ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen complete regular season with six straight wins

Published on April 5, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Friday, April 2, 2004 @ Dayton Game #72 ECHL Game #1090

Rivermen 8 Dayton 5

For the third straight game, eight different goal scorers contributed for the Peoria Rivermen, as they beat the archrival Dayton Bombers 8-5 in front of 3,050 on Friday night at the Nutter Center. With the victory, Peoria finished out the regular season with six consecutive victories overall and three in a row on the road.

The Bombers got within two at 10:27 of the final period, making it 6-4. Scooter Smith held the puck in along the right wing boards, feeding Scott Cameron in the high slot. An off-balance Cameron snapped a low slap shot inside the left goal post for his 14th goal of the season and second of the night.

Peoria grabbed its three-goal lead back 1:11 later. Tyler Rennette rifled in his team-leading 31st goal of the year from the high slot on an Igor Valeev pass.

The Rivermen finished their eight-goal barrage at 15:28 on a 4-on-3 power play. Joe Vandermeer took a Valeev pass at the inner part of the right face-off circle and rocketed a low shot inside the near post. It was Vandermeer's sixth goal of the season.

The Bombers completed the 13-goal output between the teams with 15 seconds left in regulation. Justin Kinnunen snapped in his second goal of the game and his career unassisted from the right face-off circle.

Peoria (45-18-9, 99 points) completed its season series with the Bombers with a 7-3-1 record. The Rivermen finished with an ECHL-best 23-7-6 road record, matching a Rivermen ECHL record for road wins in one season and coming one short of an ECHL road record for fewest losses in one season. Dayton (25-41-5, 55 points) fell to 15-18-2 at home.

The Captain's Log

A Thin Line Between Second And Third

The Rivermen (45-18-9, 99 points) finished in third place in the nine-team Northern Division for the 2003-2004 regular season, one point behind the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (47-19-6, 100 points). The teams will meet in a five-game, first round series in the Northern Division Semifinals, set to begin on Wednesday April 7 in Atlantic City. After Peoria won its regular season finale in Dayton 8-5 last Friday, the Boardwalk Bullies captured second place in the Division and home-ice advantage in the first round with a 4-3 home victory on the last day of the season over the first place and Eastern Conference Champion Wheeling Nailers (51-17-4, 106 points). The Rivermen were unbeaten in regulation in four meetings (2-0-2) with Atlantic City this season, winning the only regulation decision between the clubs 3-1 on the road on March 19. Peoria is 4-1-3 lifetime in the ECHL against the Boardwalk Bullies.

Eighth Year Exceptional

The Rivermen equaled the second-most wins by a Peoria club this year, their eighth in the ECHL, with 45; the team posted 45 wins in both the 1999-2000 (Kelly Cup Champions) and 2000-2001 seasons. Peoria had just 18 regulation losses this season, one shy of a team ECHL mark for the fewest in one year – which came last season (17, 2002-2003). Last year, the Rivermen set a team ECHL mark for wins (48) in one season.

Nearly All of Them Against The North

The Rivermen finished the 2003-2004 regular season with a 40-16-9 record against the Northern Division in 65 of 72 games. Peoria played its other seven games against Pacific Division opponents, finishing with a 5-2-0 mark (Alaska – 1-2-0, Las Vegas 2-0-0 & Idaho 2-0-0).

Away Play Affirmed

Peoria posted three straight victories to finish out its 2003-2004 road schedule, earning an ECHL-best 23-7-6 record away from Carver Arena. With 23 road wins, the Rivermen equaled a team ECHL mark for road victories set in 1999-2000 (23-11-1). Peoria's seven losses are one shy of an ECHL record for the fewest by a team in one season; the Richmond Renegades had just six in 1995-1996. The 23 Rivermen road wins are three shy of an ECHL record for road victories in one season; Louisiana had a record 26 in 2001-2002.

Hearty Home Hockey Heading Down The Stretch

The Rivermen closed the 2003-2004 regular season with nine straight wins on home ice, outscoring the opposition 51-17 over the stretch. Over its nine-game home winning streak, Peoria averaged 5.67 goals per game. The Rivermen, who finished the year 22-11-3 at home, were 13-3-0 over their final 16 contests at Carver Arena. Over each of their 22 home wins, the Rivermen are averaging 4.68 goals per game (103 goals); they have posted 20 or more wins at home in each of their eight ECHL seasons. Peoria is averaging 1.21 goals per game (17 goals) over 14 home defeats, which include three overtime losses. For the first time in their eight-year ECHL tenure, the Rivermen have lost more than nine games in regulation in one season at Carver Arena. Peoria owns a 197-57-30 lifetime ECHL record (75 percent point percentage) after eight ECHL seasons.

Not In Our End But Theirs

The Rivermen finished their 2003-2004 regular season tied for third in the ECHL with the Brabham Cup Champion San Diego Gulls in goals against average (GAA) at 2.46. Peoria's GAA represented the fifth-best GAA in League history. Atlantic City (2.21) finished first this season and Louisiana (2.32) was second. Over the last 30 games of the regular year, Peoria gave up two goals or less in 17 of those games, including five one-goal games and four shutouts. Last season, Peoria ranked first in the League, allowing 2.51 goals per game. Peoria goaltenders Mike Valley and Levente Szuper posted 2.28 (5th in the ECHL) and 2.31 (T-6th in the ECHL) GAAs, respectively. Conversely, the Rivermen averaged 3.39 goals scored per game, ranking fifth in the ECHL; last season, Peoria averaged 3.35 goals per game, ranking 12th in the ECHL.

Reeling Off The Rivermen Records... For Now

Center Tyler Rennette finished the 2003-2004 regular season ranked first on the Rivermen All-Time ECHL Goals List with 112 in 222 career games (regular season & playoffs). He is ranked third on the Rivermen All-Time ECHL Points List, collecting 208 points (regular season & playoffs) and ranked ninth on the Rivermen All-Time ECHL Assists List with 96. Captain Trevor Baker is ranked eighth on the Rivermen All-Time ECHL Goals, Assists and Points Lists – posting 70 goals, 99 assists for 169 points in 281 career games (regular season & playoffs). Third-year left wing Randy Rowe, currently on his second call-up with the American Hockey League's (AHL) St. John's Maple Leafs, is tied for fifth on the Rivermen All-Time ECHL Goals List with 73 goals, and ranked 10th on the Rivermen All-Time Points and Assists Lists with 156 points and 83 assists.

Four Years With 40 Or More

Rivermen Head Coach Jason Christie has posted 40 or more wins in each of his four seasons behind the Rivermen bench. He is one of just two head coaches in ECHL history to win 40 or more games in each of his first four seasons in the League; Louisiana's Dave Farrish is the other coach. Christie is one of three coaches in League history to win 40 or more games in each of any four consecutive seasons. Although he did not win 40 in his first season (1993-1994) as head coach, Rick Vaive went on to win 40 in each of the four subsequent campaigns (1994-1998) with the South Carolina Stingrays. Christie currently ranks third all-time in the ECHL with a .681 point percentage behind former Trenton Titans Head Coach Troy Ward (50-18-4, .722 point percentage) and former Knoxville Cherokees Head Coach Don Jackson (46-13-5, .758 point percentage).

He's A Szuper Goaltender

Goaltender Levente Szuper – a 23-year-old native of Budapest, Hungary – won 12 of his last 13 starts (which included two six-game win streaks) during the regular season with a 2.00 goals against average (GAA) and a .935 save percentage. He posted the first 20-win season of his four-year career – finishing with a 23-8-1 mark, 2.31 GAA and .915 save percentage. After opening the season with an 0-3-1 record, a 4.53 GAA and a .818 save percentage, he notched a 23-5-0 mark with a 2.03 GAA (57 GA) and a .926 save percentage (716/773).

Playing Them All

Second-year defenseman Scott Crawford was the only member of the 2003-2004 Rivermen club to play in each of the team's 72 games. The native of Etobicoke, Ontario, who turns 25 on April 21, ranked first in goals (8) and second in assists (36) and points (44) among Rivermen defensemen during the regular season. He ranked third in team plus/minus (+29) and was named the Team's Most Improved Player (as voted on by the players).

Red Hot Rennette

Fifth-year center Tyler Rennette led the Rivermen for the second straight season in goals (31), points (68) and plus/minus (+35), as well as being named Team MVP (as voted on by the players) for the second straight season. The native of North Bay, Ontario, who turns 25 on April 16, finished the season with 30 points (10g, 20a) in the final 17 games with a +24 plus/minus; he did not finish any one of those games less than Even. He and linemate Colin Hemingway were the C&T Hockey Products ECHL Plus Performers for the month of March with a +19 plus/minus.

Going His Way

Rookie Colin Hemingway, on reassignment from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats, nearly averaged a goal per game over Peoria's final 17 contests with 16 markers. He tallied 30 total points with a +23 plus/minus, registering at least a point in all but one of those games. In 36 games with the Rivermen this season, he posted 44 points (20g, 24a) and a +29 plus/minus. He was on the team in second in plus/minus and seventh in points. He was named Rivermen Rookie of the Year (as voted on by the players), ranking first among team rookies in goals, assists and points. He also shared C&T Hockey Products ECHL Plus Performer award for March 2004 with teammate Tyler Rennette; both had a +19 plus/minus.

Peoria Playoff Participants

The Rivermen did little maneuvering to get their 2004 Kelly Cup Playoff roster in order. By the 2:00 p.m. CT deadline on Monday, April 5, Peoria waived defenseman Dave Csumrik and placed rookie defenseman Dan Boeser, who recently completed his senior season at the University of Wisconsin, on the 7-day injured reserve. Left wings Scott Turner (7-day) and Ken Goetz (30-day) also remained on injured reserve. Injured players may be added to the active playoff roster only if another player is injured. Defenseman Chad Starling – currently on reassignment with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL); left wing Randy Rowe – currently on call-up with the St. John's Maple Leafs (AHL); and center Brendan Brooks – currently on reassignment with the team's AHL affiliate, the Worcester IceCats – have all been added to the active playoff roster.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Defenseman Dave Csumrik has been waived, 04/04/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Dan Boeser has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 04/04/04.

· Left wing Bobby Haglund has been waived, 04/02/04.

· Rivermen goaltender Mike Valley has returned from a call-up with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), 04/02/04.

· Defenseman Dan Boeser has been signed and added to the roster, 04/01/04.

· Rivermen left wing Scott Turner remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 03/29/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Chad Starling remains on reassignment to the Houston Aeros (AHL), 03/28/04.

· Rivermen left wing Randy Rowe remains on call-up to the St. John's Maple Leafs (AHL), 03/11/04.

· Rivermen right wing Ken Goetz remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 03/07/04.

· Rivermen center Brendan Brooks remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 01/14/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

OPPONENT: Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (47-19-6, 100 points), Second Place, Northern Division – No. 2 Seed

SCHEDULE: Game One Wednesday, April 7 6:05 p.m. CT Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)

Game Two Friday, April 9 6:05 p.m. CT Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)

Game Three Monday, April 12 7:00 p.m. CT Carver Arena (Peoria, Ill.)

Game Four Tuesday, April 13 7:00 p.m. CT Carver Arena (Peoria, Ill.) If Necessary

Game Five Thursday, April 15 6:00 p.m. CT Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, NJ) If Necessary

SEASON SERIES: Overall Home Road Lifetime in ECHL (Three Seasons)

Peoria 2-0-2 1-0-1 1-0-1 4-2-3

Atlantic City 2-1-1 1-1-0 1-0-1 4-2-2

GAMES DECIDED IN 4-ON-4 OVERTIME: Two, Peoria – 1-1, Atlantic City – 1-1

GAMES DECIDED BY SHOOTOUT: One, Peoria – 0-1, Atlantic City – 1-0

* Playoff games are decided in sudden death overtime with 20-minute periods

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics

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