Rivermen Fight Their Way Past Dayton 3-1, Literally
Published on January 23, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Fairborn, Oh. (January 23, 2004) â The Peoria Rivermen brawled and battled their way past the archrival Dayton Bombers 3-1 on Friday night in front of a Dayton record crowd of 10,057 at the Nutter Center.
Peoria took its second lead of the game just 27 seconds into the third period. Randy Rowe powered the puck toward the right goal post from the face-off circle. As Rowe closed in on the net, Rivermen Captain Trevor Baker and Tyler Rennette, along with two Dayton defensemen, converged on the goal. As the puck pinball-ed around in front of the goal, Rennette was able to slide it past Dayton goaltender Bujar Amidovski for the first of two tallies on the night and his 16th of the season. It proved to be the game winner.
At melee ensued in front of the Rivermen bench at 7:56 of the third. Initially, former NHL tough man Dody Wood tried to fight Baker but then was grabbed by several Rivermen on the bench after apparently sucker punching Rennette . A linesman was knocked down during the altercation, and Peoria equipment manager Matt Briggle was nearly hit.
All told, 78 penalty minutes (PIM) were handed out by referee Joe Ernst. Wood was assessed 26 PIM â a cross checking minor, a double roughing minor and a double game misconduct. Greg Black, reassigned from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) â the Worcester IceCats yesterday along with Colin Hemingway, was handed a minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct; Black and Hemingway, just coming off the injured reserve, had not played since December 10 and December 12, respectively.
Rivermen newcomer Kenny Goetz, who got into a fight in each of the first two periods, racked up a 10-minute misconduct during the rumble. Goetz has 16 fighting majors in 30 games, including five in four games with Peoria.
Baker and Olivier Proulx, who ended up fighting, each registered five-minute fighting majors and game misconducts for the third-man altercation.
Rennette sealed the victory with 46 seconds left. He stole the puck at the center point in the Dayton zone and fired his 17th marker of the season into an empty Dayton net.
Peoria (23-10-7, 53 points) pushed its season-best road winning streak to six games and improved to 14-3-4 away from home â the best road record in the ECHL. The Rivermen are 4-1-1 against the archrival Bombers this season. Dayton (14-23-3, 31 points) dropped its third straight game and fell to 8-10-1 on home ice.
Peoria goaltender Levente Szuper made his second consecutive start, turning away 24 of 25 Dayton chances â several at point-blank range â for his ninth victory of the season (9-4-1). Amidovski stopped 16 of 18 in his 12th regulation loss of the season (7-12-1).
The game was delayed for more than 40 minutes because of the large crowd, which came to see NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and then after three seconds had elapsed in the game, two fights broke out.
Goetz dropped the gloves with Wood, and Peoria defenseman Doug MacIver scrapped with Riley Cote. Both tussles looked to be split decisions.
Then, after the penalties were handed out, Rivermen rookie Malcolm MacMillan get together with Bombers All-Star Nate Kiser at :06. It was another draw.
Peoria took a 1-0 at 8:29 of the first period. Goetz, at the left point, fired a low shot that Bret DeCecco â stationed at the top of the Dayton goal crease â deflected past Amidovski.
The Bombers tied it 1-1 with 31 seconds left in the opening session. Jamie O'Leary â stationed behind the Rivermen goal â found Janne Jokila just off the left post. Jokila waited for Szuper to go down and flipped the puck up into the net.
Goetz did the fisticuff dance for the second time in the game at 7:28 of the second period, battling Cote.
The Rivermen were outshot 11-2 in the second. It was the first time the Rivermen were held to two shots or less in a period this season.
Tomorrow night â January 24, 2004 â the Rivermen battle the archrival Bombers for the second night in a row. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT at the Nutter Center.
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