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SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Weekly Update

April 14, 2003 - SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The RiverKings capped off a four-game sweep of the Indianapolis Ice in the Northern Conference Finals by winning three games in five days. The ‘Kings beat Indy 3-1 on Tuesday at the DCC. Thursday the teams engaged in a classic as Jonathan Gagnon scored 3:46 into double overtime to give Memphis a 2-1 victory in Indianapolis. On Saturday the RiverKings completed the sweep with a 6-3 win at the Pepsi Coliseum. Games One and Two of the President's Cup Finals are set for this Thursday and Friday in Austin against the Ice Bats. Games Three, Four and Five of the Finals as necessary are set for Monday April 21st, Wednesday April 23rd and Friday April 25th at the DeSoto Civic Center. For playoff tickets call (662) 342-1755 or go online at www.RiverKings.com and use the Ticketmaster link.

NEXT UP

· The RiverKings take on the Austin Ice Bats in a rematch of last year's Finals. Games One and Two of the President's Cup Finals are set for this Thursday and Friday in Austin.

AUSTIN ICE BATS ROAD TO THE FINALS

· The Ice Bats played a tough first round series against the New Mexico Scorpions. The Scorpions stole Game One of the first round with a score of 4-3. The Bats rebounded to win three straight, including Games Three and Four in overtime to advance to the Southern Conference Finals. In Game One of the Conference Finals against Laredo, the visiting Bucks won 1-0 in sudden death overtime. The Ice Bats captured Game Two 4-1 to even the series. Game Three in Laredo was once again captured by the Bucks in overtime. Game Four also went to overtime, but this time it was Austin winning 4-3 in double OT on Brett Seguin's goal that evened the series at 2-2. In Game Five, the Ice Bats pulled out a 4-3 win and then closed out the series with a 3-2 victory in Laredo in Game Six. The Ice Bats won three games in three nights to close out the Southern Conference Finals.

MEMPHIS VS. AUSTIN PRESIDENT'S CUP FINALS SCHEDULE

Date Time Location Radio Pregame

4/17 – Thursday – Game One 7:30 p.m. Austin 7:15 p.m.

4/18 – Friday – Game Two 7:30 p.m. Austin 7:15 p.m.

4/21 – Monday -Game Three 7:05 p.m. Memphis 6:45 p.m.

4/23 – Wednesday - Game Four 7:05 p.m. Memphis 6:45 p.m.

*4/25 – Friday - Game Five 7:05 p.m. Memphis 6:45 p.m.

*4/30 – Wednesday - Game Six 7:30 p.m. Austin 7:15 p.m.

*5/02 – Friday - Game Seven 7:30 p.m. Austin 7:15 p.m.

* If Necessary

MEMPHIS VS. AUSTIN REGULAR SEASON RESULTS 2002-2003

12/15/02 Memphis 3 at Austin 4
(OT) 01/17/07 Memphis 3 at Austin 5
03/15/03 Austin 1 at Memphis 3

The ‘Kings went 1-1-1 this year against Austin, including 1-0-0 at the DCC.

REGULAR SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS

Memphis 19.1 % PP (3rd) 84.8 % PK (5th)

Austin 18.8 % PP (4th ) 88.2 % PK (1st)

POST-SEASON SPECIAL TEAMS

Memphis 28.8 % PP (2nd) 87.0 % PK (3rd)

Austin 22.0 % PP (3rd ) 91.2 % PK (1st)

CHL PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

FIRST ROUND

Northern Conference

(1)Indianapolis vs. (4)Amarillo Series 3-1 Indianapolis

(2)Oklahoma City vs. (3)Memphis Series 3-2 Memphis

Southern Conference

(1)Austin vs. (4)New Mexico Series 3-1 Austin

(2)Odessa vs. (3)Laredo Series 3-2 Laredo

CONFERENCE FINALS

Northern Conference

(1)Indy vs. (3)Memphis Series 4-0 Memphis

Southern Conference

(1)Austin vs. (3)Laredo Series 4-2 Austin

PRESIDENT'S CUP FINALS

(1)Austin vs. (3)Memphis Series 0-0

WHAT A TITLE REMATCH

· The RiverKings and the Austin Ice Bats meet in the President's Cup Finals for the second straight year. Last year Memphis defeated the Ice Bats four games to one for the first title in franchise history. The RiverKings are #2 in the playoffs at 28.8 % on the power play while Austin is #1 on the penalty kill at 91.2 %.

RED LIGHT FLASHING

· The RiverKings currently lead the CHL Playoffs with 39 goals scored in nine games, an average of 4.3 goals per game. In the regular season the ‘Kings averaged 3.67 goals per which was #2 overall in the CHL.

RED LIGHT FLASHING PART DEUX

· Don Parsons leads the CHL Playoffs with eight goals. Parsons also leads the post season with five power play goals.

BAD BOYS

· The ‘Kings are second in the CHL Playoffs with an average of 27.2 PIM per game. Memphis also has committed the most minors (100), tied for 1st in majors (5) and had the most 10-minute misconducts (1). The ‘Kings have been shorthanded 69 times in nine playoff games, an average of 7.7 times per game, which is by far the most in the post-season.

MVP BACK-TO-BACK?

· RiverKings forward Don Parsons is fourth in the CHL Playoffs with 14 points. In addition Parsons has registered points in eight of nine playoff games. Last year Parsons led the playoffs in scoring with 14 goals and 27 points and captured the CHL Playoff MVP award. The last back-to-back CHL Playoff MVP was Ron Handy from Wichita in 1994 and 1995. Handy was coached by Doug Shedden when the Thunder won two straight CHL titles.

QUIETLY MAKING NOISE WITH HIS PLAY

· Kahlil Thomas doesn't make a whole lot of noise other than with his play. Thomas is currently tied for second in CHL Playoff scoring with 15 points. Thomas had the game winning goal and two assists in the RiverKings Game Five win against Oklahoma City. Furthermore Thomas had two goals, including the game winner, plus two assists in the Game Four win against Indianapolis.

THE WALL

· RiverKings goalie Mark Richards is nicknamed ‘The Wall'. After a shaky start to the playoffs he has lived up to that title. In the four game sweep of the Indianapolis Ice he allowed just nine goals.

SMOKIN'

· The RiverKings have managed a power play goal in all nine playoff games. Twice the ‘Kings have scored three power play goals in a game, including Game One of the Northern Conference Finals against the Ice and Game One of the first round against Oklahoma City.

THE SHOTS ARE COMING

· The RiverKings mustered only 169 shots in their first seven playoff games, an average of 24.1 shots per game, the lowest in the post season. In Game Three of the Northern Conference Finals against Indianapolis the ‘Kings mustered 45 shots and in Game Four they totaled 39 to raise their average to 28.2 shots per game in the playoffs. In the regular season the ‘Kings averaged 32.5 shots per game.

SPECIAL TEAMS BONANZA

· The RiverKings have scored 22 special teams goals in nine playoffs games. Seventeen goals have come on the power play while five have been shorthanded tallies. Both totals are tops in the post-season. The ‘Kings in the regular season recorded a CHL-high 77 power play goals.

MEMPHIS ALL-TIME PLAYOFF RECORD

· The RiverKings are 38-32 in franchise history in the post-season. The ‘Kings are 22-10 alone under Doug Shedden in the playoffs.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

· So far in the playoffs there has been a lot of goal scoring, at least in games involving the RiverKings. Memphis and their opponents (Indianapolis and Oklahoma City) have combined for 67 goals in nine playoff games, an average of 7.4 per game.

FEELS GOOD

· In Game Three of Northern Conference Finals the ‘Kings rallied from a 1-0 deficit after 40 minutes of regulation to post a 2-1 win in double overtime. In the regular season Memphis was 0-18-1 when trailing after two periods.

KISS OF DEATH

· Normally when a team scores first it is a good sign, considering that the RiverKings were 31-9-4 in the regular season when scoring first. In the ‘Kings five-game win over the Blazers in the first round, the team that scored first was 1-4. Memphis was the only team to score first and win when they potted the first lamp in Game Four and won 5-3. Memphis scored first in Game One of the Northern Conference Finals and held on to win by the score of 5-4. In the Northern Conference Finals the team scoring first went 1-3. Overall in games in the playoffs involving Memphis the team that scores first is 2-7.

WORKING OVERTIME

· The Austin Ice Bats have played in a CHL Playoff high five overtime games. The Ice Bats have gone 3-2 in sudden death.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

· Despite the fact that it was a playoff series, Memphis and Oklahoma City combined for 82 power play chances. The teams combined for 22 power plays in Game Three of the first round series alone.

DECIDING GAMES

· The last time the RiverKings played a deciding game of a series prior to Game Five in Oklahoma City, was Game Seven of the Northern Conference Finals in 2002. The ‘Kings beat the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 4-2 to advance to the President's Cup Finals. In both series which went the limit in the CHL first round the road team won as Laredo beat Odessa 3-2 in Game Five.

CHILLY SCHEDULE

· The RiverKings played the Indianapolis Ice in four of five games starting on February 21st and concluding on March 1st. The ‘Kings then wrapped up the regular season against the Ice on March 16th. Memphis and Indy played five times in the final thirteen games of the year. The ‘Kings went 4-1-0 during that stretch against the team that posted the best record in the Northern Conference.

PERFECT ICE

· The RiverKings are 7-0 all-time versus Indy in the playoffs. The ‘Kings swept the Ice in the first round in 2001 and swept Indy this year in the Northern Conference Finals 4-0.

HOME SWEET HOME

· The RiverKings enjoyed home ice advantage this year in the regular season. Memphis went 25-6-1 at the DeSoto Civic Center. The RiverKings outscored opponents 130-80, averaging 4.1 goals per game, at the DCC. After playing 21 of the first 32 games on the road, the ‘Kings played 21 of the final 32 at home. 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. Memphis is 4-0 at home in the playoffs and has outscored teams 20-13.

PLAYOFF PARKING PASSES

· RiverKings season ticket holders receive free parking during the playoffs. The parking pass for the regular season will be used for the post-season as well.

NORTHERN CONFERENCE FINALS · GAME FOUR - 04/12/03 – SATURDAY – The RiverKings finished off a four game sweep of the Indianapolis Ice with a 6-3 win on Saturday night at the Pepsi Coliseum. Kahlil Thomas had two goals and two assists to lead Memphis back to the President's Cup Finals for the second straight year against the Austin Ice Bats. FINAL SCORE Memphis 6, Indianapolis 3. Mark Richards continued his strong play as he stopped 30 of 33 shots to pick up his sixth straight win and improve to 7-1 in the playoffs. The ‘Kings went 2-5 on the power play, recording a man advantage goal in their ninth straight playoff game.

Shots Memphis 39 Indianapolis 33

PP Memphis 2-5 Indianapolis 0-7

Series Standing 4–0 Memphis

· GAME THREE - 04/10/03 – THURSDAY – It took the RiverKings some extra work, but Jonathan Gagnon scored 3:46 into double overtime to give Memphis a 2-1 win over the Indianapolis Ice and a 3-0 lead in the best of seven Northern Conference Finals. FINAL SCORE Memphis 2, Indianapolis 1 in 2OT. Richards was brilliant as he stopped 39 of 40 shots including 12 in overtime to improve to 6-1. Morris was outstanding as well, stopping 43 of 45 shots, but suffered his first loss of the playoffs to fall to 2-1.

Shots Memphis 45 Indianapolis 40

PP Memphis 1-5 Indianapolis 1-6

Series Standing 3–0 Memphis

· GAME TWO - 04/08/03 – TUESDAY –The RiverKings got the CHL leading seventh goal of the postseason from Don Parsons and an unexpected tally from Brian Tucker and the "deal sealer" from Robb Palahnuk as they defeated the Indianapolis Ice 3-1 in Game Two of the Northern Conference Finals to take a 2-0 series lead. FINAL SCORE Memphis 3, Indianapolis 1. Richards, in goal for the RiverKings, won his fourth consecutive game with a 20 save performance on 21 shots. Richards' record stands at 5-1, while Shawn Silver was hit for two goals on 24 shots to drop to 1-3 in the postseason.

Shots Memphis 25 Indianapolis 21

PP Memphis 2-6 Indianapolis 1-6

Series Standing 2–0 Memphis

· GAME ONE - 04/04/03 – FRIDAY – The RiverKings special teams continued their hot play as three power play goals and a shorthanded tally gave the ‘Kings a 5-4 win over the Indianapolis Ice and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Northern Conference Finals. Dan Parsons and Jonathan Gagnon each scored their sixth goal of the post season to lead Memphis. FINAL SCORE Memphis 5, Indianapolis 4. Richards turned aside 16 of 20 Indy shots. Silver allowed five goals on 24 shots. The ‘Kings continued their special team's dominance with three goals on seven chances. ‘Kings penalty killers held Indy to one goal on seven opportunities and scored a shorthanded goal to boot.

Shots Memphis 24 Indianapolis 20

PP Memphis 3-7 Indianapolis 1-7

Series Standing 1-0 Memphis

FIRST ROUND SERIES RECAP MEMPHIS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY

· The RiverKings rallied from a 2-1 series deficit to beat the Oklahoma City Blazers in five games. The ‘Kings jumped on top early with a 7-5 win in Game One, but the Blazers rebounded by winning Game Two with a three goal third period rally 5-3. Game Three went to sudden death and Jonathan Dubois gave the Blazers the 4-3 victory and the series lead with the overtime winner. Facing elimination the ‘Kings rebounded at home with a solid 5-3 win in Game Four. In the decisive game of the series Memphis fell down 2-0 early, but rebounded with four straight goals and added an empty netter to beat the Blazers 5-3 on the road and move on to the Northern Conference Finals.

ON THE AIR

· All Memphis RiverKings 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.

RIVERKINGS COACH'S SHOW

· The Memphis RiverKings Coach's Show will air Tuesday night on Sportsplus 790-AM WMC on location at the Roadhouse Grill in Horn Lake. The show will start at 6 p.m. 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 TIME

Tuesday, April 15th 6-7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22nd 6-7 p.m.

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