SPHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Weekly

Published on January 13, 2003 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Southaven, MS. – The RiverKings continued their red-hot play last week by winning a pair of weekend home games and running their season-high win streak to eight straight. Memphis hammered Odessa 5-1 in a match-up of division leaders on Friday night. Saturday, the ‘Kings outlasted their division rivals the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs by the score of 6-5. Memphis is now 25-12-2 with 52 points and remains in first place in the Northeast Division. The RiverKings head on the road for a swing through Texas this coming weekend. Memphis returns home on Friday, January 24th, to battle the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs at the DeSoto Civic Center, located 15 minutes south of downtown Memphis. For tickets call (662)-342-1755 or go online to www.RiverKings.com and use the ticketmaster link.

RECORD: 25-12-2

PLACE: 1st Northeast (52 Points)

DIVISION RECORD: 13-6-1

HOME: 14-2-1, Won 6

ROAD: 11-10-1, Won 2

W / L STREAK: Won 8

LAST 10: 8-2-0

GOALS FOR: 147

GOALS ALLOWED: 110

POWER PLAY: 18.8% (5th)

PENALTY KILL: 86.8% (5th)

NEXT UP

The RiverKings travel to Austin to take on the Ice Bats this Friday night. Memphis then visits the Jungle on Saturday night for the first time this season to battle the Amarillo Gorillas.

RIVERKINGS UPCOMING SCHEDULE

1/17 @ Austin 7:30 PM Memphis 0-0-1 vs. Ice Bats in 02-03

1/18 @ Amarillo 7:11 PM First meeting of season with the Gorillas

1/20 @ El Paso 5:00 PM First meeting of season with the Buzzards

1/24 Vs. Bossier-Shreveport 7:05 PM ‘Kings are 7-2-1 vs. Mudbugs in 02-03

1/25 Vs. Amarillo 7:05 PM First visit by the Gorillas to the DCC in 02-03

1/30 Vs. Oklahoma City 7:05 PM ‘Kings 1-2-0 vs. Blazers in 02-03

1/31 @ Oklahoma City 7:35 PM Memphis 0-2-0 in Oklahoma City

2/1 Vs. Indianapolis 7:00 PM ‘Kings are 3-3-0 vs. the Ice in 02-03

VS. AUSTIN ICE BATS

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (0-0-1) The RiverKings lost 4-3 in overtime in Austin on December 15th. Mike Gaffney scored two goals, including the game winner in sudden death at 2:13 of the extra session, to power the Ice Bats to the win.

LAST YEAR – Last year Memphis went 1-1-1 in the regular season versus Austin. The ‘Kings then beat the Ice Bats 4-1 in the President's Cup Finals.

VS. AMARILLO GORILLAS

SEASON SERIES AND LAST MEETING – (0-0-0) This will be the first meeting of the season between the RiverKings and the Gorillas.

LAST YEAR – The two teams did not play. Amarillo was called the Rattlers and changed their name to the Gorillas in the off season after the sale of the team.

2002-2003 RIVERKINGS TIDBITS

· The RiverKings are a team of streaks this season. The ‘Kings have had three-game, four-game, and six-game win streaks, plus a seven-game unbeaten streak. They are currently on a season high eight-game winning streak. The team also has had a four-game losing streak 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 last night in a 7-3 win. 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 by the ‘Kings this year.

· Memphis has registered at least one power play goal in 30 of 39 games so far, including sixteen multiple power-play goal games.

· 25 times in 39 games the RiverKings have had a player score multiple goals. Don Parsons has done it ten times. Parsons and Kahlil Thomas are the only ones to go on to turn the trick with three goals in one game.

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

· The RiverKings are 0-11-0 when trailing after two periods this season.

· The RiverKings have fired 554 shots on net in the last fifteen games, which is an average of 35.9 per game. Memphis has reached the forty shot plateau in seven of the games.

· The RiverKings are 20 for their last 66 power play chances (30.3 %) and have scored a man-advantage goal in ten straight games.

· The RiverKings have scored 45 goals in their last 8 games, which have all been wins, an average of 5.6 per contest over that stretch.

RIVERKINGS POINT SCORING STREAKS

· Goal Streaks

Games Player Total Goals

2 Parsons 3

· Point Streaks

Games Player Pts

10 Landmesser 15

8 Thomas 13

2 Parsons (9/10 gms) 5

2 Gagnon 5

2 Palahnuk 5

2 Mueller 3

2 Visegorodcevs 2

HOME SWEET HOME

· The RiverKings have enjoyed home ice advantage in the early going of the 2002-03 CHL season. Memphis is 14-2-1 at home and has won six straight. The RiverKings have outscored opponents 75-43 on home ice this season, averaging 5.0 goals per game. Last year the ‘Kings posted a 27-2-3 record at home as they captured the first President's Cup in franchise history.

SAY WHAT

· Normal thinking says that shots translate into goals, but the RiverKings have done well despite being out shot in games this year. The ‘Kings are 11-4-0 this season in contests they have been out shot by the opponent. The RiverKings are 13-8-2 when they fire more shots than the opposition.

FIRING THE RUBBER

· The RiverKings had out-shot the opponent in eleven straight games until Indianapolis out shot the ‘Kings 29-28 on January 4th. The ‘Kings have totaled 554 shots since December 13th. Memphis has out shot the opponent in thirteen of the last fifteen games.

FABULOUS DECEMBER

· RiverKings winger Don Parsons was selected as the CHL Player of the Month for December. Parsons had 11 goals and 27 points in 14 games and helped the ‘Kings post an 8-5-1 record despite playing nine of the fourteen on the road.

HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR

· RiverKings winger Don Parsons and defenseman Derek Landmesser were selected to the CHL Northern Conference All-Star starting lineup for the January 23rd game in Oklahoma City. It is the third straight year Parsons has been selected a starter. Last year Parsons had two goals and one assist and was the number two star selection for the CHL All-Star game in Corpus Christi.

FEEL THE POWER

· The ‘Kings are hot on the man advantage going 20 for their last 66 chances (30.3%). Memphis has tallied a power play goal in ten straight games.

NEW FACES

· The RiverKings have been busy on the roster front. On Monday, January 6th the team acquired defenseman Stephon Margeson from New Mexico for forward Ben Gorewich and defenseman Jeff Alcombrack. On Wednesday, January 8th, the ‘Kings signed defenseman Jeremy Goetzinger to shore up the blue line.

RED LIGHT IS FLASHING

· The RiverKings have scored 45 goals in their last eight games, which have all been wins, an average of 5.6 per contest over that stretch. That is well above the 3.77 per game the team averages overall.

GETTING IT DONE INSIDE THE DIVISION1

· The ‘Kings are 13-6-1 inside the Northeast Division this season against Fort Worth, Indianapolis and Bossier-Shreveport. Breaking it down even farther the RiverKings are 7-2-1 at home and 6-4-0 on the road in the division. The RiverKings best record in the division comes against the rival Mudbugs with Memphis posting a 7-2-1 record against. The ‘Kings are 3-3-0 versus Indianapolis and 3-1-0 against Fort Worth.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

· Join the RiverKings on January 25th for Cellular South Puck Night against the Amarillo Gorillas. For more information call (662)-342-1755.

JR. RIVERKINGS ICE HOCKEY CLINIC EXTENDED

· You can learn how to play hockey from one of the best in the CHL. Don Parsons hosts the Jr. RiverKings ice hockey instructional sessions on Monday nights at the DeSoto Civic Center from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The sessions have been extended thru the end of January. From beginners to intermediates, learn to play ice hockey from last year's CHL leading goal scorer. Cost is $15 per session. Come 20 minutes early for sign up. Players must bring their own equipment. Rental skates are available.

RIVERKING CALANDARS

· The RiverKings are offering a special 2003 wall calendar which depicts the players in a variety of work situations off the ice. The proceeds will benefit the Jr. Streetkings program. Cost is $10 and calendars can be picked up at the RiverKings office at the DeSoto Civic Center. Call (662)-342-1755 for more information.

· 01/11/03 – SATURDAY – Saturday night the RiverKings got two goals from Robb Palahnuk and another two from Don Parsons as they held off the visiting Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 6-5 and earned their eighth consecutive victory in front of 4,651 fans. Parsons scored goals back-to-back during the second period for his team and league leading 31st and 32nd goals of the season. It was Palahnuk, however, who netted the game-winner when his sharp angle shot from the edge of the crease trickled over the shoulder of Mudbugs goaltender Jonathan Forrest in the third period. FINAL SCORE Memphis 6, Bossier-Shreveport 5. RiverKings goaltender Jean-Francois Racine provided 19 saves as he improved to 17-4-2 and has picked up each victory during the ‘Kings eight-game win streak.

Shots Memphis 40 Bossier-Shreveport 24

PP Memphis 1-9 Bossier-Shreveport 0-4

· 01/10/03 – FRIDAY – Friday night the RiverKings steamrolled to their seventh straight win with a 5-1 decision over the visiting Odessa Jackalopes in front of 3,578 fans. Brad Mueller had a goal; two assists and a huge knockout win in a fight to power the ‘Kings to the win. Memphis improves to 24-12-2 with 50 points and remains in first place in the Northeast Division. FINAL SCORE Memphis 5, Odessa 1. J.F. Racine stopped 31 of 32 shots to record his seventh straight win and improve to 16-4-2. Mike Gorman took the loss to drop to 15-8-4.

Shots Memphis 29 Odessa 32

PP Memphis 3-6 Odessa 0-7

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

· The Memphis RiverKings Coaches Show will air Tuesday night from 6:00-7:00 PM 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 901-726-0477 or 901-274-7979.

Upcoming Schedule

Tuesday, January 14th Will air as scheduled 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 21st Will air as scheduled 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 28th Will air as scheduled 6:00-7:00 p.m.

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