ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen drop fourth in a row for third time this season

December 27, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Sunday, December 26, 2004 @ Dayton Game #23 ECHL Game #346

Rivermen 1 Dayton 2

A week off for the Peoria Rivermen didn't seem to recharge their batteries, as they were nipped 2-1 on the road on Sunday afternoon by the Dayton Bombers before a crowd 2,164 at the Nutter Center.

Peoria played last Sunday in Wheeling before its Christmas break, losing 3-2. The Rivermen equaled a season worst with their fourth straight loss in regulation.

Peoria (7-13-3, 17 points) fell to 3-8-1 on the road this season, after losing just seven games in regulation all of last season away from home with a 23-7-6 mark. Peoria dropped to 3-2-1 against the Bombers, remaining four points back of them in the North Division standings with three games in hand. Dayton (10-15-1, 21 points) improved to 7-6-1 on home ice and snapped a six-game winless streak (0-5-1) with the victory.

The Captain's Log

Four-Game Fun...? Not Really

The Rivermen (7-13-3, 17 points), after posting a 4-0-1 mark to open the month of December, have lost four in a row in regulation (a season worst) for the third time in the last month and a half. With a seven-day break for Christmas, the Rivermen were unable to muster any offensive attack this past Sunday, losing 2-1 on the road to the Dayton Bombers. The loss dropped Peoria to 3-2-1 against Dayton this season. The Rivermen lost 2-1 at home to the archrival Toledo Storm on Friday, December 17 to start the streak. Peoria was then shut out 2-0 on the road by the Wheeling Nailers on Saturday, December 18 in the first of two in a row between the clubs. The Rivermen lost 3-2 in regulation to the Nailers the next day.

North Navigation On Hold... For Now, West Is The Test

The Rivermen played their first 23 games of the season against teams in their own North Division with 60 of their 72 total games coming against the North. Peoria (7-13-3, 17 points) hosts the West Division's Fresno Falcons in two straight contests in Peoria on Tuesday, December 28 and Wednesday, December 29. The two-game home set kicks off eight in a row against West Division opponents, against whom Peoria plays 12 games this season. Last year, the Rivermen posted a 5-2-0 record against West Division clubs. They notched a 1-2-0 record against the Alaska Aces, a 2-0-0 mark against the Las Vegas Wranglers and a 2-0-0 record against the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads, whom the Rivermen square off against on the road on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day this Friday & Saturday. The games are the first of six in a row on the road against the West Division. Peoria travels to Fresno, Ca. on Tuesday, January 4 and then moves on to San Diego on Wednesday, January 5. The Rivermen finish up their four-city, six-game road trip in Las Vegas on Friday, January 7 and Saturday, January 8. Including its game this past Sunday in Dayton (2-1 L), the Rivermen will play nine games in 14 days.

Guh, Guh... Goals!!! Where Are They?!!!

Over all four losses in this current skid, the Rivermen are averaging just one tally per game. They were held to one goal in a 2-1 home loss against archrival Toledo Storm on Friday, December 17, before getting shut out 2-0 the following night on the road against the Wheeling Nailers. On Sunday, December 19, the Rivermen tallied two early in the third period before losing 3-2 on the road to the Nailers. The Rivermen were then edged this past Sunday in Dayton by a 2-1 score. Peoria ranks 27th out of 28 ECHL teams in goal scoring, averaging 2.26 tallies per game. The Rivermen have been held to a goal or less in 10 of their 23 contests this year.

Kaczowka & Kasper Keep Collecting

Fourth-year left wing David Kaczowka has registered penalty minutes (PIM), 40 total, in all seven games with the Rivermen this season. While on call-up with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats – before getting injured, he collected 12 PIM over two contests in early November. Rookie left wing Kris Kasper has a team, season-high, eight-game PIM streak underway with 75 PIM. Kasper leads the team with 79 total PIM.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen right wing Travis Rycroft has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 12/26/04.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/26/04.

· Rivermen Captain and center Trevor Baker remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 12/16/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Chad Starling remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 12/16/04.

· Rivermen left wing Scott Turner remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 12/03/04.

· Rivermen rookie center Troy Riddle remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/01/04.

· Rivermen forward Colin Hemingway remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 11/25/04.

· Forward Colin Hemingway remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL), 11/03/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

PRACTICES:

· The Rivermen will practice on Tuesday, December 28 and Wednesday, December 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Carver Arena.

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, December 28, the Rivermen host the Fresno Falcons in the first of two in a row between the clubs and the first of three regular season meetings this year. The matchups will be the first-ever between the franchises. Fresno (12-11-2, 26 points) is tied for sixth place in the tightly-packed, eight-team West Division with the Las Vegas Wranglers (11-11-4, 26 points), two points back of the Alaska Aces (13-11-2, 28 points). The Falcons are led by center Dan Tessier, who has 26 points (10g, 16a) in 25 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from the Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Wednesday, December 29, Peoria and Fresno battle again in the second of two in a row between the teams and the second of three matchups this season. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:45 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

GAMES:

· On Friday, December 31 (New Year's Eve), the Rivermen travel to Boise, Idaho to battle the defending Kelly Cup Champion Steelheads in the first of two in a row between the clubs. Peoria has a 2-0-0 record against Idaho after beating it at home 3-1 on February 13 and 5-2 on February 14 last season. Idaho (14-9-1, 29 points) is tied with the Long Beach Ice Dogs (13-8-3) for third place in the tightly-packed, eight-team West Division, one point behind the San Diego Gulls (14-8-2) and one point in front of the Alaska Aces (13-11-2). The Steelheads are led by right wing David Morisset, who has 17 points (7g, 10a) in 24 games. The game broadcast can be heard JOIN-IN-PROGRESS (at approximately 8:45) on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and LIVE online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:50 p.m. from the Bank of America Centre. Game time is 8:10 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, January 1, 2005 (New Year's Day), Peoria and Idaho face off again in the second of two in a row between the clubs. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:50 p.m. from the Bank of America Centre. Game time is 8:10 p.m. CT.

Check out the Peoria Rivermen Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 27, 2004


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