CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Weekly

Published on December 13, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- RECORD: 11-11-1, 23 points (Tied-4th place, Berry Conference)

LAST WEEK: (Friday, December 10th) at Bossier-Shreveport 5, RiverKings 3

(Saturday, December 11th) at RiverKings 4, Dayton 2

THIS WEEK: (Friday, December 17th) vs. Evansville IceMen (7:05 PM)

(Saturday, December 18th) vs. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (7:05 PM)

RIVERKINGS RECAP: The Mississippi RiverKings were 1-1-0 for the week, dropping a 5-3 decision at Bossier-Shreveport last Friday night, before claiming a 4-2 victory against the Dayton Gems in Southaven Saturday evening. In Friday's game, Mississippi led 2-1 through two periods before Bossier-Shreveport reeled off four more goals in the third period to clinch its fourth win of the season in five games against the RiverKings. A shorthanded goal from Matt Miller and a goal from Chris Richards provided a 2-0 first intermission lead and Patrik Levesque posted one more late in the contest. Alexander Pechurskiy took the loss in goal with a 27-save effort.

Saturday, the RiverKings bounced back with a 4-2 victory in their first-ever meeting with the Dayton Gems at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven. Louis Dumont scored twice and added an assist in the victory. Matt Summers and R.G. Flath also scored, with Flath's goal in the final period becoming the game winner. Larry Sterling claimed the victory in goal with a 20-save performance.

OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS: Friday, December 17th, the Evansville IceMen return to the DeSoto Civic Center for the fifth meeting of the season between the teams. The teams have split the four previous games with three of the contests decided by 5-2 scores, including Mississippi taking the last meeting on November 30th by a 5-2 score. Jeff Christian leads the RiverKings in scoring against Evansville with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists). Christian joins three other players (Chris Richards, Milan Maslonka, and Matt Summers) with two goals each against the IceMen. Meanwhile, Goalies Alexander Pechurskiy and Larry Sterling have each claimed a victory in net against Evansville. Brian Bicek leads the Evansville attack with four goals and seven points against the RiverKings and goaltenders Matt Lundin and David Wilson each have won a game in the crease.

Saturday, December 18th, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (4-1-0 vs. Mississippi this year) come to the DCC looking to avenge their only loss of the season series between the two long-time rivals. The lone Mississippi win in the series this season came on November 5th in Southaven by a 4-3 score. In the last meeting, Bossier-Shreveport rallied for a 5-3 win in Louisiana last Friday night. Patrik Levesque, Jeff Christian, and Louis Dumont each have collected four points against the Mudbugs this season. Levesque has scored three times playing only two games for the RiverKings against Bossier-Shreveport. Christian's four points have all come on assists. Larry Sterling was in goal for the only Mississippi win in the season set against the Mudbugs. Joe Blaznek leads the Bossier-Shreveport offense against the RiverKings with five goals and nine points. Of the two active goaltenders on the Mudbugs' roster, both Brian Foster a nd John DeCaro have collected a victory.

RIVERKINGS SPECIAL TEAMS: Mississippi was 1-for-4 on the power play in Saturday's win over Dayton and in the team's last five games has scored five extra-man goals (5-for-25). For the season, the RiverKings enter the week ranked ninth in the CHL for power play success at 17.65%. The RiverKings stopped all but one power play attempt by Dayton Saturday night (1-for-6). Opponents have scored at least one extra-man goal against the RiverKings in all but one of the past five games. For the season, Mississippi is ranked seventh in penalty-killing percentage entering the week at 83.21%.

MIXING IT UP A BIT: Mississippi leads the CHL in penalty minutes with 701, in major penalties with 37, in ten-minute misconducts with seven, game misconducts with 11, and match penalties with one. The RiverKings lead the CHL in average penalty minutes per game at 30.48.

AS THE RECORD TURN(ER)S: Mississippi has a winning record against teams from the Turner Conference at 8-5-0 this season, while the RiverKings' are 3-5-1 in contests against the Berry Conference.

SUMMERS, RICHARDS HAVE THE POWER: Forwards Matt Summers and Chris Richards are tied with three others for the CHL lead in power play goals with six. Summers' goal in Saturday's win against Dayton vaulted him into the five-way tie for the lead.

LET ME HELP: Forward Jeff Christian is in a tie for second in the CHL for power play assists with eleven.

POINTS FROM THE POINT: Defenseman Nathan Lutz ranks second in the CHL for points from the blue line with 19. Lutz is tied for fourth in the league for power play goals scored with four and is tied (with teammate Derek Landmesser and one other player) for fifth in power play assists with eight.

A STERLING GUNSLINGER: Goaltender Larry Sterling is in a tie for third in the CHL for shootout save percentage at .833 (10 saves, 12 attempts).

SENDING THE FANS HOME HAPPY: Mississippi has won four straight home games, a streak dating back to November 27th. It's now tied with Tulsa for the longest active home winning streak in the CHL.

GLAD TO BE OFF THE ROAD: While finding success at home, the RiverKings have gone four straight road games without a victory, a string dating back to November 25th. It's tied for the longest active road non-winning streak in the CHL.

NOTABLES: Matt Summers has scored eight points in his last five games and is in a tie for the second-longest active point streak in the CHL entering the week. Patrik Levesque has been tagged for 30 penalty minutes in his last seven games, earning at least one penalty in every RiverKings game he has played in since coming from Quad City. Defenseman Andrew Lackner will play in CHL career game number 200 Friday night against Evansville. Forward Brian Ihnacak went over the 100 career professional game mark last weekend with 51 of the games having been played in the United States and the other appearances being in Slovakia. Number 100 came in Bossier-Shreveport Friday night and number 101 was Saturday at home against Dayton. Goaltender Larry Sterling went over the 8,000 career CHL minute mark last weekend, now at 8,006. His next goaltending victory will be his 40th with the RiverKings (39-16-6).

BROADCASTS: Both RiverKings games this week will be heard on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM, with broadcast coverage beginning at 6:50 PM. Games are also available online at www.sports56whbq.com and through the CHL-TV webcasting service. Click the "Watch Live" link on the RiverKings' home page for information on how to access the webcasting service. RiverKings Media Coordinator Bob Bakken provides the play-by-play coverage.

RIVERKINGS UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, December 14th, members of the RiverKings will be on hand for a Christmas "Meet and Greet" at Pecan Grove Apartments in Walls. The complex is located at 7320 State Highway 161 North, north of Goodman Road in Walls. Hours for the Meet and Greet are from 6-8 PM. For more information on Pecan Grove Apartments, log onto the Pecan Grove Apartments web site.

Also that day, the RiverKings will be involved in a RadioThon for Toys For Tots on the team's flagship station, Sports 56, WHBQ-AM. The RadioThon will take place during the entire day, from 6 AM to 6 PM from Humdinger's Restaurant, at Poplar and Massey in Memphis. The RiverKings will be on air during the afternoon Sportsbar program between 3 and 6 PM.

Friday, December 17th is Monster Nation Night, when the RiverKings host the Evansville IceMen at 7:05 PM. Monster Nation is a high-impact, family friendly motorsports event you won't want to miss, when it comes to the DeSoto Civic Center on January 7th and 8th. Ticket vouchers will be given away to the DeSoto Civic Center Monster Nation event to the first 100 fans in the building that night. Other Monster Nation prizes will be given away as well during the game.

Tuesday, December 21st, the Mississippi RiverKings invite you to celebrate the holidays early when the Bloomington PrairieThunder. One child age 12 and under will be admitted free with an adult paid admission to that night's game between the RiverKings and PrairieThunder. The limit is one child per each paid adult admission of equal or lesser value. It's another great way to bring out the family to watch your hometown hockey team in action and save money at the same time. The offer is available for the December 21st game only and only available at the DCC box office during their office hours.

For RiverKings ticket information, call 662-342-1755 or go online to www.riverkings.com today!

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2010


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