SteelHounds Weekly

Published on March 3, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


32-19-4 (68 points)

Second Place in Northeast Division

Fourth Place in Northern Conference

Hounds Sweep the Thunder

The SteelHounds completed their first three game sweep in nearly two years when they defeated the Wichita Thunder on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night Chris Richards scored his 200th Central Hockey League goal as the Hounds won a 4-3 game. Nathan Schwartzbauer scored the game winning goal. It was more Schwartzbauer theatrics on Saturday night as he scored a shorthanded goal for the game winner as part of a 6-3 win. Sunday afternoon was the closest game in the series as Youngstown defeated Wichita 3-2 in a shootout. Andy Franck stopped all five Thunder shots in the shootout and had 28 saves on 30 shots for the game in the win.

What's On Tap: Finish the Road Schedule

The longest, toughest road schedule in professional sports ends this weekend. The Hounds began the season with a league record 14 game road trip and are now down to the final three road games of the regular season. Friday night they take on the Rocky Mountain Rage (33-16-5, 71 points) at 9:05. Saturday night they visit the Colorado Eagles (33-16-5, 71 points) at 9:05 before finishing the trip in Wichita against the Thunder (17-35-2, 36 points) on Sunday night at 6:05. The Hounds took two-of-three from Rocky Mountain at the Chevrolet Centre in late January. The Hounds fell to the Eagles 7-3 on February 22nd at the Budweiser Events Center. The Hounds have never defeated the Eagles in Colorado going 0-5-0 lifetime. The Hounds are 17-11-1 on the road this season. All SteelHounds games are available on ESPN Radio 1240 and SteelHounds.com.

Congratulations Chris Richards

Hounds captain Chris Richards achieved two more milestones for his career on Friday night. He became the 17th man in league history to play 500 games and the 14th to score 200 goals in his Central Hockey League career. Richards, 32, leads the Hounds with 46 assists and 66 points this season. The Austintown, Ohio resident is in his eighth CHL season spending time with Indianapolis, Macon, New Mexico and Austin. He has 201 goals and 422 assists in 502 Central Hockey League games. Richards started his professional career in Germany during the 1999-2000 season and sits three points away from 700 for his professional career.

Shorthanded, No Problem

Nathan Schwartzbauer's game winner happened to be Youngstown's 15th shorthanded goal of the season. That is good for third in the Central Hockey League. Petr Pohl leads the way for the Hounds with six shorthanded goals which is also third in the CHL. Youngstown's penalty kill is 10th in the league at 82.6% despite the amount of shorthanded goals.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2008


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