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This Week in The ECHL

December 8, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


Gladiators Move Into Thick Of South Race

Going 4-0-1 in their last five games and 7-2-1 in the last 10 games, Gwinnett has moved into third place in the South Division with 24 points (10-6-4), two points behind second-place South Carolina (12-6-2) and two points ahead of fourth-place Mississippi (10-9-2). Florida leads the division with 32 points (15-3-2) after going 7-1-1 on their recent nine-game road trip.

The Gladiators play at Mississippi on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and host the Sea Wolves on Friday while South Carolina plays at Florida on Friday and Saturday.

Gwinnett is 2-1-1 at Mississippi and 4-1-1 overall against the Sea Wolves this season and set a team record for goals in a 9-2 win at Mississippi on Saturday, breaking the mark of eight goals scored in each of their first five seasons and seven times total. The Gladiators tied their team record for goals in a period (five in the third) and power-play goals (five) on Saturday.

Jordan Fox (3g-6a) and Brad Schell (5g-4a) are the leading scorers for Gwinnett in the last five games while rookie Matt Siddall has seven points (1g-6a). Fox leads the Gladiators in the last 10 games with 13 points (5g-8a) while Schell (7g-4a), Siddall (3g-8a) and Pat Bateman (5g-6a) have each scored 11 points.

Gwinnett's Josh Johnson is 3-0-0 with a goals-against average of 2.00 in the last five games and 5-2-0 with a goals-against average of 2.33 in the last 10 games while Kevin Nastiuk is 1-0-1 with a goals-against average of 2.40 in the last five games and 2-0-1 with a shootout win and a goals-against average of 2.53 in the last 10 games.

South Carolina is 1-1-0 on the road and 2-2-0 overall this season against Florida to improve to 37-35-9 all-time against the Everblades, who are 2-1-1 in the season series and 44-25-12 all-time against the Stingrays.

South Carolina rookie Michal Neuvirth is 5-3-0 and leads the league with a goals-against average of 1.74 and a save percentage of .938 while ranking second with two shutouts. Florida's Anton Khudobin is 10-1-1 and leads the league with three shutouts while ranking second in goals-against average with 1.94 and save percentage with .931. South Carolina's Bobby Goepfert is 5-1-2 and ranks third with a goals-against average of 2.10. Everblades rookie David Leggio, who is currently playing in the American Hockey League for Albany, is 5-2-1 and tied for second with two shutouts while ranking fourth in goals-against average with 2.16 and fifth in save percentage of .928.

The Everblades lead the league on the power play with 25.2 percent (36-for-143) and on the penalty kill with 89.6 percent (121-for-135) while also ranking first in goals per game with 4.30 and goals-against average with 2.15. South Carolina is second on the power play with 25.0 percent (26-for-104) and goals-against average with 2.30 while ranking fifth on the penalty kill with 85.2 percent (109-for-128) and goals per game with 3.50. Florida and South Carolina are tied for the ECHL lead with six shorthand goals each while the Everblades are tied for first with one shorthand goal allowed and the Stingrays are tied for fourth with two shorthand goals allowed.



American Conference - North Division

Cincinnati Cyclones

* Cyclones were named "Best Pro Sports Team" by Cincinnati Magazine.

* Martin Houle is 5-1-1 with a goals-against average of 2.19 since joining the Cyclones.

* Cyclones host Johnstown on Monday, Charlotte on Tuesday and Saturday and Wheeling on Friday.

Dayton Bombers

* Bombers scored five goals in 10 minutes in first period of 8-1 win against Wheeling on Saturday.

* Christian Gaudet has five points (1g-4a) in his last two games including career-high four points (1g-3a) on Saturday.

* Bombers host Reading on Wednesday and Charlotte on Friday and Sunday.

Elmira Jackals

* Jackals are 8-3-1 when they score first.

* Chris Korchinski had career highs with three goals and three points on Sunday.

* Jackals play at Johnstown on Wednesday and at Reading on Friday before hosting Trenton on Sunday.

Johnstown Chiefs

* Chiefs are 7-1-1 in one-goal games including 3-0 in shootouts and 1-1 in overtime.

* Ian Keserich is 2-0-0 with a goals against average of 0.69 and a save percentage of .978 in his last two games.

* Chiefs play at Cincinnati on Monday and host Elmira on Wednesday and Trenton on Friday.

Reading Royals
* Royals ended team record tying nine-game winless streak (0-8-1) with 6-5 shootout win against Elmira on Sunday.

* Peder Skinner has scored (0g-4a) in each of his first three games since being acquired from Phoenix on Dec. 4.

* Royals play at Dayton on Wednesday and at Wheeling on Saturday and Sunday while hosting Elmira on Friday.

Trenton Devils

* Devils were only team to beat Florida on its nine-game road trip, winning 7-6 on Nov. 29 and 4-3 in shootout on Friday.

* Jeff Prough has three goals and six points in his last four games.

* Devils host Johnstown on Friday and play at Elmira on Sunday.

Wheeling Nailers

* Nailers became first team in ECHL history to reach 700 wins with 5-2 win at Dayton on Friday.

* Erik Johnson scored his first two goals for Wheeling on Friday and Saturday.

* Nailers play at Cincinnati on Friday before hosting Reading on Saturday and Sunday.

American Conference - South Division

Charlotte Checkers

* Checkers are 1-1-0 all-time against Cincinnati and 13-5-1 all-time against Dayton.
* Mike Bayrack has seven points (1g-6a) in his last five games.

* Checkers play at Cincinnati on Tuesday and Saturday and at Dayton on Friday and Sunday.

Florida Everblades

* Everblades are first in the league on the power play (25.2 percent) and the penalty kill (89.6 percent).

* Yannick Tifu (4g-14a) and Kevin Baker (10g-7a) each have a nine-game point streak.

* Everblades host South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

Gwinnett Gladiators

* Gladiators broke team record for goals in 9-2 win at Mississippi on Saturday.

* Defenseman Scott Marchesi had career highs with two assists and three points on Saturday.

* Gladiators host Mississippi on Friday and play at Mississippi on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mississippi Sea Wolves
* Mississippi is 5-0-2 when they score first.

* Rookie Alexandre Parent had his second two-goal game of the season on Saturday.

* Sea Wolves host Gwinnett on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and visit the Gladiators on Friday.

South Carolina Stingrays

* Stingrays are second in the league on the power play (25.0 percent) and fifth on the penalty kill (85.2 percent).

* Rookie Michal Neuvirth leads the ECHL with a goals-against average of 1.74 and a save percentage of .938.

* Stingrays play at Florida on Friday and Saturday.

National Conference - Pacific Division

Bakersfield Condors

* Condors are 6-4-2 on the road after going 5-0-2 from Nov. 15-Dec. 5.

* Brett Pilkington had two points (1g-1a) in his first game with Bakersfield on Dec. 5.

* Condors play at Victoria on Tuesday and at Fresno on Friday before hosting Las Vegas on Saturday.

Fresno Falcons

* Falcons are tied for fourth in the ECHL in goals-against average with 2.52.

* Kenny MacAulay is fourth among league defensemen with 15 points (3g-12a).

* Falcons host Las Vegas on Tuesday and Thursday and Bakersfield on Friday before traveling to Ontario on Saturday.

Las Vegas Wranglers

* Wranglers are second in the ECHL on the penalty kill with 89.4 percent.

* Kevin Lalande has a shutout and a goals-against average of 1.68 in his last three starts.

* Wranglers play at Fresno on Tuesday and Thursday and at Bakersfield on Saturday.

Ontario Reign

* Reign are fifth in the league on the power play with 19.6 percent.

* John Murray is 4-0-0 in his last four starts.

* Reign host Fresno on Saturday.

Stockton Thunder

* Thunder are 6-4-3 on the road and are third in the league with 48 road goals.

* Rookie Bryan Pitton is 2-0-1 with a save percentage of .908 in his last three games.

* Thunder play at Utah on Friday and Saturday.

National Conference - West Division

Alaska Aces

* Aces are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games against Idaho, including four-game sweep in 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

* Colin Hemingway has a 10-game point streak (6g-11a).

* Aces host Idaho on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Idaho Steelheads

* Ben Nelson has four goals in his last four games and is tied for second among league rookies with 11 goals.

* Steve Gainey has a four-game point streak (1g-7a).

* Steelheads play at Utah on Tuesday and at Alaska on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Phoenix RoadRunners
* RoadRunners lead the ECHL with 20 points at home (9-4-2).

* Matt Fornataro is third on the team and tied for 10th among ECHL rookies with 18 points (9g-9a).

* RoadRunners play at Victoria on Friday and Sunday.

Utah Grizzlies

* Evan Kotsopoulos has a five-game point streak (1g-5a).

* Michael Mole has started 18 consecutive games for Utah.

* Grizzlies host Idaho on Tuesday and Stockton on Friday and Saturday.

Victoria Salmon Kings

* Salmon Kings were 31-for-33 (93.9 percent) on penalty kill on recent seven-game road trip.

* Defenseman Dylan Yeo has six points (3g-3a) in his last four games.

* Salmon Kings host Bakersfield on Tuesday and Phoenix on Friday and Sunday.

Premier ‘AA' Hockey League Fast Facts

- The ECHL celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

- ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 22 teams in 16 states and British Columbia in 2008-09.

- The Reading Royals, the City of Reading and the Sovereign Center will host the 17th Annual ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21, 2009 and the 12th Annual All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 20, 2009.

- The league officially changed its name from East Coast Hockey League to ECHL on May 19, 2003.

- Affiliations with 24 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League marking 12th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

- 376 former ECHL players have played in NHL.

- 120 have played their first NHL game in the last four seasons.

- 21 former ECHL players have made their NHL debut this season: former Wheeling Nailers and ECHL All-Star defenseman Paul Bissonnette (Pittsburgh on Oct. 4) , former Bakersfield Condors center Alexandre Bolduc (Vancouver on Nov. 27), former Florida Everblades defenseman Brett Carson (Carolina on Dec. 7), former South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Sean Collins (Washington on Dec. 6), former Las Vegas Wranglers and Wheeling Nailers goaltender John Curry (Pittsburgh on Nov. 26), former Greenville Grrrowl goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (Edmonton on Oct. 17) , former Johnstown Chiefs center Andre Deveaux (Toronto on Nov. 27), former Gwinnett Gladiators right wing Pat Dwyer former Columbus Cottonmouths and Tallahassee Tiger Sharks left wing Mitch Fritz (New York Islanders on Oct. 30), former Charlotte Checkers center Dwight Helminen (Carolina on Oct. 28), former Trenton Devils right wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (New Jersey on Oct. 22), former Charlotte Checkers defenseman Steve MacIntyre (Edmonton on Oct. 15), former Florida Everblades left wing Kenndal McArdle (Florida on Dec. 2), former Phoenix RoadRunners and Wheeling Nailers center Cam Paddock (St. Louis on Nov. 14), former Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Adam Pardy (Calgary on Oct. 9), former Gwinnett Gladiators center Jared Ross (Philadelphia on Oct. 11) , former Alaska Aces goaltender Marek Schwarz (St. Louis on Oct. 25), former Greenville Grrrowl and Stockton Thunder center Tim Sestito (Edmonton on Nov. 26), former Dayton Bombers and Las Vegas Wranglers defenseman Tyler Sloan (Washington on Oct. 21), former Johnstown Chiefs and Mississippi Sea Wolves forward Radek Smolenak (Tampa Bay on Dec. 2) and former Augusta Lynx defenseman Brett Skinner (New York Islanders on Oct. 27).

- There were 72 former ECHL players on NHL opening-day rosters.

- Twenty-six former ECHL players made their NHL debut in 2007-08 including six who played in both the ECHL and the NHL: Chris Beckford-Tseu (Alaska and St. Louis), Adam Berti (Pensacola and Chicago), Joe Jensen (Wheeling and Carolina), Dan LaCosta (Elmira and Columbus), Jonathan Quick (Reading and Los Angeles) and Danny Taylor (Reading and Los Angeles).

- Record 47 former ECHL players played their first NHL game in 2005-06.

- ECHL is represented for the eighth consecutive year on the National Hockey League championship team in 2008 by Aaron Downey of the Detroit Red Wings.

- Former ECHL coaches working as head coaches in the NHL are Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals and Scott Gordon of the New York Islanders. Boudreau, who coached Mississippi for three seasons winning the Kelly Cup championship in 1999, was named NHL Coach of the Year in 2007-08 becoming the first former ECHL coach to receive the award. Peter Laviolette, who began his coaching career with the Wheeling Nailers, led Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006.

- There are 18 assistant coaches in the NHL who were players or coaches in the ECHL.

- There are 18 former ECHL officials scheduled to work as part of the NHL officiating team in 2008-09 with referees David Banfield, Chris Ciamaga, Ghislain Hebert, Marc Joannette, Mike Leggo, Wes McCauley, Dean Morton, Dan O'Rourke, Brian Pochmara, Kevin Pollock, Kyle Rehman, Chris Rooney, Justin St. Pierre and Ian Walsh and linesmen Steve Barton, Brian Mach, Tim Nowak and Jay Sharrers. Barton, Joannette, Leggo, McCauley, Nowak, Pollock, Rooney and Sharrers all worked the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

- ECHL has affiliations with 23 of the 29 teams in the American Hockey League and for the past 19 years there has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup Champion.

- In the last six seasons the ECHL has had more call-ups to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined with over 2,000 call-ups involving more than 1,000 players since 2002-03.

- Further information on the ECHL is available from its website at ECHL.com.

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ECHL Stories from December 8, 2008


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