AHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Blanked 3-0 in Chicago in Preseason Action

Published on September 24, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Vernon Hills, IL (September 24, 2006) - The Peoria Rivermen came up empty in the second half of a home-and-home, preseason set with Chicago Wolves, falling 3-0 before a Sunday-afternoon crowd of 700 at Glacier Ice Arena.

The Wolves (1-1) notched the game's first tally at 7:04 of the first period on the power play. On a broken play just inside the Rivermen blue line, center Colin Fretter gathered the loose puck, flipped a backhand shot through a maze of players toward the Peoria goal and beat a screened Rivermen rookie netminder Marek Schwarz through the five-hole. Defenseman Troy Milam and center Kevin Doell were credited with assists on the man-advantage marker.

Schwarz, a first-round pick (17th overall) of the St. Louis Blues in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, was peppered with shots in the opening session, stopping 11 of 12. Peoria (1-1) managed just seven shots on Chicago goaltender Brendan Cuthbert, who made 11 total saves before being replaced by Michael Garnett midway through the second period. Garnett turned away all eight shots he faced.

There was no scoring in the second period.

Veteran center Steve Martins was the catalyst that gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead with 8:15 left in the contest. Martins flew into the Rivermen zone right wing, lifting a pass over the stick of a Peoria defender and finding Chaz Johnson, who redirected it over Schwarz's left shoulder.

Chicago capped the scoring with their second two-power-play goal game in as many nights with 3:23 remaining regulation. During a four-on-three man advantage, Milam, who figured in both of Chicago's earlier tallies, took a feed at the point and ripped a slap shot through a crowd and past Schwarz, who stopped 27 of 30 Wolves' chances in the game.

The penalty-marred game featured 24 total power plays, 10 for Peoria, between the clubs. There was just one fight, which came late in the second period between Peoria's Trevor Baker and Chicago's Lee Jacobsen.

On Tuesday, September 26, Peoria faces off against the Iowa Stars at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena in the opening salvo of a home-and-home affair. The Rivermen travel to Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, September 29 to battle the Stars at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen open the 2006-07 AHL regular season on Friday, October 6 against the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights at Carver Arena at 7:30 p.m. It's Heritage Bank Magnet Schedule Night for the first 5,000 fans. On Saturday, October 7, Peoria welcomes the rival Chicago Wolves to Carver Arena at 7:00 p.m. on the first of two Maui Jim Sunglasses Nights, in which 25 random winners will receive a free pair of Maui Jim Sunglasses.

Rivermen season ticket plans are on sale now with 1) a Full Season package (40 games), 2) the 25th Anniversary package (25 games), 3) a 12-game package, 4) a seven-game package and 5) undated voucher books (denominations of 20 vouchers). Packages start at just $75 per seat.

For more information, please contact Director of Ticket Operations Jim Small at 309-676-1040 x 106 or via e-mail at tickets@rivermen.net.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from September 24, 2006


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