AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen begin season with two wins

Published on October 8, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, IL (October 7, 2005) - By beating the Manitoba Moose 4-3 on Friday night at Carver Arena, the Peoria Rivermen got their first home win and second overall victory in their second game of the new 2005-06 season. As he was on Thursday night at Iowa, left wing Peter Sejna was once again the featured performer for Peoria on this night with two goals and one assist.

Rivermen right winger Colin Hemingway tallied the lone goal of the first period for either team at the 16:37 mark. With Peoria on a power play, the Rivermen controlled the puck in their offensive zone. Blueliner Dennis Wideman started the scoring play by sending a pass down the right side to Peter Sejna. The winger then threaded a nice pass across the top of the crease to Hemingway, who banged it in an open net before any Manitoba defenders could get to him.

The second period of this game featured much more scoring. The first goal of the period came on a two-on-one break by the Moose about six minutes in. After collecting the puck at the blueline, Manitoba center Josh Green skated down the left wing with his teammate Jesse Schultz to his right and Rivermen defenseman Trevor Byrne in front of him. Just as Byrne started to go down to prevent a crossing pass, Green fired it to Schultz, who dented the twine before Peoria netminder Curtis Sanford could get across the goalmouth.

Less than two minutes later, Manitoba's Craig Darby skated down the left wing boards, cut in along the bottom of the left circle, drove to the net, and popped the puck up into the top left corner of the goal.

Manitoba struck once again when Peoria defenseman Mike Mottau skated past the puck along the right wing boards. Brandon Nolan then picked it up at the face-off circle and sent a cross-ice pass to Alexandre Burrows, who was flying through the left face-off circle. Burrows quickly sent the puck back across to Nathan Smith, who one-timed a slap shot from down on his right knee past a diving Sanford at 9:56.

Winger Peter Sejna then tallied for Peoria. During a Peoria power-play, Sejna found time and space in the slot and buried a shot on goal after Mike Glumac found him with a nice pass out of the left corner. The goal came at 12:47 and made the score 3-2 for Manitoba.

Sejna then evened the score at 3-3 in the final minute of the second period. On this play, Charles Linglet fanned on a shot attempt, and the puck knuckled through the air across the slot. It eventually bounced to Sejna, who swatted it in from the bottom of the left circle.

Knotted at three goals apiece at the end of two, the two sides traded chances in the third period. Then, as the Rivermen were a man down about 15 minutes into the frame, Peoria center Troy Riddle collected the puck along the right boards at the blueline as the Moose attempted to break out of their zone. Riddle then darted in on Manitoba goalie Wade Flaherty and fired a bullet shot by his right elbow to put the Rivermen up 4-3.

Although Manitoba pressured Peoria in the final minutes and got some scoring opportunities, the Rivermen played good defense and held on for the 4-3 win. Peoria out-shot Manitoba in the game 37-33.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2005


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