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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen go .500 in three games

February 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Friday, February 11, 2005 vs. Dayton Game #42 ECHL Game #630

Rivermen 2 Dayton 3 Shootout

Despite 50 shots in regulation and sudden-death overtime and 10 rounds in a shootout, the Peoria Rivermen could not solve rookie Dayton goaltender Mike Ayers, falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Bombers in front of 4,739 on Friday night at Carver Arena.

After netting two first-period tallies, one of them on the power play, Peoria was denied on 30 shots over the final two periods and another four in overtime.

In the shootout, Ayers gave up goals to Tyler Rennette (1st), Igor Valeev (4th) and Brian McCullough (7th). Dayton defensemen Brent Ozarowski (3rd), rookie Tyler Kolarik (4th), Scott Basiuk (7th) and Tyler Scott (shootout winner, 10th round) scored for the Bombers in the victory. Ayers (9-18-1) stopped 48 of 50 Rivermen chances in regulation and overtime and eight of 10 in the shootout.

The Rivermen (21-16-5, 47 points) are now 11-6-3 at home by earning a point for the shootout defeat. Peoria dropped to 1-3 in shootouts. Dayton (15-26-3, 33 points) picked up its second win in eight chances (2-5-1), improved to 7-13-0 on the road. The Bombers are now to 4-3 in shootouts on the season.

Saturday, February 12, 2005 @ Dayton Game #43 ECHL Game #636

Rivermen 0 Dayton 3

It was certainly an unceremonious exit from the Nutter Center for the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday night. Playing its final game in Dayton in its history, Peoria was shut out 3-0 by the Bombers.

Adding to the unpleasant finale, the game got progressively more and more physical as the third period wore on, culminating in a line brawl, all 12 players on the ice dropping the gloves and tying up, with a little less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

Rookie Kris Kasper fought Alex Johnstone at 11:30 of the third in the Dayton zone with Kasper holding his own against the veteran Johnstone. Just 45 seconds later, with frustration boiling over, Peoria sniper Tyler Rennette got into a rare fight with Dayton rookie All-Star Tyler Kolarik at center ice. The scuffle didn't last long as both teams came to separate the offensive weapons.

Then with 1:55 left in regulation, Peoria tough man David Kaczowka started pounding away on Dayton defenseman Tyler Scott, who had just four penalty minutes coming into the game, right after the puck dropped on a face-off in the Dayton zone. Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud skated the length of the ice to keep Dayton goaltender Simon Lajeunesse, who had punched Kaczowka, in check.

In the end, all 12 players on the ice were assessed five-minute fighting majors and game misconducts with Kaczowka receiving an instigating minor. For the melee, the teams racked up 182 penalty minutes (PIM, Peoria – 92, Dayton – 90), and for the game, they combined for 244 PIM (Peoria – 23/123, Dayton – 22/121).

The Rivermen (21-17-5, 47 points) fell back to a game under .500 on the road in 23 opportunities (10-11-2) and dropped to 3-3-2 against the Bombers this year with a game (season finale in Peoria on April 9) remaining in the season set. Dayton (16-26-3, 35 points) has won two straight and improved to 9-13-3 at home.

Sunday, February 13, 2005 vs. Johnstown Game #44 ECHL Game #649

Rivermen 7 Johnstown 1

The Peoria Rivermen rebounded from a mild two-game winless skid (0-1-1) with a resounding 7-1 walloping of the rival Johnstown Chiefs before 4,122 on Sunday afternoon at Carver Arena.

Coming into the game, the Rivermen managed just one point against the last-place team in the North Division, the Dayton Bombers, the previous two nights.

Peoria killed two Johnstown power plays in the third period and seven total for the second straight game. The Rivermen have killed off 58 opposition power plays in a row for a continuing 23-year Peoria professional record.

The Rivermen (22-17-5, 49 points) are 8-1-1 in their last 10 home games, improving to 12-6-3 at Carver Arena in the first of a 23-year franchise record 11 straight at home. Peoria picked up its second win in four chances (2-2-0) against the Chiefs this season. The Rivermen, who are just six points out of the fourth and final playoff spot and nine out of first place, netted seven goals in a game for the first time this season. Johnstown (15-18-11, 41 points) has lost four in a row and is winless in its last six games (0-5-1). The Chiefs are 2-10-2 in their last 14 contests.

The Captain's Log

After Christmas Comeback

The Peoria Rivermen (22-17-5, 49 points) have launched themselves back into the North-Division playoff race by ripping off a scintillating 15-5-2 record in the 22 games following the Christmas Holiday. Peoria is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games. The Rivermen are nine points out of first place in the North Division and six points out of the fourth and final playoff spot, which is currently occupied by the Reading Royals (26-14-3) and the Trenton Titans (24-13-7).

Poised Penalty Killing

The Rivermen have denied 58 straight opposition power play opportunities, a new and continuing 23-year Peoria professional hockey record. Peoria killed off three power plays last Friday in a 3-2 home shootout loss to the Dayton Bombers, then squashed seven chances on the road in a 3-0 shutout loss to Dayton and another seven at home on Sunday against the rival Johnstown Chiefs in a 7-1 victory. The previous record was set by the 1991-1992 International Hockey League (IHL) Rivermen, who – on the strength of efforts by forwards Ricky Pion and Mark Bassen – killed off 39 opposition power plays early in that season. The ECHL record was set in 2000-2001 by the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 66 in a row. The Rivermen are ranked second in the ECHL in penalty killing with an 88.5 percent efficiency rating.

Hopefully It's Heaven At Home For Eleven

The Rivermen, after playing five of their last six on the road with a 5-1-0 record, are now in the midst of 11 in a row at Carver Arena, a 23-year Peoria professional hockey record. The span stretches from this past Sunday (7-1 W vs. Johnstown) to Wednesday, March 8. Peoria has won eight of its last 10 home games (8-1-1) at Carver Arena, which includes a season-best seven straight that ended with a 5-3 loss to the Toledo Storm on January 29. The Rivermen are 12-6-3 at home this season. Peoria owns a 209-63-33 lifetime regular season ECHL record (74.0 percent point percentage) at Carver Arena.

Masterful Michaud

With three shutouts and three one-goal games in his last 12 appearances, netminder Alfie Michaud has compiled a 9-1-1 record over the stretch with a 1.27 goals against average (GAA) and a .955 save percentage. The 2002-2003 ECHL Goaltender of the Year has a 15-8-2 record this season with a 1.98 GAA (2nd in the ECHL) and a .933 save percentage (5th in the ECHL).

Penalty-Minute Mayhem

With Saturday night's mammoth amount of penalty minutes (PIM – 123) in Dayton, the Rivermen upped their PIM average to 25.6 per game, which is good for second in the ECHL behind the expansion Victoria Salmon Kings (26.9 PIM per game). Peoria has the ECHL lead in majors with 66, five ahead of the Fresno Falcons.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka has been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/14/05.

· Rivermen rookie goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/12/05.

· Rivermen Captain and center Trevor Baker has been placed on the 7-day injured reserve, 02/11/05.

· Rivermen left wing Justin Maiser has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve, 02/11/05.

· Left wing Igor Valeev and defenseman Trevor Byrne have been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 02/10/05.

· Rivermen left wing Jake Riddle remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 01/31/05.

· Rivermen defenseman James Sanford remains on reassignment to the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), 01/03/05.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant remains on reassignment from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/26/04.

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

· 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 at Carver Arena at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 15 through Saturday, February 18. Practice times are subject to change.

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, February 15, the Rivermen host the rival Johnstown Chiefs for the second game in a row and in the second of four meetings at Carver Arena this year. After dispensing of the Chiefs this past Sunday by a 7-1 score, Peoria improved to 2-2-0 on the season series. The Rivermen have a 35-17-6 lifetime ECHL regular season record against the Chiefs. Johnstown (15-18-11, 41 points) sits in seventh place in the eight-team North Division, eight points behind Peoria. The Chiefs, who own a 2-10-2 record in their last 14 games, are led by center Shawn Mather, who has 36 points (17g, 19a) in 41 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 Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

GAMES:

· On Friday, February 18, Peoria hosts NHLer Scott Gomez and the Alaska Aces in the first of three in a row between the clubs. Last season, the Rivermen went 1-2-0 in three games at Sullivan Arena in the first-ever road meeting for an ECHL team in Anchorage. Alaska (29-15-4, 62 points) is entrenched in third place in the tightly-packed West Division. The Aces are led by Scott Gomez, who has 56 points (7g, 49a) in 42 games. The former Calder Trophy (NHL Rookie of the Year) winner leads the ECHL with 49 assists and is tied for second in scoring with Greenville's Carl Mallette. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 7:15 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, February 19, the Rivermen and the Aces face off again in the second of three in a row between the teams at Carver Arena. It is Ameren Team Poster Night. The first 5,000 fans will receive a team poster, courtesy of Ameren. There will also be the Ameren DollarMore Charity Shootout during the first intermission. 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.

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