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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen split weekend with Atlantic City

November 8, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Friday, November 5, 2004 vs. Atlantic City Game #4 ECHL Game #76

Rivermen 2 Atlantic City 5

The Peoria Rivermen struggled offensively for the third straight game, mustering just two goals in a 5-2 home loss to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in the first of two in a row between the clubs before a crowd of 4,808 on Friday night at Carver Arena.

The Boardwalk Bullies took their second three-goal lead of the game four minutes into the final session. Luke Curtin broke in toward the Peoria goal from the left wing boards, took a pass and snapped his third goal of the season past Rivermen goaltender Alfie Michaud with a maze of players in front of the net.

Jason Notermann set up the goal for his third point (2g, 1a) of the night. The former Rivermen player, who was traded to Atlantic City just a day before Peoria's home opener in exchange for defenseman James Sanford from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL), was named No. 1 star.

Peoria got back within two at 15:21 of the third, as Trevor Johnson took a Brian McCullough pass at the right point after a won face-off and ripped the puck through Atlantic City goaltender Adam Munro.

Atlantic City's Derek Edwardson completed the scoring just 1:07 later by picking off a clearing attempt at the top of the right face-off circle and wristing it over the right shoulder of Michaud for his second tally of the season.

Peoria (1-1-2) dropped its first game of the year in regulation at home. Atlantic City (3-2-1) improved to 2-1-1 on the road.

Saturday, November 6, 2004 vs. Atlantic City Game #5 ECHL Game #87

Rivermen 6 Atlantic City 3

In just his second game on reassignment from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats, Colin Hemingway registered a hat trick and added an assist to lead the Peoria Rivermen to a 6-3 win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in front of 4,583 on Saturday night at Carver Arena.

Hemingway, who had 44 points (20g, 24a) in 36 games on reassignment with the Rivermen last season, pushed Peoria's lead to 5-3 just less than two minutes after left wing Brian McCullough scored the eventual game winner at 7:14 of the middle session. McCullough fed Hemingway at the top of the right face-off circle for a one-time shot through the legs of Atlantic City goaltender Jake Moreland at 9:12.

McCullough (1gwg, 1a), rookie center Troy Riddle (1g, 1a), left wing Igor Valeev (2a) and left wing Randy Rowe (1g, 1a) all had two points in the game.

Rowe potted his first of the season, an empty-net goal, at 19:23 of the final period to finish the scoring.

Peoria (2-1-2, 6 points) improved to 2-1-1 on home ice and 1-1-0 against the Boardwalk Bullies after last night's 5-2 loss to them. It was just the second and third times all season the Rivermen had a lead in a game. Atlantic City (3-3-1, 7 points) fell to back to .500 overall and on the road this season.

The Captain's Log

Getting Out Of Our Goal Funk

After being held to just four goals over three games, the Rivermen broke out offensively last Saturday night in a 6-3 win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies as they did on opening night against the Dayton Bombers in a 5-2 win. Peoria tallied three goals in the first period last Saturday en route to victory and are now tied for 10th in the 28-team League with a 3.00 goals per game average. The entire North Division is averaging 2.55 goals per game after three weeks of the 2004-2005 season.

Directly Into Division Play

The Rivermen play their first 23 games of the season against teams in their own North Division with 60 of their 72 total games coming against the North. Peoria is 1-1-0 against the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, whom they play eight times this season, after splitting two games last weekend (11/05 – 2-5 L; 11/06 – 6-3 W). The Rivermen are 1-0-1 against the Dayton Bombers this season after two home decisions (10/22 – 5-2W; 10/30 – 1-2 SOL), and Peoria 0-0-1 against the archrival Toledo Storm after one road decision (10/29 – 1-2 OTL). The Rivermen (2-1-2, 6 points) rank seventh in the eight-team North Division but own the fourth-best point percentage (.600) in the Division and are just four points out of first place in the early going.

Looking To Reel In Some Road Wins

The Rivermen open a five-game, nine-day road trip on Friday, November 12 in Johnstown in the first of two in a row between the clubs. Peoria then travels to Wheeling, W.Va. to face off against the Nailers on Sunday; moves on to Reading, Pa. on Tuesday, November 16; before finishing the road trip in Toledo, Ohio against the archrival Storm in the front end of a home-and-home set between the clubs. The Rivermen opened their 2004-2005 season with four of their first five games at home with a lone road game in Toledo resulting in a 2-1 overtime loss on October 29, which was highlighted by a 52-save performance by 2003 ECHL Goaltender of the Year Alfie Michaud. Peoria posted an ECHL-best 23-7-6 record away from Carver Arena last season. With 23 road wins, the Rivermen equaled a team ECHL mark for road victories set in 1999-2000 (23-11-1). Peoria's seven road losses were one shy of an ECHL record for the fewest by a team in one season; the Richmond Renegades had just six in 1995-1996. The 23 Rivermen road wins were three shy of an ECHL record for road victories in one season; Louisiana had a record 26 in 2001-2002.

Clamoring To Be Like Kelly

With 197 regular season and playoff wins to his credit, Rivermen Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jason Christie is just 12 wins away from tying and 13 wins away from breaking the Rivermen All-Time ECHL/International Hockey League (IHL) Franchise Coaching Wins record held by former Rivermen IHL Head Coach and ECHL Commissioner Emeritus Pat Kelly, who has 209. In his fifth season, Christie – a 35-year-old native of Gibbons, Alberta – owns the best regular season winning percentage (.682) of any coach in Rivermen ECHL history with a record of 180-75-34. He is one of just two head coaches in ECHL history to win 40 or more games in each of his first four seasons in the League; Pensacola's Dave Farrish is the other.

Looking For A Lead

With five games played this season, the Rivermen have led just three times this season and two of those instances came in one game. Peoria took a 3-2 lead in the third period of a 5-2 home-opening victory over the Dayton Bombers on Friday, October 22 and then grabbed two leads, one in the first period and one in the second period, in a 6-3 home win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies last Saturday, November 6.

A Heck Of A Hemingway

After being held off the scoreboard with a +1 plus/minus in his first game on reassignment with the Rivermen from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate – the Worcester IceCats, right wing Colin Hemingway exploded in his second contest – a 6-3 win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies last Saturday, posting a hat trick (which nearly came all in the first period) and adding an assist for a four-point night to lead all Rivermen. The 24-year-old native of Regina, Saskatchewan finished the 2003-2004 regular season with the Rivermen on a nine-game point streak with 16 points (9g, 7a) and a +13 plus/minus. He posted 44 points (20g, 24a) and a +29 plus/minus (T-2nd among ECHL rookies) in 36 total games with Peoria, ranking second on the team in plus/minus and seventh in points. He was named Rivermen Rookie of the Year (as voted on by the players), ranking first among team rookies in goals, assists and points. He was named the Sher-Wood ECHL Player of the Month and the CCM ECHL Rookie of the Month for March 2004, and he was also named the C&T Hockey Products ECHL Plus Performer, along with teammate Tyler Rennette, for the month of March with a +19 plus/minus.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Rivermen right wing Travis Rycroft remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 11/05/04.

· Rivermen left wing Kris Kasper remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 11/05/04.

· Rivermen right wing Joe Pereira remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 11/05/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Warren Toews remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 11/05/04.

· Defenseman James Sanford has been signed and added to the roster, 11/05/04.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 11/04/04.

· Rivermen left wing David Kaczowka has been reassigned to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 11/04/04.

· Left wing Garett Cameron has been activated from the 7-day injured reserve and waived, 11/04/04.

· Defenseman Brian Escobedo has been waived, 11/04/04.

· Forward Colin Hemingway has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL) by the St. Louis Blues (NHL), 11/03/04.

· Defenseman Chris Bogas has been claimed off waivers from the Dayton Bombers, 11/02/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

PRACTICE:

· The Rivermen will practice Tuesday, November 9 & Wednesday, November 10 at Owens Center at 10:00 a.m. Practice times are subject to change.

GAMES:

· On Friday, November 12, the Rivermen travel to Johnstown, Pa. to battle the rival Chiefs in the first of two in a row between the clubs. Peoria was 4-3-1 against Johnstown in the regular season last year and owns a 33-15-6 lifetime ECHL regular season record against them. The Rivermen are 5-3 against the Chiefs all-time in ECHL playoff action. Johnstown (2-0-4, 8 points) is undefeated in regulation through the first six games of 2004-2005, sitting tied for third place in the North Division with Dayton and Wheeling. The Chiefs are led by center Brent Kelly, who has eight points (2g, 6a) in six games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 5:50 p.m. from the Cambria County War Memorial. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, November 13, Peoria and Johnstown do battle again in the second of eight meetings on the year and the second of four at the Cambria County War Memorial. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 5:50 p.m. from the Cambria County War Memorial. Game time is 6:00 p.m. CT.

· On Sunday, November 14, the Rivermen move on to Wheeling, W.Va. as part of their five-game, nine-day road trip to face off against the Northern Division Champion Nailers on Sunday afternoon. It will be the first of nine meetings on the year and the first of five in Wheeling. Last season, Peoria was 3-4-1 against the Nailers during the regular season and owns a 30-22-8 lifetime ECHL regular season record against them. The Rivermen are 3-0 in all-time ECHL playoff action against the Nailers. Wheeling (4-4-0, 8 points) is tied for third place in a log-jammed North Division with Dayton and Johnstown. The Nailers are led by right wing Ed McGrane and center Mark Kosick, who have five points (3g, 2a) each. The game broadcast can be heard TAPE DELAY on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and LIVE online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 3:50 p.m. from WesBanco Arena. Game time is 4:00 p.m. CT.

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