SteelHounds Clinch Playoff Berth Without Taking the Ice

March 9, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown SteelHounds spent most of the day Thursday on their bus traveling to Bossier-Shreveport, the site of tonight's game versus the Mudbugs, but still managed to achieve a victory as they became the fourth Northern Conference team to clinch a playoff berth thanks to the Rocky Mountain Rage's 4-3 victory over the Wichita Thunder.

"You play the season to get into the playoffs and it certainly feels good to know that the paperwork so to speak is filed," said SteelHounds Head Coach Kevin Kaminski. "This doesn't fill the cup though. Getting in is one thing, making some noise once your there is another and right now with the way this team is playing I am looking forward to seeing how far we can go and what we can accomplish."

The SteelHounds are currently on a franchise record eight-game winning streak and 11-game point streak (10-0-1) and are sitting in the fourth spot two points behind the Memphis RiverKings for the third spot and two points ahead of the fifth seeded Oklahoma City Blazers. Both Memphis and Oklahoma City have two more games remaining than do the Hounds but Memphis and Youngstown are scheduled to meet two more times this season (both in Memphis).

Youngstown has not given up on the division championship yet either as they are just five points behind the Mudbugs with two games remaining head-to-head.

Six teams will make it to the Northern Conference playoffs and with the new playoff structure in the league it is more beneficial to be one of the top four seeds. There are three first round series' with #1 playing #6, #2 playing #5 and #3 playing #4 all in best-of-seven series'. The three winners advance to the conference semi-finals as does the highest seeded loser meaning that by being in the top four seeds you have a chance to advance even without winning your series.

"The playoff format is what it is and as a team in the Northern Conference you just have to try to win your games and take care of it that way," said Kaminski. "But if they (the league) have given you a safety net you might as well put yourself in the best position to take advantage of it should it be necessary."

The SteelHounds begin a two-game road trip tonight in Bossier-Shreveport and conclude it tomorrow night in Memphis. You can hear all the action on ESPN Radio - 1240, the Fan or online via the team's webcast at www.steelhounds.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2007


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