ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Announce St. Louis Blues Alumni/Rivermen Nostalgia Game on Saturday, February 26

February 24, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (February 24, 2005) – As the first of many co-marketing partnerships over the next 10 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, President/General Manager Bart Rogers of the Peoria Rivermen of the ECHL announced today that the Rivermen will host a Blues Alumni/Peoria Rivermen Nostalgia Game on Saturday, February 26 at 5:00 p.m. at Carver Arena to the benefit the Blues "Fourteen Fund."

Admission is a ticket to the Rivermen game against the Reading Royals later that evening at 7:00 p.m. plus a $7.00 donation to the "Fourteen Fund" at the door. Each donor will receive a free Rivermen, Kelly Chase T-shirt (while quantities last).

Eight players from the 1990-1991 Rivermen International Hockey League (IHL) Turner Cup Championship Team, which also set a still-world-record 18-game winning streak in November 1990, are scheduled to appear, including (points during 1990-1991 season in parentheses): Kelly Chase (20g, 34a=54pts, 406 PIM), Tony Twist (2g, 10a=12pts, 244 PIM), Nelson Emerson (36g, 79a=115pts), Dave Thomlinson (53g, 54a=107pts), Jim Vesey (32g, 41a=73pts), Randy Skarda (8g, 34a=42pts), Dominic Lavoie (15g, 25a=40pts) and Rob Robinson (2g, 21a=23pts). Also representing the Rivermen will be current Head Coach Jason Christie, Assistant Coach Luke Gruden and Peoria Mustangs Head Coach Kevin Lune.

Former St. Louis Blues players Basil McRae, Jeff Brown, John Wensink, Larry Patey, Greg Paslawski, Rick Zombo, Perry Turnbull and 1990-1991 Rivermen Head Coach Bob Plager are scheduled to appear. In addition, Lonnie Loach, a veteran of more than 1,000 professional hockey games, is also scheduled to appear.

"The Fourteen Fund," the charitable trust of the St. Louis Blues, was established in 1998 to honor Doug Wickenheiser, a popular former Blues player who passed away from a long battle with cancer in early 1999. "Wick" is remembered best for the "Monday Night Miracle," in which he scored a goal to give St. Louis a critical victory over the Calgary Flames in 1986.

The St. Louis Blues Promotional Van will be on hand, and players will be available during both intermissions of the Rivermen game against the Royals to sign copies of "Note by Note," a 184-page hardcover coffee table book featuring more than 500 photos, essays and assorted images encompassing 35 years of St. Louis Blues hockey. Later on that night, the current Rivermen team will wear special jerseys to be autographed and auctioned off following the ECHL game. Proceeds from the book sales and jersey auction will benefit the "Fourteen Fund."

Today, the "Fourteen Fund", in conjunction with the Blues' community outreach efforts, has a mission to seek out opportunities to use the Blues' resources to positively impact our community, including these focus areas: cancer awareness, prevention and intervention; positive youth development through sports; education; and promoting diversity.

Applications for funding are available by invitation only. Individuals and corporations are invited to join the Blues in strengthening our community by making a tax-deductible donation to the "Fourteen Fund." Donations can be made to: Fourteen Fund, c/o St. Louis Blues, 1401 Clark Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103.

The Peoria Rivermen are a proud affiliate of the NHL's St. Louis Blues and a member of the ECHL – The Premier "AA" Hockey League. On Thursday, February 24, the Rivermen host NHLer Scott Gomez and the Alaska Aces. Game time is 7:00 p.m. It is Patriotic Night, and the team will wear special American Flag-themed jerseys to be auctioned off after the game. On Friday, February 25, Peoria welcomes the Reading Royals to Carver Arena for the first of two in a row between the clubs. Game time is 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, February 26, the Rivermen and the Royals battle again at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena. It is Five-Star Water Night. Two lucky Rivermen fans will each win a year's supply of water by registering at the game. It is also Delta Dental Night. The first 1,000 Kids 12 & Under will receive a toothbrush. There will also be Sonicare toothbrushes given away. It is also a Kaufman Wellness Center Night. Fans may receive a free spinal check and back massage with a donation to the Children's Hospital of Illinois. And there will also be a Goodwill Clothes Drive. For individual game tickets, call Ticketmaster at 309.676.8700.

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ECHL Stories from February 24, 2005


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