Rivermen at Chicago (7:00pm) Pre Game Notes

Tonight the Peoria Rivermen are in Chicago, Illinois. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Rivermen: 0-2-0-0 (0pts) – 5th in Midwest Division

Chicago: 2-0-0-0 (4pts) – 1st in Midwest Division

 

Away Radio: CDCountry 107.9 (streaming available)

Home Radio: AHL LIVE

Away Twitter: @Peoria_Rivermen or @RivsGameday

Home Twitter: @theshaves or @Chicago_Wolves

Wolves blog: Shaver’s Shout Outs

LAST 10 GAMES:

Rivermen: 0-2-0-0

Chicago: 2-0-0-0

 

SEASON SERIES:

Oct. 17 – Rivermen @ Chicago (7:00pm)

Oct. 26 – Chicago @ Rivermen (7:05pm)

Nov. 16 – Chicago @ Rivermen (7:05pm)

Nov. 17 – Rivermen @ Chicago (7:00pm)

Dec. 01 – Rivermen @ Chicago (7:00pm)

Jan. 23 – Chicago @ Rivermen (10:05am) **Face-off Field Trip**

Feb. 02 – Rivermen @ Chicago (7:00pm)

Feb. 05 – Rivermen @ Chicago (11:00am)

Feb. 23 – Chicago @ Rivermen (7:05pm)

Mar. 23 – Chicago @ Rivermen (7:05pm)

…McKenna was supposed to start game 2 in Abbotsford, but with Shakey Jakey (™?) his start got pushed. Will he be in tonight against Chicago?

…a win would be nice. I hate to lose to division opponents.

…Bret Sterling is back with the Wolves after warming the penalty box with the Rivermen for much of the year last season. When he and Haydar are on they are a sight to see. Here’s hoping they are off.

 

Rivermen at Abbotsford (9:00pm) Pre Game Notes

Tonight the Rivermen will be taking on the Abbotsford Heat in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Rivermen: 0-1-0-0 (0pts) – 5th Midwest Division

Abbotsford: 1-0-0-0 (2pts) – 1st North Division

Away Radio:  CD Country 107.9 (streaming)

Home Radio: Streaming HERE 

Away Twitter: @Peoria_Rivermen or @RivsGameday

Home Twitter: @abbotsfordheat

Heat Blog: Abbotsford Heat Hub 

LAST 10 GAMES:

Rivermen: 0-1-0-0

Abbotsford: 1-0-0-0

SEASON SERIES:

Oct. 12 – Rivermen 1 – ABBOTSFORD 4

Oct. 13 – Rivermen @ Abbotsford (9:00pm)

Dec. 31 – Abbotsford @ Rivermen (6:05pm)

Feb. 15 – Abbotsford @ Rivermen (7:05pm)

…sound off in the comments section before, during, after the game.

Rivermen 1 – Abbotsford 4

This is a tale of twenty minutes.

The second period is where the Heat mustered three goals, out shot, out played, and generally beat the living tar out of the Rivermen.

The first and third belonged to the Rivermen. So much so that McKenna came in to relieve a beleaguered Allen and saw two shots.

Two.

It wasn’t that Allen played terribly. He didn’t. It wasn’t that the team folded. They didn’t. It was simply that they had a bad period of hockey. That happens.

It’s opening night, and as per the Peoria way, we tanked it for the 5th straight year. It happens. There are 75 more games to go.

There are things that went right, namely Jaden Schwartz displayed the ability to stick handle his way out of a paper bag that is on fire. Man, he has some sick hands. Despite the second period I thought the defense was markedly better. Overall better puck movement out of the zone and during the powerplay.

There were things that went wrong, and I am looking right at Phil McRae when I say this: If Peluso is fixing to throw punches at someone YOU LET HIM. Especially when the pugilist is former Rivermen Akim Aliu. Do not stop his punches with your face. Do not think that you are supposed to, in any way, make that part of your role on this team. It is not your job to take care of that. If you want to fire up the team I suggest you try and do so with super-sweet between the legs moves, ok?

Peluso… if you want to score go ahead. If you want to smash, go ahead. I have no problems with you. Nor, apparently did anyone on Abbotsford.

Line brawl after final horn as ABB Akim Aliu challenges any Rivermen player not named Anthony Peluso. #pjsrivs—
Dave Eminian (@icetimecleve) October 13, 2012

Aliu isn’t too stupid. He knows who to fight.

Just chew on this tidbit… LEADING GOAL SCORER is Anthony Peluso with 1, and the PENALTY MINUTES LEADER is, well, Brett Ponich with 12. But McRae is currently WAY ahead on fighting majors.

Then there is this from our new captain:

Tough opening night loss for the #rivermaniacs here in Abby. Short term memory and bounce back like the elastic in a new pair of undies.—
Scott Ford (@SFordy4) October 13, 2012

Now that is poetry. I like him already.

Rivermen are back at it tonight in Abbotsford again with a 9pm start.

Rivermen at Abbotsford (9:00pm) Pre Game Notes

This is it! Opening night of the 2012-2013 season! The only downside is that we’re not opening at home.

Tonight the Rivermen will be taking on the Abbotsford Heat in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Rivermen: 0-0-0-0 (0pts) T – 1st Midwest Division

Abbotsford: 0-0-0-0 (0pts) T – 1st North Division

Away Radio:  CD Country 107.9 (streaming)

Home Radio: Streaming HERE 

Away Twitter: @Peoria_Rivermen or @RivsGameday

Home Twitter: @abbotsfordheat

Heat Blog: Abbotsford Heat Hub 

LAST 10 GAMES:

Rivermen: 0-0-0-0

Abbotsford: 0-0-0-0

SEASON SERIES:

Oct. 12 – Rivermen @ Abbotsford (9:00pm)

Oct. 13 – Rivermen @ Abbotsford (9:00pm)

Dec. 31 – Abbotsford @ Rivermen (6:05pm)

Feb. 15 – Abbotsford @ Rivermen (7:05pm)

…oh boy. Oh boy. Ohboyohboyohboyohboy.

…yeah, I am like a kid at Christmas.

Rivermen name a captain… this time before the season starts!

Last year it took some time for a captain to be named, and in the end Cracknell was the guy. This year we know who will be wearing the “C” starting in game 1.

Rivermen have named veteran D-man Scott Ford as their 2012-13 captain. Adam Cracknell and Taylor Chorney will wear an 'A' #blues #rivermen—
Dave Eminian (@icetimecleve) October 10, 2012

…Cracknell impressed me early last season, and I called for him to get the “C” before he was named. By the end of the season I was still firm in my convictions, but it seemed as if the room had gotten away from him and Bednar.

…Ford is a proven commodity, wearing the “C” in Milwaukee.

…glad Cracknell gets to wear the “A”

Rivermen Roster Reduced… Ramalamadingdong… Really.

Blogging from my phone on the road, but here is some news going into the regular season opener in Abbotsford:

Peoria Rivermen General Manager Kevin McDonald announced today that the club has assigned goaltender Paul Karpowich and forwards Brett Sonne Tyler Shattock and Cody Beach to the Rivermen ECHL affiliate, the Evansville IceMen. 

 Tyler Shelast, Jesse Perrin, Mike Glaicar and Jesse Durocher have been released from the professional tryout contracts (PTO). Shelast and Perrin are expected to report to Evansville while Glaicar is expected to join the Rapid City Rush (CHL).

 Peoria’s roster now stands at 24 players comprised of 14 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders.

 

More benefits of the NHL lockout: National Burke Broadcasting System

As the preseason rolls on, and here at HQ I get ready for spending another Rivermen season in the trenches comes this tidbit, a unintentional (but awesome) benefit of the NHL lockout:

The American Hockey League and the Peoria Rivermen announced today that regular-season AHL action will be heard live onSiriusXM NHL Network Radio, beginning with the opening night of the 2012-13 season on Oct. 12.

SiriusXM NHL Network Radio will carry AHL action on its main channel (Sirius 207, XM 92) beginning with an action-packed opening weekend featuring eight AHL games, including an opening-night doubleheader featuring the Oklahoma City Barons and the Lake Erie Monsters, followed by the Rivermen taking on the Abbotsford Heat.

Peoria’s first three games (October 12 & 13 @ Abbotsford and October 17 @ Chicago) will all be carried throughout the United States and Canada. Rivermen radio voice Brendan Burke will have the call on Oct. 17 while the voice of the Abbotsford Heat Ryan Pinder will call the action during the opening weekend.

…the bold letters highlighting the Burke broadcast is my own addition, but warranted. This excellent exposure for the club and the hard working Brendan Burke. His call up to the Blues last year to fill in was a good reward, but calling the Rivermen to a nationwide, hockey starved, audience is just awesome.

…wonder if he’s nervous.