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Weekly Arrowhead

March 31, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, PA - Last week was a banner one for the Chiefs as records fell and playoff berths were locked up. This week, the Chiefs have three games to tune up for the Kelly Cup Playoffs which will begin Sunday in Dayton.

Record - 34-30-2-3, 73 pts., 4th place North Division

Leaders:

Goals - Ryan Garlock: 26

Assists - Randy Rowe: 43

Points - Randy Rowe: 67

+/- - Randy Rowe: +21

PIMs - Mike Sgroi: 212

PPG - Jean Desrochers: 12

Wins - Ryan Nie: 28

GAA - Ryan Nie: 2.87

SVP - Ryan Nie: .895

This Week:

4/2 at Reading, 6:35 p.m. (4-4-1)

The Chiefs close their season slate against Reading on Wednesday at the Sovereign Center. That building has been kind to the Chiefs this season as they have earned at least one point in three out of four games (2-1-1). Fans will probably be treated to an exciting game, as well, if past games are any indication. The average margin of victory in games played between the Chiefs and Royals at the Sovereign Center is a paltry 1.5. One interesting fact to consider: Wednesday's game will be the third time in a row the Chiefs have began a month by playing a game in Reading and the previous two (Feb. and March) were the most successful months of the season.

4/4 vs. Wheeling 7:05 p.m. (8-4-0)

This Friday's game against Wheeling will close out the Chiefs' 36-game home schedule. The Chiefs' home (and season) opener came against Wheeling, a 4-2 loss at the Cambria County War Memorial. Johnstown will try to erase all memories of the Nailers' 6-5 win in the last meeting between the teams in Johnstown on March 23. The Chiefs are 4-2-0 in their building against Wheeling, and hold a 23-12 scoring advantage. A win by Johnstown would give them nine against Wheeling this season, more than against any other team. The Chiefs will be hosting their Fan Appreciation Day for their final home game, and great giveaways are on tap throughout the night!

4/5 & 4/6 at Dayton 7:00 p.m. (4/5) & TBA (4/6) (3-4-0-2)

The Chiefs get one last chance, in the regular season, to accomplish a feat that has eluded them all season when they take on Dayton this Saturday; winning a game in Ohio. Each of the Chiefs four losses in regulation to Dayton have come in Ohio (2 at the Nutter Center, 2 at Hobart Arena). The Chiefs' 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs run will begin right where the regular season ended, at the Nutter Center. That game will be on Sunday with the start time yet to be announced. Johnstown's offense will need to find some traction at the Nutter Center as they have been outscored 8-2 in their two losses there.

"Pow-Wow" Planner:

The brand-new Johnstown Chiefs talk-show, "The Pow-Wow", continues on April 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lower Works Restaurant and Pub at the Johnstown Brewing Company. The guests for the final show will be forwards Alex Imbeaul and Vincent Zaore. Also, be sure to listen to the last episode with Greg Gallagher by clicking on the audio link under the "Fan Zone" section at the Chiefs' home page.

Home's Where the Wins Are:

The Chiefs' 5-0 triumph over Trenton on Sunday gave them 19 wins at the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial on the season. With Johnstown picking up 18 home wins in 2006-07 17 in 2005-06, and 14 in 2004-05, the Chiefs have now improved on their win total at home for three straight years, a first for the team. If they are able to beat Wheeling in the home finale on Friday, it would give the Chiefs 20 wins on home ice. That would be the highest total since a team-record 26 home wins in 2003-04. Counting the 03-04 season, Johnstown has won 20 or more home games five times. Those seasons and their totals are: 2003-04 (26), 2001-02 (23), 2000-01 (20), 1994-95 (20), and 1993-94 (21).

Day by Day:

Mon. 3/31: Off

Tues. 4/1: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Wed. 4/2: Chiefs at Reading Royals; 6:35 p.m.

Thurs. 4/3: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 12:00 p.m.

Fri. 4/4: Chiefs vs. Wheeling Nailers; 7:05 p.m.

Sat. 4/5: Chiefs at Dayton Bombers; 7:05 p.m.

Sun. 4/6: Chiefs at Dayton Bombers; TBA (Kelly Cup Playoff Opener)

Last Week: (3-0-0)

3/28 at Wheeling: W 3-1

The Chiefs responded to a 6-5 loss to Wheeling at home the previous Sunday with a workman-like 3-1 win on the Nailers' ice in return. Alex Imbeault's 23rd goal of the year came from Mike Knight and Randy Rowe to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead 13:35 into the game. Greg Gallagher scored his first power play goal, and the eventual game winner, of the year at 1:09 of the second. Shawn Houde, a college teammate of Gallagher's at Hobart, assisted on the goal for his first professional point. Aaron Clarke got Wheeling within one at 9:10 of the second, but Randy Rowe's short handed goal at 19:04 of the second set the 3-1 final, and took all the momentum away from Wheeling.

3/29 vs. Cincinnati: W 6-3

Mike Sgroi returned from a 10-game suspension the night before against Wheeling, but failed to register a point. Perhaps he was just waiting to "wow" the home crowd because he exploded for three goals in the Chiefs' second consecutive win over the Cyclones. Sgroi netted his first two in the first period at the 3:41 and 8:37 mark respectively with the first coming on a breakaway and the second a stuff-in on the power play. Shawn Houde assisted on both for his first pro multi-point game. Mathieu Aubin scored the first penalty shot goal this season against Johnstown at 2:00 of the second, but the Cyclones would never get closer than one goal. Randy Rowe answered Aubin's marker at 4:24 with assists from Alex Imbeault and Wes O'Neil, his first point as a Chief. After Chris Ferazzoli scored a 9:00 of the second, Joey Olson re-upped the Chiefs two-goal lead 1:04 later. Matt MacDonald gave the Cyclones a 3-2 second period win with a goal at 17:38. But Sgroi would complete his first hat trick of the season 3:48 into the final frame, and Alex Imbeault added an empty-net goal with 33 seconds left for insurance.

3/30 vs. Trenton: W 5-0

Mike Sgroi followed his hat trick from the night before with a two-goal performance against the Devils, Joey Olson added two as well, but Ryan Nie stole the show with his second shutout of the season. The Devils, trying to stay alive in the playoff race, launched 32 shots Nie's way, but the Chiefs' all-time leader in single season victories was on top of his game making all 32 saves. Sgroi scored the game winning goal at 1:20 of the first, and Olson tallied 3:10 later. The second went scoreless in spite of Trenton's best efforts with a 14-6 shot advantage in the middle frame. Brian Deeth put any thoughts of a Trenton comeback to bed with a power play goal 55 seconds into the third period. Joey Olson made it 4-0 at 16:12 and Sgroi capped his five-goal weekend at 18:05. Randy Rowe picked up three assists in the victory while Mike Knight, Alex Imbeault, and Mark Tobin each had two.

They Had Big Weekends:

Three stars are traditionally given at the end of each game, but after this weekend's games it's appropriate to give out some weekly star honors. Ryan Nie would be the Chiefs' first star from last weekend. Not only did the Chiefs' netminder go 3-0-0 with a 1.33 goal-against average and a shutout, he broke Stan Reddick's and Freddy Deschenes' record of 25 wins in a season with his 26th Friday night in Wheeling, and had two assists in the 6-3 win over Cincinnati. It's a tough choice for the second star, but it will go to Randy Rowe who, somewhat quietly, racked up an eight-point weekend. The Chiefs' captain started things off with a goal and an assist against Wheeling before three-point nights each against Cincinnati (1G, 2A) and Trenton (3A). When it was all said and done, Rowe would assume the team lead with 67 points. Mike Sgroi gets the third star with his resurgent five-goal weekend. Sgroi was pointless and a minus-one Friday against Wheeling, but ripped off the fourth hat trick of the year for Johnstown in the 6-3 win over Cincinnati, and followed that up with two goals against Trenton. Sgroi's five goals were the most in back-to-back games by a Chiefs player this season.



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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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