Rivermen to Host Team, Skill Development Practices
Published on December 18, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, IL (December 18, 2006) - Peoria Rivermen General Manager of Hockey Operations Kevin McDonald announced today that St. Louis Blues European Professional Scout Raimo Summanen will lead and instruct the current Rivermen roster in two days of skill development practices at Owens Center on Tuesday, December 19 and Wednesday, December 20. Blues Vice President of Hockey Operations Al MacInnis will also be on hand and involved in player instruction.
The practices, which start at 10:00 a.m. both days, will focus on unique, high-level skill components that Rivermen players will be able to utilize and implement.
Summanen, who was part of two National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cups (1984 & 1986) with the Edmonton Oilers, was head coach of the Finnish National Team in 2003-04, guiding them to a second-place finish in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He was also a playing member of Finland's 1995 IIHF World Championship Team, the only Finnish team to ever capture a gold medal at the World Championships.
A future Hall of Famer, MacInnis, whose number No. 2 was retired by the Blues on April 9, 2006, played 23 seasons in the NHL between the St. Louis Blues and the Calgary Flames. The Port Hood, Nova Scotia, native collected 452 points (127g, 325a) in 613 games over 10 years with the Blues, ranking fourth on the Blues' all-time assists list (325), sixth on the points list (452), seventh on the games-played list (613) and third on the shots-on-goal list (2,266).
MacInnis won the 1999 James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman and the 1989 Conn Smythe Trophy while leading the Calgary Flames to the Stanley Cup Championship. A two-time Olympian for Team Canada, he captured the gold medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. He was a 13-time NHL All-Star, and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team four times. He finished his career ranking third among all-time NHL defensemen in points (1,274), assists (934) and goals (340).
On Friday, December 22, the Rivermen host the Grand Rapids Griffins at 7:30 p.m. It is a Coca-Cola/Insight Date Night. Fans may receive two (2) Upper Bowl tickets, two (2) Cokes and a tub of popcorn for just $25. The team will also commemorate the 1990-91 Rivermen International Hockey League (IHL) Turner Cup Championship and the still-world-record, 18-game professional winning streak by wearing replica 1990-91 replica jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game to benefit the Children's Hospital of Illinois. U.S. Cellular's 25 Greatest Rivermen of All-Time continues with Steve Tuttle cards to the first 2,500 fans.
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