ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Send Four to Training Camp with the Worcester IceCats

Published on October 1, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria, Ill. (October 1, 2004) – Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie of the Peoria Rivermen of the ECHL announced today that enforcer David Kaczowka, center Jason Notermann, rookie forward Travis Rycroft and rookie center Jon Howse will be attending training camp with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats – beginning Saturday, October 2.

The IceCats held the first five days of their training camp Monday, September 27 – Friday, October 1 at St. Louis Mills, practice home of their NHL parent club – the St. Louis Blues, in Hazelwood, MO.

The four Rivermen players will look to see action in one of five Worcester preseason games that begin on Saturday, October 2 against the Lowell Lock Monsters at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass. The teams will do battle on Sunday, October 3 in Billerica, Mass., at 4:00 p.m.

After a Wednesday, October 6 game in Cromwell, Conn. against the Hartford Wolf Pack, Worcester will welcome the Albany River Rats on Friday, October 8 to the Hart Center on the campus of Holy Cross at 7:00 p.m. The IceCats wrap up the preseason with a trip to Bethlehem, NY, for a 7:00 p.m. affair against the same River Rats.

Kaczowka – a 6-foot-2, 235-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan, who re-signed with the Rivermen on September 24 – tallied nine points (4g, 5a), 10 major penalties and 72 total penalty minutes (PIM) in just 15 games with the Rivermen in 2003-2004 after his reassignment by the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers from the Gwinnett Gladiators on March 1. The 23-year-old forward – who will be entering his fourth professional season and first full campaign with the Rivermen – set career marks for goals (5), assists (T-7) and points (12) last season, while notching 18 total major penalties and ranking second on the Rivermen with 190 PIM. He has averaged nearly five (5) PIM per game (4.75) over 129 career professional games.

Howse – a 6-foot-2, 185-pound center from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, who agreed to terms with the Rivermen on September 24 – ranked second on the Peterborough Petes of the Major Junior "A" Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with 140 PIM last season, while collecting 35 points (10g, 25a) in 67 games. Over five seasons in Peterborough, the 21-year-old posted 139 points (55g, 84a) in 308 games. He captained the team his final two seasons.

Notermann – a 5-foot-10, 180-pound native of Rochester, Minnesota, who signed with the Rivermen on July 27 – posted 54 points (25g 29a) and 73 penalty minutes (PIM) in 68 games with the Johnstown Chiefs during his rookie campaign last season, ranking third on the team in goals (tied) and points. The 25-year-old – who represented Johnstown in the 2004 Par-A-Dice ECHL All-Star Game in Peoria, Ill. on January 21 and scored a goal in a 7-6 Eastern Conference victory – ranked 11th among ECHL rookies in points during 2003-2004. He also enjoyed a one-game call-up to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Binghamton Senators on January 21, 2004.

Rycroft – a 6-foot, 195-pound native of Penticton, British Columbia, who agreed to terms with the Rivermen on July 27 – registered 19 points (7g, 12a) in 90 collegiate career games over four seasons (2000-2004) at NCAA Division I Wayne State University of College Hockey America (CHA). As a senior last year, the 23-year-old recorded single-season collegiate career bests in games played (T-33), goals (5), assists (6), points (11) and PIM (61). Rycroft's brother, Mark, played at NCAA Division I University of Denver (1997-2000) before signing with the NHL's St. Louis Blues, for whom he tallied 21 points (9g, 12a) and collected 32 PIM in 71 games in 2003-2004.

The Peoria Rivermen are a proud affiliate of the NHL's St. Louis Blues and a member of the ECHL – America's Premier "AA" Hockey League. The Rivermen open their ninth season in the 28-team league on Friday, October 22, 2004, when they host the archrival Dayton Bombers at Carver Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Season ticket packages for 2004-2005 are available by calling the Rivermen at 309.676.1040.

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