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December 31, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - The Johnstown Chiefs finished off the final week of 2007 with road contests in Trenton and Wheeling. After splitting those games, the Chiefs return home this week to close out the year with their traditional New Year's Eve game on Monday, then head west for two more games in Wheeling on Friday and Saturday.

Record - 11-17-0-1, 23 pts., 6th place North Division

Leaders:

Goals - Jean Desrochers: 12

Assists - Alexandre Imbeault: 16

Points - Alexandre Imbeault: 26

+/- - B.J. Crum: +3

PIMs - Kris Kasper: 117

PPG - Jean Desrochers: 8

Wins - Ryan Nie: 8

GAA - Ryan Nie: 3.82

SVP - Ryan Nie: .867

This Week:

12/31 vs. Elmira:

The Chiefs will be playing for the 11th-consecutive time on New Year's Eve when the Elmira Jackals make their first trip to Johnstown. The Chiefs have not faced the expansion Jackals since October 21 in Elmira where Johnstown won a very tight 2-1 game by virtue of a shootout. Ryan Nie turned in one of his best games of the year that night, making 36 saves in regulation, and turning away three of the Jackals' four shooters in the shootout.

12/4 & 12/5 at Wheeling:

The Nailers won the fewest games in the ECHL in the month of December, and the Chiefs contributed to that cause by beating Wheeling both times they faced off in the final month of 2007. The second win came last Friday, December 28 snapping the Chiefs' season-long eight-game losing streak. The Chiefs are 2-1 at WesBanco Arena this year, and have scored five goals in each victory there.

He's Been Around:

When the Chiefs' veteran-forward Randy Rowe takes the ice Monday night against Elmira, it will be his 350th ECHL game. The 350 games are split between the Chiefs (102) and the Peoria Rivermen (248) where he played his only full 72-game season in 2004-05.

Day by Day:

Mon. 12/31: Chiefs vs. Elmira Jackals, 6:00 PM

Tues. 1/1: Off

Wed. 1/2: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 AM

Thurs. 1/3: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 AM

Fri. 1/4: Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers, 7:35 PM

Sat. 12/22: Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers, 7:35 PM

Sun. 12/23: Off

Last Week:

12/27 at Trenton: L 5-0

The Chiefs dropped a game to the Trenton Devils for the first time this season, and were shut out for the second time on Thursday night. Mike Brown was lifted at the start of the third period after giving up four goals in the first two. Ryan Nie came on to finish the game, but was unable to keep Trenton's Brad Mills from picking up his third goal of the game. Brown received his third consecutive start against the Devils that night, but is still searching for his first ECHL win this year.

12/28 at Wheeling: W 5-2

With both teams looking to stay out of last place in the North Division, the Chiefs were able to pick up the win by jumping on the Nailers in the first period. Alex Imbeault, Randy Rowe, and Vincent Zaore scored on Nailers goalie Martin Houle who faced 18 shots in the first. The Nailers tried to combat the deficit with a Sean Collins power play goal in the second, but Rowe and Rob Drummond both beat Nathan Marsters, who replaced Houle in the second, to provide some insurance.

Another Rookie First:

Chiefs defenseman Vincent Zaore became the eighth rookie to score his first pro goal in the black and gold this season. His slap shot slid under Martin Houle, a teammate of Zaore's in juniors, with 1:08 left in the first period of Friday's game in Wheeling. The goal would also turn out to be the game winner.

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