ECHL Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen win three more for six-game winning streak

Published on March 8, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


THE RECAP:

Friday, March 5, 2004 vs. Toledo Game #58 ECHL Game #903

Rivermen 2 Toledo 5

Colin Hemingway registered the fourth hat trick by a Rivermen player this season, as Peoria defeated the archrival Toledo Storm 5-2 before 4,020 on Friday night at Carver Arena.

Hemingway, who also had an assist, and Tyler Rennette, who had four assists, each collected four points. It was the third and fourth time a Rivermen player tallied four points in a game this season.

Hemingway's hat trick goal came at 7:20 of the third period, giving Peoria a 5-1 advantage and Hemingway the first hat trick of his career. On a 5-on-3 power play, Rennette rifled a shot on goal from the left face-off circle that Toledo goaltender Jimi St. John stopped with his right pad. Hemingway was just off the left goal post and chipped the puck into the right corner. It was Hemingway's eighth goal in a Rivermen uniform.

The Storm picked up their second tally of the night at 13:01 of the third to complete the scoring. After an initial save by Peoria netminder Levente Szuper, Landon Bathe flipped in his third goal of the season from just off the right post.

Peoria (34-16-8, 76 points) has won four in a row overall and three straight at Carver Arena, improving to 16-11-3 at home. Toledo (21-28-8, 50 points) is winless in its last five games (0-3-2) and dropped to 10-13-4 on the road.

Saturday, March 6, 2004 vs. Toledo Game #59 ECHL Game #912

Rivermen 7 Toledo 1

The Peoria Rivermen continued their offensive onslaught against the archrival Toledo Storm, winning 7-1 before a season-high crowd of 8,529 on Saturday night at Carver Arena. Peoria won 5-2 over Toledo last night at home.

The Rivermen added a final goal at 5:21 of the third period for a 7-0 lead. Trevor Baker won a face-off in the right circle and quickly got it to Jason Norrie. From the left side of the circle, Norrie slapped his first goal in a Rivermen uniform and ninth of the season past Toledo goaltender Jimi St. John.

Baker and Norrie each finished the game with three points (1g, 2a).

Toledo spoiled Levente Szuper's shutout bid with 2:12 left in regulation. Morten Ask slammed home a Marco Charpentier rebound from the top of the Peoria goal crease for his 20th marker of the season. The tally extended Ask's point streak to eight games with 11 points (5g, 6a).

Peoria (35-13-8, 78 points) has won five in a row overall and equaled a home season-high with its fourth straight win at Carver Arena. The Rivermen, who improved to 17-11-3 at Carver Arena, remain two points ahead of the rival Johnstown Chiefs for third place in the nine-team Northern Division; Johnstown shut out the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 4-0 at home on this night. Toledo (21-29-8, 50 points) is winless in its last six games (0-4-2) and fell to 10-14-4 on the road.

Sunday, March 7, 2004 vs. Trenton Game #60 ECHL Game #920

Rivermen 5 Trenton 4

The Peoria Rivermen blew a two-goal lead and trailed early in the third period but came back to beat the Trenton Titans 5-4 in front of 4,866 on Sunday afternoon at Carver Arena.

Trenton took a 4-3 lead just 35 seconds into the final session with their second power play goal of the night. Chris Pittman pumped in his 21st goal of the season from out in front of the net on a Matt Zultek pass.

The Rivermen tied the game back up 4-4 at 9:49 of the third. Colin Hemingway stole the puck from Trenton's Tyler Kindle along the right wing boards, broke in alone on Titans goaltender Chris Houle and scooped his 10th tally in a Rivermen uniform and second of the game just under the crossbar.

Peoria took the final lead of the night with 3:45 left in regulation. David Kaczowka, who pummeled Trenton's Ryan O'Keefe in a second period fight, fed rookie Garett Cameron as he broke into the Trenton zone on left wing. Cameron made his way to the corner with a defenseman draped all over him and somehow found a way to get the puck back to Kaczowka in front of the net. Kaczowka pick-axed the puck over the left pad of Houle for his first goal in a Rivermen uniform and the game winner.

Peoria (36-16-8, 80 points) equaled a season high set on January 13 with its sixth win in a row and for the first time have won five in a row at home to improve to 18-11-3 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen, in the third place in the nine-team Northern Division, gave themselves a four-point cushion over the rival Johnstown Chiefs. Trenton (29-22-7, 65 points) is winless in its last two games (0-1-1) and is 2-2-1 through five games of a nine-game road trip.

The Captain's Log

Wins In The Works

After Sunday's 5-4 come-from-behind home win over the Trenton Titans, Peoria has equaled a season high with six straight wins – the second longest current streak in the ECHL behind the Wheeling Nailers' current ECHL season-high, 10-game streak. The Rivermen posted their first six-game win streak of the season on January 13. Peoria has won five games in a row at Carver Arena for the first time this season as part of a season-long, six-game home stand that began on February 27 and ends on March 9. The Rivermen magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 14 points, which may be achieved by seven Peoria regulation wins, seven regulation losses by the Trenton Titans or any combination of the two.

A Four-Week Fight Left

The Rivermen play 12 games over the final four weeks of the 2003-2004 regular season and currently stand in third place in the Northern Division, four points in front of the rival Johnstown Chiefs (35-19-6, 76 points). Peoria is just three points back of the second place and defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (39-14-5, 83 points). The Rivermen posted commanding victories over the archrival Toledo Storm on Friday and Saturday at home by scores of 5-2 and 7-1, respectively. On Sunday at home, Peoria lost an early lead but came back to beat the Trenton Titans in the third, winning 5-4. By finishing third or better in the nine-team Northern Division, Peoria will avoid a Wild Card game between the fourth and fifth place finishers in the Division. The winner will take the Division Champion in a five-game Northern Division semifinal series. All of Peoria's 12 remaining games are against Northern Division opponents. Five are against winning teams, while seven are against losing teams. In its schedule against winning teams, Peoria takes on the Trenton Titans twice (including Tuesday), and the Wheeling Nailers (45-13-2, 92 points), Atlantic City and the Reading Royals (31-19-9, 71 points) each once. Against those with a losing record, the Rivermen battle the archrival Toledo Storm (21-29-9, 51 points) three times, the archrival Dayton Bombers (21-34-5, 47 points) three times and the Cincinnati Cyclones (22-36-3, 47 points) once.

Happy At Home For A Change

The Rivermen have won five in a row at Carver Arena for the first time this season to open a season-long, six-game home stand. Over its last 12 home games, Peoria is 9-3-0. The Rivermen are 18-11-3 at Carver Arena, averaging 4.22 goals per game (76 goals) over each of their wins. Peoria is averaging 1.21 goals per game (17 goals) over 14 home defeats, which include three overtime losses. For the first time in their eight-year ECHL tenure, the Rivermen have lost more than nine games in regulation at Carver Arena during one season. Peoria owns a 193-57-30 lifetime ECHL record (74 percent point percentage) 32 games into its eighth ECHL season. Last year, the Rivermen posted a 26-5-5 home mark with the second fewest home losses in one season in ECHL franchise history. Peoria notched a 27-4-4 record at home in its first ECHL season (1996-1997).

Dominant Defense

The Rivermen rank third in the ECHL in goals against average (GAA), surrendering just 2.47 goals per game. Over the last 18 games, Peoria has given up two goals or less in 11 of those games, including four one-goal games and one shutout. Peoria is just ahead of Reading, who owns a 2.53 GAA. Last season, Peoria ranked first in the League, allowing 2.51 goals per game. Defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City currently leads the League with a 2.26 GAA. Peoria goaltenders Mike Valley – who is currently on call-up with the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Worcester IceCats – and Levente Szuper have posted 2.21 and 2.50 GAAs, respectively. Valley is ranked third in the ECHL in GAA.

Lighting It Up Of Late

Over the last four games, the line of Tyler Rennette, Colin Hemingway and Adam Edinger has combined for half of the team's 22 goals with 28 collective points (11g, 17a) and +19 plus/minus. Rennette has 11 points (2g, 9a) over the four-game stretch with a four-assist night last Friday. Hemingway has 10 points (6g, 4a) over the span with a four-point night (3g-first career hat trick, 1a) last Friday and is in the midst of a five-game point streak with 11 points (6g, 5a) and a +7 plus/minus. Edinger has seven points (3g, 4a) over the span and is in the midst of a seven-game point streak with 12 points (5g, 7a) and +8 plus/minus.

Power Play Recycle With Rennette

Since February 25, Tyler Rennette's new position at the right point on the power play has paid dividends. The Rivermen are 7-for-22 (32 percent) on the power play over the six-game stretch. On the season, Peoria ranks 21st out of 31 ECHL teams with a 15.7 percent conversion rate.

First Goal Fun

Give Bobby Haglund's shoulder credit for his first professional goal after a four-year absence from organized hockey. Trevor Baker's shot from the right face-off circle in Sunday's 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Trenton Titans deflected off Haglund's shoulder and over goaltender Chris Houle. Rookie Joe Pereira is the only other Rivermen player without a goal to his credit this season.

Injury, Call-up & Transaction Report

· Left wing Garett Cameron has been signed and added to the roster, 03/05/04.

· Goaltender Brian Hamilton has been added as an emergency back-up, 03/05/04.

· Defenseman Dave Csumrik has been acquired from Alaska as the financial considerations in the Bret DeCecco, Malcolm Hutt trade, 03/04/04.

· Rivermen goaltender Mike Valley remains on call-up to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 03/04/04.

· Defenseman Doug MacIver has been traded to the Reading Royals for financial considerations, 03/03/04.

· Right wing Bret DeCecco and defenseman Malcolm Hutt have been traded to the Alaska Aces for financial and future considerations, 03/03/04.

· Right wing Jason Norrie has been acquired from the Cincinnati Cyclones as the future considerations in the Malcolm MacMillan trade, 03/01/04.

· Left wing David Kaczowka has been reassigned to the Rivermen by the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers, 03/01/04.

· Rivermen center Brendan Brooks remains on reassignment to the Worcester IceCats (AHL), 01/14/04.

Steering Our Way Through The Schedule

PRACTICE:

· The Rivermen will practice on Tuesday, March 9 at Carver Arena at 10:00 a.m. CT. Practice times and location are subject to change.

GAMES:

· On Tuesday, March 9, the Rivermen host the Trenton Titans in the second of two in a row between the clubs and the second of just three meetings on the season. Peoria, who came from behind in the third period to beat the Titans 5-4 in regulation last Sunday, owns a 7-3-1 lifetime ECHL record against the Titans and a 7-6 playoff mark. Trenton (29-22-7, 65 points) is winless in its last two games (0-1-1) and stands in sixth place in the Northern Division, six points behind the Reading Royals for the final playoff spot with a game in hand. The Titans are led by left wing Matt Zultek, who has 50 points (28g, 22a) and 184 penalty minutes in 51 games. NASCAR and Roush Racing Driver Kurt Busch will appear and sign autographs from 6-7:15 p.m., courtesy of the Coca-Cola Family of Racing. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:50 p.m. from Carver Arena. Game time is 7:00 p.m. CT.

· On Friday, March 12, Peoria opens a stretch of seven in a row on the road when it travels to Toledo, Ohio to face off against the archrival Storm in the first of two in a row between the clubs and the fourth meeting over the last eight Rivermen games. Last Friday and Saturday at home, the Rivermen disposed of Toledo quite handily, winning by scores of 5-2 and 7-1, respectively. The Rivermen are unbeaten in regulation against the Storm this season in nine games (7-0-2) and own a 51-22-5 lifetime ECHL record against them. Toledo (21-29-9, 51 points) is in seventh place in the nine-team Northern Division, 20 points out of the fifth and final playoff spot. The Storm are led by center Morten Ask, who has 50 points (20g, 30a) in 59 games with a +9 plus/minus. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:20 p.m. from the Toledo Sports Arena. Game time is 6:30 p.m. CT.

· On Saturday, March 13, the Rivermen and the archrival Storm do battle again in the 11th of 12 meetings on the season. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 6:20 p.m. from the Toledo Sports Arena. Game time is 6:30 p.m. CT.

· On Sunday, March 14, Peoria battles the first place and Brabham Cup Championship-leading Wheeling Nailers for the final time this season. The Rivermen dropped two in a row at home to the Nailers on Sunday, February 22 (3-2) and Tuesday, February 24 (4-2), falling to 3-3-1 in the season series. Peoria is 30-21-8 lifetime in the ECHL against the Nailers. Wheeling (45-13-2, 92 points), who has won 10 in a row overall and 14 straight at home – both ECHL season highs, is in first place in the nine-team Northern Division with a nine-point advantage over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. The Nailers have an eight-point lead over the Louisiana IceGators (41-16-2, 84 points) and the San Diego Gulls (37-12-10, 84 points) for the Brabham Championship (Regular Season Points Champion). The Nailers are led by left wing Jason Jaffray, who has 68 points (32g, 36a) in 49 games with a +16 plus/minus. The game broadcast can be heard LIVE on WWFS FOX Sports Radio 1290 AM, Insight Communications (Peoria-44; Bloomington-Normal-22; Pekin, Morton & Galesburg-70) and online at www.rivermen.net, beginning at 12:50 p.m. from WesBanco Arena. Game time is 1:00 p.m. CT.

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