Rivermen Game Notes at Evansville December 16, 2016
December 16, 2016 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
THE KLECHINATOR STRIKES AGAIN
Last Friday's Peoria loss to Knoxville included another goal from the Rivermen's points and goals leader, right winger Dakota Klecha. The second-year pro has posted eight goals and assisted on eight others for the Rivermen this season, skating in all 17 Rivermen games thus far. The 24-year-old Taylor, MI native also enters tonight's game with a three-game point streak, including goals in his last two contests after he logged a pair of assists December 2 at Columbus.
A STREAKING CODY DION
Rivermen winger Cody Dion enters tonight's game after recording an assist on Peoria's lone goal last Friday against Knoxville, giving Dion a point or more in each of his last five games and each of his last six home games. After joining the Rivermen late last season, Dion posted seven goals and five assists in 16 games, adding a goal and two helpers in seven postseason contests. This year, in 16 contests, Dion has logged six goals and assisted on four others, adding 25 penalty minutes and a +4 rating on the season.
TENACIOUS D
The Rivermen enter play tonight leading the league in fewest shots on goal allowed at just 27.88 per game. Since falling 6-1 and 5-1, respectively, on opening weekend, the Rivermen have out-scored opponents by a combined 50-38, surrendering just 2.53 goals per game, which would be good for second-best in the SPHL. When out-shooting opponents this season, the Rivermen are 6-2-4.
WHAT'S AHEAD
After tonight's battle against the Thunderbolts, the Rivermen will return home to complete the home-and-home set with Evansville, hosting the Bolts tomorrow night at Carver Arena. After that, Peoria will make another trip to Southern Indiana next Friday for a game at the Ford Center, after which Peoria will return home for a pair of games December 30 and 31 against the Mississippi RiverKings. Peoria will then travel to Southaven, MS for a pair with the RiverKings January 6 & 7 at Landers Center.
00THE KLECHINATOR STRIKES AGAIN
Last Friday's Peoria loss to Knoxville included another goal from the Rivermen's points and goals leader, right winger Dakota Klecha. The second-year pro has posted eight goals and assisted on eight others for the Rivermen this season, skating in all 17 Rivermen games thus far. The 24-year-old Taylor, MI native also enters tonight's game with a three-game point streak, including goals in his last two contests after he logged a pair of assists December 2 at Columbus.
A STREAKING CODY DION
Rivermen winger Cody Dion enters tonight's game after recording an assist on Peoria's lone goal last Friday against Knoxville, giving Dion a point or more in each of his last five games and each of his last six home games. After joining the Rivermen late last season, Dion posted seven goals and five assists in 16 games, adding a goal and two helpers in seven postseason contests. This year, in 16 contests, Dion has logged six goals and assisted on four others, adding 25 penalty minutes and a +4 rating on the season.
TENACIOUS D
The Rivermen enter play tonight leading the league in fewest shots on goal allowed at just 27.88 per game. Since falling 6-1 and 5-1, respectively, on opening weekend, the Rivermen have out-scored opponents by a combined 50-38, surrendering just 2.53 goals per game, which would be good for second-best in the SPHL. When out-shooting opponents this season, the Rivermen are 6-2-4.
WHAT'S AHEAD
After tonight's battle against the Thunderbolts, the Rivermen will return home to complete the home-and-home set with Evansville, hosting the Bolts tomorrow night at Carver Arena. After that, Peoria will make another trip to Southern Indiana next Friday for a game at the Ford Center, after which Peoria will return home for a pair of games December 30 and 31 against the Mississippi RiverKings. Peoria will then travel to Southaven, MS for a pair with the RiverKings January 6 & 7 at Landers Center.
2162175146050WELL, THAT WAS A FIRST
The Rivermen enter tonight's game after losing in regulation for the first time in nearly a month, 2-1 to the Knoxville Ice Bears last Friday at Carver Arena. The defeat is Peoria's first regulation loss since a November 12 loss to Huntsville, and marks the first time Knoxville has ever beaten the Rivermen in 12 all-time games at Carver Arena.
THE SERIES
Tonight marks the fourth meeting of the season and all-time between Peoria and Evansville. The Rivermen took a morning game at the Ford Center November 2 by a 5-1 score before beating the Thunderbolts 8-2 in Peoria on November 25. Evansville bounced back to win 2-1 in a sudden-death shootout the following night. After tonight, Peoria and Evansville will rematch tomorrow at Carver Arena, and play again December 23 at the Ford Center. After that, the teams will next meetin January 15 in Peoria, January 22, 28, and February 21 in Evansville before concluding their 12-game season series February 24 & 25 in Peoria.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERBOLTS
Evansville comes into play tonight riding a five-game winning streak after going 2-10-3 in the franchise's first 15 games. The Bolts are paced in scoring by former Rivermen center Josh Harris with 12 points, including a team-best eight assists. Winger Justin MacDonald had also logged 12 points for the Bolts before he was loaned to ECHL Indy yesterday. Evansville's leading goal-scorer, winger Dave Williams, has notched six markers on the season. In net, the Thunderbolts are led by rookie Tanner Milliron, who has posted an impressive 2.36 GAA and a .922 saves rate, adding a pair of shutouts as well.
A FAMILIAR FOE
The Thunderbolts come into play today with a number of former Rivermen on their roster, including center Harris and Garrett Vermeersch, who were teammates with Peoria during the 2014-15 season, and defenseman Mike Donnellan, Evansville's captain, who has skated in 10 games this season, logging a goal and an assist after he posted a goal and 10 helpers in 27 games for the Rivermen last season. On the other side, Rivermen goaltender Tyler Parks began this season with Evansville, going 0-3-1 in four games before joining Peoria, where he has gone 2-1-2 with a .921 save percentage between the pipes.
00WELL, THAT WAS A FIRST
The Rivermen enter tonight's game after losing in regulation for the first time in nearly a month, 2-1 to the Knoxville Ice Bears last Friday at Carver Arena. The defeat is Peoria's first regulation loss since a November 12 loss to Huntsville, and marks the first time Knoxville has ever beaten the Rivermen in 12 all-time games at Carver Arena.
THE SERIES
Tonight marks the fourth meeting of the season and all-time between Peoria and Evansville. The Rivermen took a morning game at the Ford Center November 2 by a 5-1 score before beating the Thunderbolts 8-2 in Peoria on November 25. Evansville bounced back to win 2-1 in a sudden-death shootout the following night. After tonight, Peoria and Evansville will rematch tomorrow at Carver Arena, and play again December 23 at the Ford Center. After that, the teams will next meetin January 15 in Peoria, January 22, 28, and February 21 in Evansville before concluding their 12-game season series February 24 & 25 in Peoria.
SCOUTING THE THUNDERBOLTS
Evansville comes into play tonight riding a five-game winning streak after going 2-10-3 in the franchise's first 15 games. The Bolts are paced in scoring by former Rivermen center Josh Harris with 12 points, including a team-best eight assists. Winger Justin MacDonald had also logged 12 points for the Bolts before he was loaned to ECHL Indy yesterday. Evansville's leading goal-scorer, winger Dave Williams, has notched six markers on the season. In net, the Thunderbolts are led by rookie Tanner Milliron, who has posted an impressive 2.36 GAA and a .922 saves rate, adding a pair of shutouts as well.
A FAMILIAR FOE
The Thunderbolts come into play today with a number of former Rivermen on their roster, including center Harris and Garrett Vermeersch, who were teammates with Peoria during the 2014-15 season, and defenseman Mike Donnellan, Evansville's captain, who has skated in 10 games this season, logging a goal and an assist after he posted a goal and 10 helpers in 27 games for the Rivermen last season. On the other side, Rivermen goaltender Tyler Parks began this season with Evansville, going 0-3-1 in four games before joining Peoria, where he has gone 2-1-2 with a .921 save percentage between the pipes.
Season Series vs Evansville (2-0-1)
Date
Result
Venue
11/2
W (5-1)
Evansville
11/25
W (8-2)
Peoria
11/26
SOL (2-1)
Peoria
12/16
Evansville
12/17
Peoria
12/23
Evansville
1/15
Peoria
1/22
Evansville
1/28
Evansville
2/21
Evansville
2/24
Peoria
2/25
Peoria
Rivermen vs. Evansville 2016-17
Scoring Leaders
GP
G
A
Pts
Dan Bremner
3
3
1
4
Nick D'Avolio
3
2
1
3
Cody Dion
3
2
1
3
Dakota Klecha
3
1
2
3
Adam Stuart
2
0
3
3
Ryan Keller
1
1
1
2
Alec Hagaman
2
1
1
2
Goalie Leaders
GP
Avg
Sv%
Rec
Tyler Green
2
1.50
.933
2-0-0
Tyler Parks
1
0.92
.966
0-0-1
00Season Series vs Evansville (2-0-1)
Date
Result
Venue
11/2
W (5-1)
Evansville
11/25
W (8-2)
Peoria
11/26
SOL (2-1)
Peoria
12/16
Evansville
12/17
Peoria
12/23
Evansville
1/15
Peoria
1/22
Evansville
1/28
Evansville
2/21
Evansville
2/24
Peoria
2/25
Peoria
Rivermen vs. Evansville 2016-17
Scoring Leaders
GP
G
A
Pts
Dan Bremner
3
3
1
4
Nick D'Avolio
3
2
1
3
Cody Dion
3
2
1
3
Dakota Klecha
3
1
2
3
Adam Stuart
2
0
3
3
Ryan Keller
1
1
1
2
Alec Hagaman
2
1
1
2
Goalie Leaders
GP
Avg
Sv%
Rec
Tyler Green
2
1.50
.933
2-0-0
Tyler Parks
1
0.92
.966
0-0-1
34385256349365Last 5 Rivermen Games
(2-1-2)
Upcoming Rivermen Games
12/9
vs. Knoxville
L (2-1)
12/17
vs. Evansville
7:05 PM
12/3
at Columbus
OTL (2-1)
12/23
at Evansville
7:15 PM
12/2
at Columbus
W (4-2)
12/30
vs. Mississippi
7:05 PM
12/1
at Huntsville
OTL (3-2)
12/31
vs. Mississippi
7:05 PM
11/26
vs. Evansvile
SOL (2-1)
1/6
at Mississippi
7:30 PM
00Last 5 Rivermen Games
(2-1-2)
Upcoming Rivermen Games
12/9
vs. Knoxville
L (2-1)
12/17
vs. Evansville
7:05 PM
12/3
at Columbus
OTL (2-1)
12/23
at Evansville
7:15 PM
12/2
at Columbus
W (4-2)
12/30
vs. Mississippi
7:05 PM
12/1
at Huntsville
OTL (3-2)
12/31
vs. Mississippi
7:05 PM
11/26
vs. Evansvile
SOL (2-1)
1/6
at Mississippi
7:30 PM
-2476506349365Recent Transactions
Peoria
Evansville
12/16
Activated RW Jeff Jones from 14-day Injured Reserve
12/15
Acquired D Brandon Lubin in trade with Pensacola
12/12
Loaned C Terrence Wallin to ECHL Rapid City
12/15
Loaned LW Justin MacDonald to ECHL Indy
12/6
Returned LW Ryan Keller from loan to ECHL Indy
12/9
Signed RW Al Graves to 3-game tryout contract
00Recent Transactions
Peoria
Evansville
12/16
Activated RW Jeff Jones from 14-day Injured Reserve
12/15
Acquired D Brandon Lubin in trade with Pensacola
12/12
Loaned C Terrence Wallin to ECHL Rapid City
12/15
Loaned LW Justin MacDonald to ECHL Indy
12/6
Returned LW Ryan Keller from loan to ECHL Indy
12/9
Signed RW Al Graves to 3-game tryout contract
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