Weekly Arrowhead

January 7, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - The Johnstown Chiefs split a pair of games in Wheeling last weekend to remain in sixth place in the North Division. This weekend finds the Chiefs on the road again with a trip to Elmira on Friday, and Reading on Saturday.

Record - 12-19-0-1, 25 pts., 6th place North Division

Leaders:

Goals - Jean Desrochers: 12

Assists - Alexandre Imbeault: 17

Points - Alexandre Imbeault: 27

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

PIMs - Kris Kasper: 124

PPG - Jean Desrochers: 8

Wins - Ryan Nie: 9

GAA - Andrew Penner: 3.39

SVP - Andrew Penner: .887

This Week:

1/11 at Elmira:

The Chiefs visit First Arena for the second time this year for a 7:35 PM face off against the second-place Jackals. The Jackals won the most recent game between the teams, a 5-2 victory on New Year's Eve in Johnstown. Rookies Tyler Hirsch (1G, 1A) and Alex Imbeault (2A) lead the Chiefs in points against Elmira, and Ryan Nie is 1-1 in his two starts against the Jackals. Nie and the Chiefs won their first game in Elmira in thrilling fashion, tying the game at one on a Randy Rowe goal in the third period before winning in a shootout.

1/12 at Reading

The Chiefs will pay their interstate rivals a visit for the first of five games at the Sovereign Center in 2008. Johnstown is 0-2 against Reading this year, but has not faced the Royals in over two months (11/10/07). Jean Desrochers has three assists in the two games against Reading to lead the Chiefs, while six different players have accounted for each of the Chiefs' six goals against the Royals. Reading won the last meeting 6-2 on the strength of four goals by Chris Blight. The Chiefs posted a season-high four power play goals against Reading on 10/20/07.

"Pow-Wow" Planner:

The brand-new Johnstown Chiefs talk-show, "The Pow-Wow", kicked off last Thursday from the Lower Works of the Johnstown Brewing Company. The show was hosted by Ray Schmitt, the voice of the Chiefs, with guests Brian Deeth and Brandon Straub. The show was a definite success and everyone who attended had a good time. "The Pow-Wow's" next episode will be Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 PM, again, at the JBC's Lower Works. Keep an eye on www.johnstownchiefs.com to see who the guests will be!

Day by Day:

Mon. 1/7: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 AM

Tues. 1/8: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 AM

Wed. 1/9: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 AM

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

Fri. 1/11: Chiefs at Elmira Jackals, 7:35 PM

Sat. 1/12: Chiefs at Reading Royals, 7:05 PM

Sun. 1/13: Off

Last Week:

1/4 at Wheeling: W 3-2 OT

The Chiefs had the odds stacked against them heading into the third period of Friday's game against Wheeling. They had only won one other time this season when trailing after two periods, and had won twice when their opponents scored first. Johnstown fought back, though, and tied the game at two with Rob Drummond's power play goal at the five-minute mark of the third period. The game headed to overtime where Randy Rowe provided the heroics. He used Curtiss Patrick as a screen, and blasted a slap shot by Martin Houle for the OT winner 3:02 into the extra frame. The goal ran the Chiefs record in one-goal games to 5-0-0-1.

1/5 at Wheeling: L 3-2

After falling behind 2-0 for the second game in a row, the Chiefs put up a valiant effort in their attempt to pull off another comeback. Joey Olson, called up for the weekend from Mon Valley of the MAHL, and Tyler Hirsch scored 2:57 apart to get the Chiefs back on even footing past the midway mark of the third period. But the Nailers, who got six consecutive power play chances in the third, would get their first win under Greg Puhalski thanks to Sean Collins' second power play goal of the game.

Earning His Keep:

While the Chiefs certainly could have used leading scorer, and ECHL All Star, Alexandre Imbeault last weekend, the good news is that he had a very solid weekend with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. In his debut on Friday against Springfield, Imbeault did not score but registered four shots. He broke through in a big way, though, on Saturday with a two-point game. He assisted on Martins Karsums' goal in the second period before his first AHL goal tied the game with 22 seconds left in the game. Providence eventually fell in a shootout, but Imbeault was named the second star of the game.



ECHL Stories from January 7, 2008


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