SteelHounds weekly release

Published on February 13, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


SteelHounds This Week

The SteelHounds continue their eight-game road trip with three games this week beginning on Valentine's Day versus the Northeast Division leading Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs who have a 19 point lead over the second place SteelHounds. On Friday, the Hounds begin the stretch run of their journey with the first of two games on the trip versus the Fort Worth Brahmas, also face Brahmas on Monday. Finally this week, the Hounds travel to the Rio Grande Valley to face the Killer Bees in Hidalgo for the first time in franchise history. All games can be heard on ESPN Radio- 1240, The Fan and on the Hounds Webcast accessible through www.steelhounds.com. "Countdown to Face-Off" begins 15 minutes prior to face-off.

Feb. 14 @ Bossier-Shreveport 8:05 AM (EST) The Hounds are 2-0-1 versus the Mudbugs

Feb. 17 @ Fort Worth 8:35 PM (EST) Hve the fewest points in the CHL (33)

Feb. 18 @ Rio Grande Valley 8:35 PM (EST) Ended eight-game losing streak on Sunday with 5-0 win versus Corpus Christi

The Yellow Brick Road

There has been no place like home for the SteelHounds as of late as they began an eight-game road trip last Tuesday with a shootout victory in Tulsa and have continued to take advantage of the travel winning three of their first four games on the trip. On the season, the Hounds are 9-14-1 but over their last nine road games have managed a 5-4-0 record. On their current trip, the SteelHounds have outscored the opposition 19-15 with the only loss coming in Oklahoma City on Saturday night by a one-goal margin. The power play has been a part of the team's road success as the Hounds are 6 for 17 on their road trip with the man advantage. Hot players on the trip include Jeff Christian who has five goals and four assists and Chris Richards who has recorded six helpers.

We Can Handle These Guys

The Hounds play three games this week and are set up for solid numbers as they have had great success versus their opponents on the horizon. The Hounds start the week versus the Mudbugs whom they have posted two victories and point in all three games thus far (2-0-1) and continue in Fort Worth on Friday where Youngstown is 3-0 this season. The week's test concludes on Saturday in the Rio Grande Valley where Youngstown holds a 2-0 season series advantage against the Killer Bees. Overall, the Hounds are 7-0-1 versus their opponents this week.

Its Your World, We're Just Paying Rent

Jeff Christian wrapped up another outstanding week on Sunday by scoring three goals in the Hounds 4-3 victory over Austin. The Captain is currently red hot notching points in each of the last six games (6-6=12). Christian was honored on Monday as the CHL Oakley Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 6-12, the second time he has earned the honor. During the week, Christian scored five goals and had four assists. He leads the CHL with 42 goals and nine game winning goals and ranks second in the league with 71 points and 17 power play goals. The league MVP candidate has had points on 71 of Youngstown's 141 goals this season.

Power Play Gets A Rare Night Off

On Sunday in Austin, something happened that was a rarity. The Hounds did not receive a power play for the entire game as the Ice Bats were not whistled for a penalty during the contest. This is the first time Youngstown has not had at least one power play chance this season which was not good timing as they came into the game with a man advantage goal in six straight games and were six for 17 on their current eight-game road trip thus far.

What Slump?

Jonathan Gagnon ended a long scoring slump with a goal on Sunday marking his 10th goal of the season. Gagnon had not found the back of the net since January 3rd at Bossier-Shreveport totaling 15 straight games without a goal. Over those 15 games, the veteran contributed with nine assists. For the season, Gagnon has 10 goals with 21 helpers.

We're Going Streaking; Everybody Is Doing It

Two SteelHounds enter the week on six-game point streaks. Chris Richards has notched a goal with eight assists over the last six games and has recorded an assist in each of those six contests. His six-game assist streak is the longest current streak in the CHL. Jeff Christian has also gotten on the score sheet in each of the last six games scoring six goals with six assists over that stretch.

His Game Is Sick (AKA Tip-Top-Shape!!!)

Kelly Sickavish continues to show improvement during his second professional season. The expansion draft pick for the SteelHounds has points in five of his last six games scoring his first professional goal and notching four assists over that span. On the season, Sickavish has set career highs with a goal, nine assists and 10 points.

Catch the Hounds Webcasts on steelhounds.com

The SteelHounds and Broadcast Monsters.com have joined forces to bring you all the action of the SteelHounds games, both home and on the road. Just log onto steelhounds.com and click on the ‘Listen Live" link and you'll be hearing the call from the "Voice of the Hounds" Bob Hoffman. The SteelHounds are heard locally on WBBW- ESPN Radio, 1240 The Fan.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2006


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