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ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen win four in a row again

January 3, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Tuesday, December 28, 2004 vs. Fresno Game #24 ECHL Game #360

Rivermen 3 Fresno 1

Rivermen rookie forward Jake Riddle decided to score not one but his first two professional goals, as he helped Peoria snap a season-worst, four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Fresno Falcons in front of 4,059 on Tuesday night at Carver Arena.

Riddle, who had a hand in every goal with three points (2g, 1a), finished the scoring with 2:30 left in regulation. Brian McCullough left a drop pass in the high slot for Riddle, who stepped into it and rifled his second goal of the contest off the shoulder of Fresno goaltender Jamie Hodson into the upper left corner.

His linemate McCullough, a three-time ECHL All-Star, assisted on all three goals for his first three-point night with the Rivermen.

Peoria (8-13-3, 19 points) improved to .500 at home over 12 games (5-5-2) and pushed its lifetime regular season mark against West Division opponents to 6-2-0. Fresno (12-12-2, 26 points) had its three-game winning streak snapped in defeat and dropped to 3-6-0 on the road.

Wednesday, December 29, 2004 vs. Fresno Game #25 ECHL Game #366

Rivermen 4 Fresno 3 Overtime

Three-time ECHL All-Star Brian McCullough put the Peoria Rivermen on his back for the second night in a row, scoring an early third-period tally and then the overtime winner 1:36 into the extra session for a 4-3 Peoria Rivermen win over the Fresno Falcons before a crowd of 4,051 on Wednesday night at Carver Arena.

After Shaun Sutter deflected in his 11th tally of the season from in front of the Rivermen goal on a Derek Krestanovich shot from the left face-off circle at 4:20, McCullough went to work, tying the game 2-2 at 7:55. He took a pass from Tyler Rennette at center ice, broke into the Fresno end on left wing and whistled a low shot through the legs of Brett Jaeger for his team-leading ninth tally of the season.

The Falcons nearly broke Peoria's back with the Rivermen on the power play. Falcons Captain Dan Tessier stole the puck from Ed Hill at the Peoria blue line, broke down the right side of the slot and snapped his 11th goal of the season into the upper right corner. It was Peoria's fifth shorthanded goal allowed this season, giving Fresno its second lead of the third at 16:39.

Peoria quickly tied the game back up on the same power play 16 seconds later. Veteran Chris Bogas sent the puck on net from the right point and a diving Randy Rowe, in the low slot, tipped it past rookie goaltender Brett Jaeger for his seventh goal of the year.

McCullough won it in overtime with a snap shot from the left face-off circle on a pass from Trevor Byrne, who tallied a goal in Tuesday night's 3-1 win over Fresno. McCullough accepted pass from Byrne while backpedaling toward the right-wing boards and slipped it through the right arm and torso of Jaeger for his 10th tally of the season.

McCullough had three assists in Tuesday night's win over the Falcons.

Peoria (9-13-3, 21 points) has won two in a row and is now tied for seventh place in the North Division with the Dayton Bombers (10-17-1). The Rivermen improved to 6-5-2 on home ice and 7-2-0 lifetime in the regular season against West Division opponents. It was just the sixth time in the last 16 games, the Rivermen have scored three or more goals with all of those efforts resulting in wins. Fresno (12-13-2, 26 points) dropped to 3-6-1 on the road in the overtime loss.

Friday, December 31, 2004 @ Idaho Game #26 ECHL Game #377

Rivermen 5 Idaho 2

The Peoria Rivermen got a goal each from Brian McCullough and Trevor Byrne in the both second and third periods, as the Rivermen pushed past the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads 5-2 in front of 4,875 on New Year's Eve at the Bank of America Centre.

After Idaho's Marty Flichel shoveled in a backhand shot from just off the left goal post at 2:42 of the third period for his second goal in three games after coming out of retirement, the Rivermen grabbed their two-goal lead back on the power play on Brian McCullough's second goal of the night and team-leading 12th on the season at 8:27 of the final period. Byrne faked a step to the middle of the ice from the right point and then dished off to McCullough at the near face-off circle. McCullough then dropped it off in the corner for rookie Jake Riddle, who completed the give-and-go to McCullough, who chipped the puck into the upper left corner at 8:27 from the right side of the low slot.

Peoria was 1-for-5 on the power play in the game.

The Rivermen would add the final tally of the contest 2:12 later. Byrne intercepted an Idaho clearing attempt just outside of its zone, skated into the high slot and fluttered his second goal of the game in off the glove of Blair Allison from the high slot. It was Byrne's third goal in three games on reassignment from the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Worcester IceCats. He (2g, 1a) and Riddle (3a) led all scorers with three points.

Allison was pressed into service because No. 1 goaltender Frank Doyle was on reassignment with the Utah Grizzlies (AHL) and back-up Colin Zulianello went down earlier in the afternoon with a possible ruptured spleen. Allison (0-1-0), who had retired after the Steelheads won the Kelly Cup last season, is the team's assistant coach. He stopped 18 of 23 shots in the loss.

Peoria (10-13-3, 23 points) has won three in a row overall and improved to 3-0-0 against West Division opponents this year with five games remaining against them on this road trip. The Rivermen are now 4-8-1 on the road and 3-0-0 lifetime in the ECHL regular season against the Steelheads. Idaho (14-11-2, 30 points) has lost its last two in a row and is winless in four straight games (0-3-1). The Steelheads, who were shorthanded with just 14 skaters, suffered just their fourth loss on home ice in 13 opportunities (8-4-1) this year.

Saturday, January 1, 2005 @ Idaho Game #27 ECHL Game #389

Rivermen 4 Idaho 1

Reggie Stringer tallied his first three goals in a Rivermen uniform all in the same game, his eighth with the team, as Peoria pushed past the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads 4-1 in front of 4,225 on New Year's Day Night at the Bank of the America Centre.

The win was Peoria's fourth in a row for the second time in 12 games and inside of a month.

Stringer netted his hat trick goal at 10:37 of the final period on the power play. Jake Riddle, stationed in the right-wing corner, fed Brian McCullough in the high slot for a snap shot that Steelheads goaltender Blair Allison turned aside with his right pad, but Stringer was on the doorstep just off the left goal post to collect the rebound and lift it up into the corner. It was his sixth goal of the year. Stringer, who collected his first point in a Rivermen uniform on Wednesday, also had an assist for a hand in all four Rivermen tallies.

Peoria was able to score two man advantage markers, one each night, against the best home penalty-killing unit in the ECHL in the Steelheads.

McCullough (4g, 4a) and Riddle (3g, 5a) were able to extend their point streaks to four games with eight points each for the span.

The Rivermen finished the scoring with exactly five minutes left in the game. Randy Rowe and Justin Maiser broke up the ice out of the Rivermen zone on a two-on-two rush. Rowe dropped the puck off to Maiser as they worked into the Steelheads zone on left wing. Rowe pushed to the net, while Maiser sidestepped a defenseman from the face-off circle into the slot and roofed a snap shot into the upper left corner. It was his seventh goal of the year.

Peoria (11-13-3, 25 points), just two games under .500, improved to 5-8-1 on the road. The Rivermen are 4-0-0 in the first four games of eight straight against the West Division. Idaho (14-12-2, 30 points) has lost three in a row and is winless in its last five games (0-4-1). The Steelheads dropped to 8-5-1 on home ice.

The Captain's Log

Finishing A Four-Game Week Just Fine

The Rivermen (11-13-3, 17 points) have won four games in a row for the second time in 12 games and in less than a month. Peoria beat the Fresno Falcons 3-1 last Tuesday, December 28 at home, before coming back to beat the Falcons 4-3 in overtime the following night. The Rivermen then took to the road and upended the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads on New Year's Eve (last Friday) with a 5-2 victory and on New Year's Day (last Saturday) in a 4-1 decision. The two home wins moved Peoria a game above the .500 mark at Carver Arena in 13 opportunities (6-5-2), and the two road victories got the Rivermen to within three games of .500 (5-8-1) away from home. Peoria has moved ahead of the Dayton Bombers and into seventh place in the eight-team North Division, leading them by two points with two games in hand.

A Week For West Wins With More To Go

The Rivermen played their first 23 games (7-13-3) of the season against teams in their own North Division with 60 of their 72 total games coming against the North. Currently, Peoria (11-13-3, 17 points) is in the midst of eight straight against the West Division, winning two games at home against Fresno last Tuesday (3-1) and Wednesday (4-3 OTW) and beating the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads on New Year's Eve (last Friday, 5-2) and on New Year's Day (last Saturday, 4-1). The Rivermen are 9-2-0 lifetime in the regular season against West Division opponents, against whom Peoria plays 12 games this season. Last year, the Rivermen posted a 5-2-0 record against West Division clubs. They notched a 1-2-0 record against the Alaska Aces, a 2-0-0 mark against the Las Vegas Wranglers and a 2-0-0 record against the Steelheads. To finish its current eight-game set against West Division clubs, Peoria travels to Fresno, Ca. on Tuesday, January 4 and then moves on to San Diego on Wednesday, January 5. The Rivermen finish up their four-city, six-game road trip in Las Vegas on Friday, January 7 and Saturday, January 8. Including its game this past Sunday in Dayton (2-1 L), the Rivermen will play nine games in 14 days.

Making More Of Our Marks

For the last four straight games and seven times over the last 12 contests, the Rivermen have won when tallying three or more goals in a game. In fact, Peoria is 10-1-0 when scoring three or more goals in a game this season. The Rivermen have moved up to 21st in the ECHL in goals scored per game, averaging 2.52 tallies per contest. Just 10 teams in the 28-team ECHL are averaging more than 3.00 goals per game.

Putting Our Power Play Back Together

The Rivermen have scored a power play goal in each of their last four contests, including one in each of their two wins in Idaho last Friday (1-for-5) and Saturday (1-for-6) against the ECHL's No. 1 home penalty-killing unit. Peoria was 1-for-31 over the eight games prior to this stretch. The Rivermen are ranked 24th in the ECHL with the man advantage, converting 13.6 percent of the time.

Opportunistic In Overtime

For the first time in four chances this season, the Rivermen won beyond regulation, stunning Fresno 4-3 at home in overtime last Wednesday. The extra session victory improved Peoria to 1-2 in overtime decisions. The Rivermen are 0-1 in shootouts this season.

Point Streak Performers

Team leading scorer and three-time ECHL All-Star Brian McCullough (4g, 4a) and rookie Jake Riddle (3g, 5a) are each enjoying four-game point streaks with eight points. Last week, McCullough registered his first three-point game with three assists in Tuesday's 3-1 home win over Fresno. The 27-year-old native of Burr Ridge, Ill., then proceeded to tally two goals, including a game-tying tally in the third period and the overtime winner, in a 4-3 home win over Fresno the next night. On Friday (New Year's Eve), he netted another two goals, one in the second and third periods, in a 5-2 win over Idaho. On Saturday (New Year's Day), he recorded the primary assist on veteran Reggie Stringer's hat trick power play goal in the third period. McCullough leads the team with 25 points (12g, 13a), three game-winning goals and three power play goals. Riddle notched his first two professional goals, including the game winner, in Tuesday's 3-1 home win over Fresno, while also adding an assist. On Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime victory over Fresno, the 21-year-old native of Minneapolis, Minn., tallied the game's first goal. In Friday's 5-2 win over the Steelheads, he recorded his second three-point game, with three assists including the game-winning assist. On Saturday in a 4-1 victory over Idaho, he posted an assist on Stringer's hat trick power play tally. Riddle has nine points (3g, 6a) in 13 games since being claimed off waivers from the Wheeling Nailers on November 25. Their linemate Tyler Rennette, the reigning two-time team MVP, had a team, season-best five-game point streak (2g, 3a) and three-game assist streak halted on New Year's Day (Saturday).

Byrne-In' Up The Scoreboard

Second-year defenseman Trevor Byrne registered points in three of his first four games on loan with the Rivermen last week. Last Tuesday against Fresno, the 24-year-old native of Weymouth, Mass., netted the game's first goal in a 3-1 home victory. On Wednesday against Fresno at home, he set up Brian McCullough for the game-winning overtime goal in a 4-3 victory. On Friday (New Year's Eve) in Idaho, Byrne registered a marker in the second and the third periods. In four games, the 6-foot-3, 218-pound backliner has five points (3g, 2a) and a +6 plus/minus. In six contests over two loan assignments to Peoria last season, he did not register a point.

Not Strange For Him

Six-year veteran Reggie Stringer (pronounced STRAIN-zhay) collected his first points in a Rivermen uniform last week with five (3g, 2a) in eight games. Last Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime win over Fresno, his sixth contest with Peoria, he set up the team's first tally by rookie Jake Riddle. Then on Saturday, he posted the team's second hat trick of the season and added an assist for the team's second four-point night of the year in a 4-1 victory in Idaho. Right wing Colin Hemingway notched a hat trick and an assist on November 6 in a 6-3 home win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. Stringer was acquired from the Las Vegas Wranglers on December 7 in exchange for financial considerations. The 30-year-old native of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan tallied 14 points (3g, 11a) for the Wranglers to open the 2004-2005 season, tying for first in assists and second in points through 19 games. Before competing last year in Austria's Second Division, he amassed 96 points (37g, 59a) in 72 games for the Columbia Inferno in 2002-2003 – ranking first in the ECHL in game-winning goals (11), second in points and fourth in assists. He helped guide Columbia to the 2003 ECHL Kelly Cup Finals, where they lost to the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in five games (4-1). He led the team in the 2003 ECHL playoffs in assists (14) and points (17), ranking second in the League in assists and tying for fourth in points He was named to the 2003 ECHL All-Star Team, while receiving the ECHL Sportsmanship Award, the PHPA (Professional Hockey Players' Association) Ironman Award and 2003 All-ECHL Second Team honors.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Defenseman Trevor Byrne remains on loan from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/28/04.

· Rivermen right wing Travis Rycroft remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 12/26/04.

· Left wing/defenseman Mark Jerant has been reassigned from the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 12/26/04.

· Rivermen Captain and center Trevor Baker remains on the 7-day injured reserve, 12/16/04.

· Rivermen defenseman Chad Starling remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 12/16/04.

· Rivermen left wing Scott Turner remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 12/03/04.

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

· Rivermen forward Colin Hemingway remains on the 30-day injured reserve, 11/25/04.

· 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

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, January 4, the Rivermen travel to Fresno, Ca. to battle the Falcons for the third game in a four-city, six-game road trip against West Division opponents. It will be the third meeting in five games between the clubs for Peoria, who beat Fresno 3-1 at home last Tuesday and 4-3 in overtime at home last Wednesday. The Falcons (14-13-3, 31 points) have won two in a row and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They are three points behind San Diego (15-8-4) with three more games played for third place in the tightly-packed West Division. Fresno owns a one-point advantage over the Alaska Aces (14-12-2), the Idaho Steelheads (14-12-2) and the Las Vegas Wranglers (13-12-4) with two more games played than Alaska and Idaho and one more played than Las Vegas. The Falcons are led by center Dan Tessier, who has 29 points (11g, 18a), four game-winning goals (tied for fourth in the ECHL) and a +10 plus/minus in 30 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 8:45 p.m. from the Save Mart Center. Game time is 9:00 p.m. CT.

· On Wednesday, January 5, Peoria moves on to San Diego to take on the Gulls for the first time in its ECHL membership. The teams did do battle when they competed in the now-defunct International Hockey League (IHL). San Diego (15-8-4, 34 points), in third place in the tightly-packed West Division, is four points back of the Bakersfield Condors (17-9-4) with three games in hand. The Gulls are led by left wing Max Birbraer, who has 21 points (8g, 13a) in 27 games. Former Rivermen Darren Clark is second on the team points (18), assists (12) and plus/minus (+9). The game broadcast can be heard TAPE DELAY on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM due to University of Illinois Athletics and LIVE online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 8:45 p.m. from the San Diego Arena. Game time is 9:00 p.m. CT.

· On Friday, January 7, the Rivermen finish their four-city, six-game road trip in Las Vegas with the first of two in a row with the Wranglers. Last season, Peoria defeated Las Vegas by scores of 4-2 and 6-2 on January 10 & 11, respectively, at the Orleans Arena. The Wranglers (13-12-4, 30 points) are tied for fourth place in the tightly-packed eight-team North Division with the Alaska Aces (14-12-2) and the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads (14-12-2) with one more game played than Idaho. Las Vegas is led by left wing Dana Lattery, who has 23 points (10g, 13a) in 26 games. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 8:45 p.m. from the Orleans Arena. Game time is 9:00 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, January 8, Peoria and Las Vegas face off in the second of two in a row between the teams and the concluding game of eight in a row against West Division opponents for the Rivermen. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 8:45 p.m. from the Orleans Arena. Game time is 9:00 p.m. CT.

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