Weekly Arrowhead

Published on October 26, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Johnstown Chiefs News Release


Johnstown, Pa. - The Johnstown Chiefs were unable to pick up their first win of the season last week, but did get their first standings point for making it to overtime against Elmira on Saturday night. This week, the Chiefs will have a great opportunity to gain ground in the standings. They will be on the road for three games in three days against East Division foes Trenton and Reading.

Record: 0-3-1, 1 pts., 4th place East Division,

Leaders:

Goals - Seven skaters: 1

Assists - Mike Bartlett: 3

Points - Mike Bartlett: 4

+/- - Connor Shields, Troy Schwab, Jarrett Konkle: 0

PIMs - Matt Robinson: 9

PPG - Mike Knight, Ryan Del Monte: 1

SHG -

Wins -

GAA - Kris Mayotte: 3.30

SVP - Kris Mayotte: .908

This Week:

10/30 at Trenton, 7:00 p.m. - Home (0-0-0), Away (0-1-0)

The Chiefs return to the site where they opened this season's road schedule; the Sovereign Bank Arena, to take on the Trenton Devils. The Chiefs lost 5-2 to Trenton on October 21. The Devils host Wheeling on Wednesday before the Chiefs visit, while Johnstown will have been off since October 24. Kory Nagy had a big night with two goals the last time the teams met. The Chiefs' offense was in high gear that game with 37 shots on net, but Dave Caruso turned aside all but two. Johnstown has lost five straight games in Trenton dating back to October 30, 2008.

10/31 & 11/1 at Reading, 1:05 p.m. (both games) - Home (0-0-0), Away (0-0-0)

Johnstown makes its first trip to Reading this season looking to re-establish their dominance against their in-state rivals. Johnstown is 14-5-1 against Reading over the last two seasons including 13 consecutive wins from Feb. 27, 2008 to March 29, 2009. Reading won 2-1 on March 29 to snap the Chiefs' long winning streak, but Johnstown did finish the season with a 9-1-0 record in the rivalry. The Royals currently sit in second place in the East Division with a 1-2-2 record and four points. Second-year pro Stefano Giliati leads reading with eight points (4G, 4A).

Day by Day:

Mon. 10/26: Practice at UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at CCWM, 10:00 a.m.

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

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

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

Fri. 10/30: Chiefs at Trenton Devils, 7:00 p.m.

Sat. 10/31: Chiefs at Reading Royals, 1:05 p.m.

Sun. 11/1: Chiefs at Reading Royals, 1:05 p.m.

Broadcast Schedule:

Fri. 10/30: Chiefs at Trenton Devils, 7:00 p.m. - internet only

Sat. 10/31: Chiefs at Reading Royals, 1:05 p.m. - radio and internet

Sun. 11/1: Chiefs at Reading Royals, 1:05 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 or www.echl.com.

Last Week: (0-2-1)

10/21 at Trenton: L 2-5

The Chiefs found themselves in a 4-0 hole thanks to two quick scoring spurts by the Devils. Jeff Prough and Kory Nagy scored 1:57 apart in the first period then Nagy teamed with Scott Bartlett 1:12 apart in the second. Johnstown fought back throughout the second half of the game, outshooting Trenton 37-32 for the game, while getting an even strength goal from Matt Robinson and a power play goal from Mike Knight. Shane Connelly replaced started Kris Mayotte a little less than halfway through the game and made 11 saves on 12 shots in his first pro action.

10/23 at Elmira: L 4-7

In the first half of a weekend home-and-home against Elmira Johnstown again found itself in an early hole trying to climb out. This time it was Elmira's power play that undid the Chiefs. The Jackals would put four man-advantage goals past Shane Connelly in his first pro start before Johnstown got on the board. Once Johnstown's offense got rolling, though, it put the pressure on Elmira in a big way. Dan Collin, Mike Bartlett, and Ryan Del Monte scored in succession to draw Johnstown within one in the third period. Elmira re-upped its two-goal lead with another power play goal but Ryan Menei put the Chiefs back within one with 31 seconds remaining. Connelly was pulled for the extra attacker advantage, but the Jackals scored twice into the empty net.

10/24 vs. Elmira: L 1-2 OT

The Chiefs garnered a couple of season firsts in their most recent contest. They held their first lead of the season thanks to a Connor Shields tally that broke a scoreless tie with 7:08 left in regulation. They also earned their first standings points of the season by making it to overtime. The extra session was forced by a Ben Wright goal with just 33 ticks left on the clock, and goalie Chris Holt pulled for the extra attacker. Elmira's Chanse Fitzpatrick prevented Johnstown's first win of the season with a slap shot from the right wing with 1:57 to play in overtime.

CHIEFS CHOPS:

Scoring Streaks:

Goals:

Assists: M. Bartlett - 3 games (3A) 10/21-10/24

Points: M. Bartlett - 3 games (1G, 3A) 10/21-10/24

Quick Hits:

- Mike Bartlett's three game point streak is tied for the longest he's had as a Chief. He had two goals and three assists in three games last season from 2/7/09-2/13/09.

- The Chiefs are perfect on the penalty kill at home 12-for-12 this season.

- Ryan Del Monte scored his first power play goal of the season 10/23 at Elmira. In 2008-09 Del Monte had one power play goal that was scored on 12/31/08 against Trenton.

- Johnstown is the least penalized team in the East Division (74 PIMs) and only Cincinnati (59), Gwinnett (71) and Charlotte (59) have fewer penalty minutes in the American Conference.

Back in the Fold: Second-year Chiefs winger Tyler Hirsch got on the scoresheet for the first time this season with an assist last night against Elmira. It was his first pro point since 3/26/08 as he took the 08-09 season off. As a rookie in 2007-08 Hirsch produced 30 points (11G, 19A) in 31 games for the Chiefs before a trade deadline deal sent him to Stockton. With the Thunder, the Bloomington, MN native scored another five points (2G, 3A) in nine games. Hirsch had his best game as a professional against Elmira on 2/8/08. That night the Chiefs drubbed the Jackals by a score of 9-3 and the former Golden Gopher posted two goals and two assists.

Road Warriors: Johnstown faces a challenging road schedule over the first two months of the 2009-10 season. Including Wednesday's road opener in Trenton, Johnstown will play 12 out of 19 games in October and November away from the UPMC Health Plan Ice Rink at the Cambria County War Memorial. By comparison, Johnstown played 12 home against 8 road contests to begin 2008-09. The first two months will feature each of Johnstown's longest stays away from the War Memorial; five games from 10/30 to 11/7 and four games from 11/14 to 11/22 (includes southern trip to Charlotte and Charleston S.C.). Johnstown was just a shade under .500 on the road in 08-09 and 07-08 at 16-18-2.

Mark Your Calendars! Don't forget about these upcoming home games:

- Wednesday, October 11 vs. Reading - 7:35 p.m.

o Post-Veterans' Day Parade Celebration and Jersey Auction. Military veterans and active members will be honored during a pregame ceremony, and can purchase tickets for the game for just $5! The Chiefs will also be wearing special camouflage jerseys that will be auctioned off live immediately following the game. Don't forget it's a special 7:35 start time.

- Friday, November 13 vs. Wheeling - 7:05 p.m.

o Dollar Dog Friday courtesy of SMG. Hot dogs are just $1 to everyone in attendance! Also don't forget about Em's Friday Meal Deal. For $10 you get and Em's Sub, a drink, a bag of chips and a voucher good for that Friday's Chiefs game. Available at all five Em's locations.

- Wednesday, November 25 vs. Reading - 7:05 p.m.

o Wendy's Wednesday Family Four Pack Night #1 - Courtesy of Wendy's, families of four can purchase four tickets, four hot dogs, four drinks, and four boxes of popcorn for just 44!

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ECHL Stories from October 26, 2009


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