Weekly Arrowhead

Published on October 27, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, Pa. - Last week, the Johnstown Chiefs wrapped up a brief three-game home stand by splitting a pair of games and they began a four-game road trip with a strong victory. This week will see the Chiefs finish up that road trip as they try to remain undefeated away from the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial.

Record: 3-2-0, 6 pts., T-2nd place North Division

Leaders:

Goals - Randy Rowe/Chris Mueller/Mark McCutcheon: 3

Assists -Petr Pohl: 7

Points - Petr Pohl: 7

+/- - Chris Mueller: +3

PIMs - Alex Penner: 22

PPG -Randy Rowe/Mark McCutcheon/Jon Landry: 2

Wins - Ian Keserich: 2

GAA - Ian Keserich: 2.65

SVP - Ian Keserich: .915

This Week:

10/30 at Trenton, 7:05 p.m. - Home (0-0-0), Away (1-0-0)

The Chiefs spoiled the Devils' home opener on Friday, October 17 with a 2-1 win to begin the season. Johnstown went 4-1-0 last season in Trenton. The lone loss was a 5-0 Trenton victory on 12/27/07 and since then, including the 2-1 win to open this season, Johnstown has won four games in a row at the Sovereign Bank Arena. The Devils are 1-4-0 on the season with the lone victory coming in a 5-4 shootout win on 10/25.

11/1 at Wheeling, 7:35 p.m. - Home (0-1-0), Away (0-0-0)

The Chiefs will be making their first trip of the season to Wheeling's WesBanco Arena this Saturday. The Nailers are off to a strong start on home ice this season with a 3-0-1, and they have scored an astounding 25 goals in those four games. Trenton has been the lone team to beat Wheeling this season with a 5-4 win in a shootout on 10/25. The Chiefs found a good deal of success in Wheeling last year as they compiled a 5-2-0 record in road games against the Nailers.

11/2 at Dayton, 5:00 p.m. - Home (0-1-0), Away (0-0-0)

The Nutter Center will be the site of Johnstown's first Sunday game of the season when they visit the Dayton Bombers. While the Chiefs won the last time they played in Dayton, a 3-1 victory to open last year's North Division Quarterfinals, they have not won a regular season game against Dayton in Ohio since a 3-2 shootout win on 3/24/07. The Bombers have started the season well, winning their first three games including two over the defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati Cyclones.

Day by Day:

Mon. 10/27: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Tues. 10/28: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Wed. 10/29: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

Thurs. 10/30: Chiefs at Trenton Devils, 7:05 p.m.

Fri. 10/31: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 12:00 noon

Sat. 11/1: Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers, 7:05 p.m.

Sun. 11/2: Chiefs at Dayton Bombers, 5:00 p.m.

Broadcast Schedule:

Thurs. 10/30: Chiefs at Trenton Devils, 7:05 p.m. - radio and internet

Sat. 11/1: Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers, 7:05 p.m. - radio and internet

Sun. 11/2: Chiefs at Dayton Bombers, 5:00 p.m. - radio and internet

All Chiefs radio broadcasts can be heard on 1490 AM WNTJ and AM 990 WNTW, and live streaming audio of every Chiefs game is available courtesy of B2 Networks at www.johnstownchiefs.com. The Chiefs radio network is presented by Dodge.

Last Week: (2-1-0)

10/22 vs. Elmira: W 5-3

In what was a battle for a share of the early North Division lead, Johnstown wasted no time in building a lead against the Jackals. Mark McCutcheon (6:39, PP), Ryan Del Monte (13:14), and Chris Mueller (19:28) each scored in the first period as Johnstown built a 3-0 lead. The goals by Del Monte and Mueller were their firsts as professionals. After the opening frame, though, the See-Saw swayed in Elmira's favor as the Jackals got goals from Bruce Watson (0:17) and Tyler Donati (8:30) in the second period, and one from Pierre-Luc Faubert (13:17) in the third to tie the game at 3. Jon Landry (16:23, PP) provided the game winner for Johnstown, and Chris Mueller added an empty netter, his second goal of the game, to seal the victory. Ian Keserich picked up the win in net with 27 saves.

10/24 vs. Dayton: L 1-0

Dayton came into the game having played only one game while the Chiefs had skated in three. The Bombers played a solid defensive game, though, and kept the Chiefs off of the scoreboard. The game was a penalty-filled one, 14 power plays for Johnstown and 9 for Dayton, and the Bombers' lone power play goal turned out to be the difference. Dan Riedel scored 2:59 into the contest, and the goal stood up because the Chiefs could not beat goaltender David Shantz with any of their 23 shots. Keserich made his fourth consecutive start in net and took the loss in spite of only allowing one goal.

10/25 at Reading: W 6-4

The Chiefs have traditionally had offensive success at the Sovereign Center, and last Saturday was no different. The Chiefs had their strongest offensive showing of the season, and held off a late Reading charge to preserve the win. Chris Mueller's third goal of the year put the Chiefs on the board at 7:24 of the first, and they held the 1-0 lead after one. Tyler Doig tied the game for Reading with a power play goal 24 seconds into the second period, but that's as close as the game would get. Johnstown ran off four unanswered goals in the second period from Ray Macias (3:40, PP), Mark McCutcheon (10:58, SH), Jon Landry (12:11, PP), and Randy Rowe (19:02, PP). The power play goal by Macias broke an 0-for-16 stretch for the Chiefs on the power play. Reading began the long climb back with a goal from Kirk MacDonald at 7:41, and then drew within one goal thanks to Steve Ward (11:43, PP) and Jeff Corey (19:27). Corey's goal came with goalie Danny Taylor pulled for an extra attacker, but that move backfired on the second attempt as Randy Rowe scored an empty-net goal with a half second remaining to set the final. Sebastian Dahm, on loan from Syracuse, won his first pro game as he made 19 saves.

CHIEFS CHOPS:

Scoring Streaks:

Goals:

- None

Assists:

- None

Points:

- None

Pile 'Em On: Petr Pohl had a four assist night in Johnstown's 6-4 win over Reading last Saturday. It was the most points scored by a Chief so far this season, and Pohl now leads Johnstown with seven points (7A) on the season. Two Chiefs, Jean Desrochers (12/28 at WHL) and Ryan Garlock (2/8 at ELM), had four assists in a game last year for Johnstown. The team record for assists, and points, in a game is seven by Tom Sasso on 3/30/1989 vs. Erie.

Openers Galore: The Chiefs took part in three home openers this season, most in the ECHL. They won both openers away from the War Memorial (2-1 at Trenton on 10/17 and 6-4 at Reading on 10/25) but lost their own home opener 4-2 against Wheeling. The Chiefs have lost their last two home openers to Wheeling by the same score.

Mr. Special Teams: First year Chief Mark McCutcheon is tied for the team lead in goals with Randy Rowe and Chris Mueller with three. McCutcheon, though, has been "special" with his three tallies as each of his goals have come on special teams. His two power play goals are tied for most on the team, with Rowe and Mueller, and he also has the lone shorthanded goal the Chiefs have scored this season. The "shorty" came in the second period of the Chiefs' 6-4 win over Reading, and gave them a 3-1 lead at the time.

Quick on the Rebound: Dayton's 1-0 win over the Chiefs was the first shutout in the ECHL this season. Johnstown was shut out four times last season, but was a perfect 4-0-0 in the games immediately after the shutout. They improved to 5-0-0 following shutout losses by knocking off Reading 6-4 following the loss to Dayton.

First Time for Everything: A number of Johnstown rookies picked up professional firsts this week. Ryan Del Monte earned his first pro goal and assist in the 5-3 win over Elmira, as did Chris Mueller. Del Monte (1G, 1A) and Mueller (2G, 1A) also had their first pro multi-point games. Then on Saturday, Andrew Sarauer assisted on Mark McCutcheon's shorthanded goal for his first pro point, and Sebastian Dahm earned his first pro win in net.

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