 1. Branch improved his record to 29-17-5 with the win. Racine allowed four goals on 34 shots to drop to 21-9-3. Memphis went 0-2 on the power play while Tulsa went 0-3.

Shots Memphis 30 Tulsa 34 PP Memphis 0-2 Tulsa 0-3

· 03/07/03 – FRIDAY – Friday night the Oklahoma City Blazers hit the RiverKings up for the most goals this year in a single game as they whipped the ‘Kings to the tune of 7-2. Seven different Blazers scored in Oklahoma City's third straight win. FINAL SCORE Memphis 2, Oklahoma City 7. Richards took his first loss in the last four games as he was hit for seven goals on 25 shots to drop to 14-12-1. Boyd Ballard stopped a solid 27 of 29 shots to improve his record to 27-11-3. The ‘Kings power play finished 0-4 while the Blazers connected on Sauter's power play shot for their only man-advantage tally in five tries.

Shots Memphis 29 Oklahoma City 25

PP Memphis 0-4 Oklahoma City 1-5

· 03/06/03 – THURSDAY – Thursday night Don Parsons recorded his third hat trick of the season and added a pair of assists as the RiverKings beat the Laredo Bucks 7-3. Memphis has won three straight and recorded at least a point in eight of their last nine games. FINAL SCORE Memphis 7, Laredo 3. Richards won his third in a row to improve to 14-11-1 by stopping 23 of 26 Laredo shots. Lance Leslie did not fare nearly as well as he was beaten seven times on 26 RiverKings shots to drop to 27-12-3 on the year. The ‘Kings got the power play marker from Neal for their only tally of the night with the man advantage, going 1 for 2 overall. The Bucks were stopped on all three power play opportunities. Though Parsons extended his goal scoring streak to five games (nine goals in that span) and his point streak to seven games (19 points), Jonathan Gagnon's goal and point streaks both ended. Gagnon was held off the score sheet for the first time in 11 games and failed to score a goal for the first time in six games. Brad Mueller continued a modest streak of his own and has tallied three goals in his last three games.

Shots Memphis 26 Laredo 26

PP Memphis 1-2 Laredo 0-3

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 WEDNESDAY THIS WEEK ON LOCATION

· The Memphis RiverKings Coaches Show will air this Wednesday 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.

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