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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Edged by Dayton 3-2 at Home; Six-Game Winning Streak Snapped

January 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (January, 15, 2004) – Three leads were too many to surmount, as the shorthanded Peoria Rivermen were edged by the archrival Dayton Bombers 3-2 before a crowd of 3,651 on Thursday night. The loss snapped Peoria's season-best, six-game winning streak.

Peoria skated with 14 healthy players, 13 of which played. Former Rivermen Darwin McPherson, who was 10 years into retirement, signed with the team to put an extra body on the bench but did not play.

The Bombers took their third lead of the night with just less than six minutes remaining in regulation. Chad Theuer won a face-off in the left circle back to Brian Ridolfi, who – stationed along the left wing boards – darted out from behind Theuer and rifled a slap shot by Rivermen goaltender Levente Szuper.

Ridolfi, who spent the majority of his first five professional seasons with Dayton, just re-signed with the club after Columbus of the United Hockey League (UHL) folded.

The Rivermen had tied it 2-2 at 4:30 of the third period. Adam Edinger took a pass from Joe Vandermeer at the bottom of the left face-off circle and slipped the puck past an out-of-position Dayton goaltender Bujar Amidovski for his 10th tally of the season.

Peoria (21-9-7, 49 points) had its four-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak (3-0-1) at home snapped in the defeat as well. The Rivermen, who dropped to 3-1-1 against the Bombers this season, are averaging one goal per game in their nine home losses, which includes three overtime defeats. Dayton (14-20-3, 31 points) has won two in a row and improved to 6-11-2 on the road.

Szuper stopped 29 of 32 shots in his first loss since November 8, snapping a seven-game winning streak; he is 7-4-1 on the season. Amidovski turned away 43 of 45 chances in his seventh victory of the season (7-10-3).

The Bombers took a 1-0 lead at 5:31 of the first period. Center Janne Jokila carried the puck in behind the Peoria net from the left wing and sent it out to defenseman Jake Wiegand at the left point. Wiegand pushed the puck into the high slot and whistled a slap shot, which deflected off defenseman George Halkidis, past Szuper. It was Wiegand's third goal of the year.

Newcomer Ken Goetz, acquired from the Florence Pride for cash considerations on Tuesday, tussled with former NHL tough man Dody Wood at 11:29 of the first, earning a split decision in a back-and-forth tussle. Wood was signed by the Bombers earlier this week; he opened the season with the Memphis RiverKings of the Central Hockey League (CHL).

Peoria tied it 1-1 at 6:58 of the second period. Bret DeCecco intercepted a Dayton clearing attempt along the right wing boards at the face-off circle and quickly wristed a low shot toward the Dayton goal that an unassuming Amidovski let slip through his legs. It was the sixth tally of the season for DeCecco.

Dayton grabbed the lead back late in the second period. Michael Chin, after taking a pass from Sean Connolly at center ice, maneuvered the puck into the Peoria zone on right wing. Chin brought the puck in behind the goal and sent it to the high slot for Fraser Clair, who – with Marty Johnston tying him up – was still able to fire a low shot past a helpless Szuper.

Tomorrow night – Friday, January 16 – the Rivermen host the rival Johnstown Chiefs in the first of two in a row between the clubs. Game time is 7:05 p.m. It is a Coca-Cola Finally Friday. Fans will receive a 2-for-1 Upper Bowl admission by presenting a Cherry Coke or Vanilla Coke can at the Carver Arena Box Office.




ECHL Stories from January 15, 2004


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