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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Collect Seven of Eight Points against Atlantic City and Toledo

January 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Wednesday, December 31, 2003 vs. Atlantic City Game #30 ECHL Game #465

Rivermen 2 Atlantic City 3 Overtime

Overtime is not a place the Peoria Rivermen like to play. They fell to 0-4 in overtime decisions in a 3-2 overtime loss at the hands of the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies before a New Year's Eve crowd of 5,434 on Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

After a boarding call on Rivermen defenseman Scott Crawford, the Boardwalk Bullies struck for the second time on the power play on a goal by Brian Fahey, who tallied his third and fourth markers of the season in the win. Fahey, at the top of the right face-off circle near the slot, took a pass from Luke Curtin and wristed a low shot past a screened Peoria goaltender Mike Valley.

Atlantic City was 2-for-6 on the power play, while Peoria was 0-for-3.

Peoria (15-8-7, 37 points) earned one point for the overtime loss, falling in the first of two in a row with the Boardwalk Bullies. Atlantic City (20-9-0, 40 points) pushed its winning streak to six games, equaling a season high; the Boardwalk Bullies won six straight to start the year.

Friday, January 2, 2004 vs. Atlantic City Game #31 ECHL Game #480

Rivermen 4 Atlantic City 3 Overtime

It took five opportunities and 31 games but the Peoria Rivermen finally prevailed in overtime, beating the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 4-3 in front of 5,288 on Friday night at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen, who lost 3-2 in overtime Wednesday night to Atlantic City, were 0-4 in overtime decisions coming into the game.

The overtime winner came 1:06 into the extra session. Adam Edinger won his own face-off in the left circle and took a quick low shot that Atlantic City's Scott Stirling stopped, but the rebound came right to newcomer Marty Johnston. Johnston, with a defenseman draped all over him, shoveled his first goal as a Rivermen through the legs of Stirling with one hand on his stick. It was Johnston's fifth goal of the season.

Johnston, who set up the team's second power play goal of the night, was acquired on New Year's Eve from the Long Beach Ice Dogs for center Alex Kim and defenseman Trevor Read.

The Rivermen looked like they were going to win the game in regulation. Rookie newcomer Scott Turner, who was signed out of the University of Nebraska-Omaha on December 26, tipped an Edinger pass just inside the left post for his first professional goal. Edinger snapped a pass toward the goal from the right face-off circle as Turner was darting through the slot.

The Boardwalk Bullies tied it, though, with just 16 seconds remaining in regulation. With Stirling pulled for the extra attacker, Pierre-Luc Sleigher fired a shot from the center point that was tipped past Peoria goaltender Levente Szuper by defenseman Brian Fahey. It was Fahey's fifth of the season and third in the last two games against the Rivermen.

Peoria (16-8-7, 39 points) improved to 7-5-3 on home ice and 1-0-1 against the Boardwalk Bullies this year. Atlantic City (20-9-1, 41 points) – who had its team, season-high six-game winning streak snapped – was saddled with its first non-regulation loss of the season; the Boardwalk Bullies were the only ECHL team that had not posted a non-regulation decision entering the game. Atlantic City dropped to 8-6-1 on the road and is three points behind the Wheeling Nailers for first place in the Division with two games in hand.

Saturday, January 3, 2004 @ Toledo Game #32 ECHL Game #496

Rivermen 3 Toledo 1

Tyler Rennette is showing everyone in the ECHL he still has All-Star skills. Rennette had a hand in all three Rivermen goals, scoring two, in a 3-1 road win over the archrival Toledo Storm before a crowd of 4,285 on Saturday night at the Toledo Sports Arena.

Over his last five games, Rennette has three three-point contests and 10 points (5g, 5a). Last season, he represented the Rivermen in the 2003 ECHL All-Star Game; this season, the team's leading scorer – Randy Rowe – earned the honor.

The Storm tied it 1-1 at 7:02 of the third period. Defenseman Brandon Fleenor fired a shot toward the Peoria goal from the left point that Rivermen goaltender Mike Valley stopped with his right pad. The rebound, though, popped right to Wes Mason, who was just off the left post and snapped it home for his 10th tally of the season.

Peoria grabbed the lead right back just 1:15 later. Rennette won the face-off back to Joe Vandermeer, who rifled his second goal of the season and in as many nights past Toledo goaltender Doug Teskey, who was screened by Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker. Vandermeer ended an 0-for-80 shot slump in last night's 4-3 home overtime win over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.

The Rivermen connected again at 11:03 of the third for a 3-1 lead. Rookie Mike Hoffman grabbed the loose puck in the left wing corner of the Toledo zone and tapped it to Baker, who found Rennette in the left face-off circle. Rennette, a right hand shot, opened his body up toward the middle of the ice and rifled a one-timer past Teskey.

Peoria (17-8-7, 41 points) is 9-1-4 over its last 14 road games and 10-3-4 on the road for the season. The Rivermen improved to 1-0-2 against the Storm this year with nine regular season meetings left between the clubs, including tomorrow afternoon's affair in Peoria. Toledo (12-15-3, 27 points), after winning three in a row under new head coach Nick Vitucci – who replaced Steve Harrison on December 20, has lost four straight. The Storm dropped to 6-7-1 on home ice.

Sunday, January 4, 2004 vs. Toledo Game #33 ECHL Game #504

Rivermen 4 Toledo 2

Tyler Rennette struck again for his second three-point game in a row and fourth in the last six games, as the Peoria Rivermen doubled up the archrival the Toledo Storm 4-2 before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 4,078 at Carver Arena.

The Rivermen gave themselves a two-goal advantage for the third time in the game at 5:06 of the third period, making it 4-2. Rennette and Trevor Baker maneuvered into the Toledo zone on a two-on-one rush with Rennette finishing a give-and-go for his 14th goal of the year. Rennette, who set up Peoria's first and second goals of the game, has four three-point efforts over his last six contests with 13 points (6g, 7a) for the stretch.

Peoria (18-8-7, 43 points) has won three in a row and is unbeaten in regulation in its last six games (5-0-1) – a season high. Toledo (12-16-3, 27 points) has lost five in a row, a season low, and fell to 6-9-2 on the road.

The Captain's Log

Moving Up In The North

The Rivermen (18-8-7, 43 points) went 3-0-1 in home games against the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and a home-and-home set against the archrival Toledo Storm. With its undefeated-in-regulation week, Peoria is currently in the midst of a season-best six-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak (5-0-1). The Rivermen split two home overtime decisions with Atlantic City on Wednesday (3-2 Atlantic City) and Friday (4-3 Peoria), and Peoria proceeded to beat Toledo in a home-and-home set on Saturday (3-1 in Toledo) and Sunday (4-2 in Peoria). As a result, the Rivermen are tied with Atlantic City (21-9-1, 43 points) for second place in the nine-team Northern Division, having played two more games. Peoria is just five points back of the first place Wheeling Nailers (23-9-2, 48 points) with a game in hand.

Division Dance Down... Pacific Party Pending

Peoria finished 26 straight against Northern Division opponents with a 15-5-6 record, closing out the stretch with a 7-1-2 mark over its last 10 games. The Rivermen improved to 7-2-2 lifetime in the ECHL against Atlantic City with a 3-2 home overtime loss on New Year's Eve and a 4-3 home overtime win on January 2. Peoria, 46-22-5 lifetime in the ECHL against Toledo, won both games of a home-and-home set (3-1 @ Toledo on January 3; 4-2 vs. Toledo on January 4) with the archrival Storm this weekend to improve to 2-0-2 in the season series. Peoria plays 65 of 72 regular season games against Northern Division opponents – half of which come against close geographic rivals Cincinnati (13), Toledo (12) and Dayton (11). The Rivermen will now travel to Las Vegas to face off against the Wranglers in two in a row at the Orleans Arena. The Wranglers are one of three Pacific Division opponents Peoria battles this season. In three road games in Alaska, the Rivermen were 1-2-0 against the Aces, dropping the first two games on October 29 and October 31 before winning on November 1. Peoria will welcome the Idaho Steelheads to town on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14.

Carvering Out The Wins

Peoria is 3-0-1 at home in its last four games – a season best. The Rivermen are 8-5-3 through 16 games at Carver Arena. In its eight home wins, Peoria is averaging 4.63 goals per game. In their eight losses at home, which includes three overtime defeats, the Rivermen are averaging just .875 goals per game, having been shut out twice (5-0, 11/08/03 vs. Reading & 2-0, 12/13/03 vs. Johnstown). The Rivermen own a 182-51-30 lifetime ECHL home record (75 percent point percentage) 15 games into their eighth ECHL season. Last season, the Rivermen posted a 26-5-5 home mark with the second fewest home losses in one season in ECHL franchise history. Peoria notched a 27-4-4 record at home in its first ECHL season (1996-1997).

Away Play Still Awesome

After their 11-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak (7-0-4) was snapped on December 26, the Rivermen won the last two games and are 9-1-4 over their last 14 road contests and own the best road record of any team in the Northern Division at 10-3-4 (71 percent point percentage).

Our Time Finally In Overtime

The Rivermen registered their first overtime win in five decisions on Friday, January 2 at home, beating the defending Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 4-3. Peoria is 3-3 in shootout decisions.

Rifling Rowe

All-Star left wing Randy Rowe is in the midst of a team, season-high eight-game point streak with 16 points (9g, 7a). Last week, he collected six points (1g, 5a) with a +3 plus/minus over three games. He has 14 goals over his last 16 games with 26 points (14g, 12a) and +18 plus/minus. Rowe leads the Rivermen in goals (22), game-winning goals (5), power play goals (6), shorthanded goals (3), shorthanded points (4), overall points (37) and plus/minus (+16). The 23-year-old Burford, Ontario native is tied for the ECHL lead in goal scoring, is tied for second in game-winning goals and shorthanded goals, and is tied for third in shorthanded points.

Don't Bet Against Rennette

Center Tyler Rennette has four, three-point games over his last six games with 13 points (6g, 7a) for the stretch. He had one goal in two games and was Even against Atlantic City before exploding for six points (3g, 3a) and a +3 plus/minus in a home-and-home set against the archrival Toledo Storm. Rennette is second on the team in goals (14), assists (16), points (30), plus/minus (+10) and power play goals (5). He leads the team with 11 power play points.

Szuper-calafragilistic

After opening the season 0-3-1, Levente Szuper has won his last six starts, improving to 6-3-1 on the season. For the six-game win streak, Szuper owns a 2.11 goals against average (GAA) and a .916 save percentage.

The Fabulous Baker Boy

Captain Trevor Baker is currently in the midst of a six-game point streak with 10 points (5g, 5a). This past week, the fifth-year professional notched five points (3g, 2a) and a +5 plus/minus in four games. He leads the team in assists (17) and penalty minutes (106). He ranks third on the team in points (27).

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen left wing Josh Kern has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve and placed on team suspension, 01/02/03.

· Rivermen center Brendan Brooks has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 01/02/03.

· Left wing Marty Johnston has been acquired from Long Beach in exchange for center Alex Kim and defenseman Trevor Read, 12/31/03.

· Defenseman Mike Hoffman has been reassigned from Worcester (AHL) by St. Louis (NHL), 12/28/03.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

PRACTICES:

· The Rivermen will practice Wednesday, January 7 and Thursday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Owens Center. Practice times subject to change.

GAMES:

· On Friday, January 9, the Rivermen travel to Las Vegas to face off against the Pacific Division Wranglers in the first of two in a row. Expansion Las Vegas (19-9-5, 43 points) is tied for second place in the Pacific Division with the Alaska Aces and own the third best winning percentage (.652) in the Division. The Wranglers are one point behind the Idaho Steelheads (21-11-2, 44 points) for first place with a game in hand. Las Vegas is three points in front of the San Diego Gulls (19-8-2, 40 points) but have played four more games. The Wranglers are led by former Rivermen Greg Day, who leads the team in assists (17) and points (32). The game broadcast can be heard on WWFS 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 8:50 p.m. from the Orleans Arena. Game time is 9:00 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, January 10, Peoria takes on the Wranglers in the second of two in a row between the clubs. The game broadcast can be heard on WWFS 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 8:50 p.m. from the Orleans Arena. Game time is 9:00 p.m. CT.

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