ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The St. Charles Chill announced at a press conference today that former St. Louis Blues Defenseman Jamie Rivers will be the team’s inaugural head coach. 
The St. Charles Chill President and General Manager Nicole Kupaks made the announcement at the press conference, held at the Family Arena, the Chiill’s home ice.
Rivers, who resides with his family in St. Charles, was signed in 1993 by the St. Louis Blues and through his career has played in 454 NHL hockey games. Rivers will take the helm as the very first head coach for the St. Charles Chill Hockey Team. “Jamie is a hometown favorite,” Kupaks said. “…and most importantly, his experience in the National Hockey League, and his skill set as a player and coach is exactly what we were looking for. We are confident Jamie can bring the St. Charles Chill onto the ice in 2013 prepared to compete at an elite level, and give our fans the best game experience possible at the St. Charles Family Arena.” During Rivers’ 20 year career as a professional hockey player, he played five seasons with the St. Louis Blues, and also played for other NHL teams including the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and Detroit Redwings. While in the NHL, he scored 17 goals, recorded 49 assists, and played in 15 NHL playoff games. He was presented the Top Defenseman award for the New York Islanders in 2000. Rivers was also part of the Detroit Redwings organization that won the Presidents Trophy during their run for the Stanley Cup in 2004. ‘Am I excited? You bet,” Rivers said, “I was on the ice at Hardees Ice Rink in Chesterfield when I heard a new hockey team was coming to town. I setup a meeting with Ms. Kupaks, and am very pleased to have been selected.” “Jamie may have been born in Ottawa, Ontario, but St. Charles is where he calls home,” Kupaks added. “He has been so active in local community, we feel he will be a natural fit and an instant fan favorite.” Rivers’ initial duties will be in the front office taking care of business matters related to the formation of a new hockey team. This includes marketing and building partnerships with key players in the St. Louis market, including the St. Louis Blues. “Our first training camp is scheduled for October, 2013,” Rivers said, “…but until then, there is a business side to this, and as a coach, there are a lot of variables such as finance, marketing the brand, and preparing contracts. We are going to keep it fun and upbeat. It is very important for our players to remember these are the best times of their lives, and to never lose sight of that. They are playing the game they love and need to stay with that attitude. My reward as a coach will be seeing these kids advance their career to a higher level.” Contact comments@prohockeynews.com
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SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – The Mississippi RiverKings announced today that the hockey team will operate as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) during the 2011-2012 season, which begins in October. “Our goal has always been to build a winning hockey team in a manner that produces positive impacts in our community over and above the entertainment value to area hockey fans,” Lanier Hurdle, a board member said.  “This change will let us build relationships with teams closer to northwest Mississippi, and build interest in hockey in the region.” The RiverKings join SPHL teams in Augusta and Columbus, GA, Fayetteville, NC, Huntsville, AL, Knoxville, TN, Lafayette, LA, Biloxi, MS and Pensacola, FL.  “The SPHL is a better regional fit for the RiverKings,” Ab Mattice, General Manager/Governor for the team said. “It will create rivalries with teams within driving distance of DeSoto County. We ask our loyal fans to continue to support the RiverKings here at the DeSoto Civic Center and on the road.” “We are excited to welcome the RiverKings into the SPHL,” Jim Combs, President of the league said. “We believe they follow our league’s tradition of being deeply involved in the local community while bringing affordable family entertainment in the form of professional ice hockey to the region.” The move ends a 19-year affiliation with the Central Hockey League (CHL), in which the RiverKings were one of three remaining original members.  The RiverKings, the oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise in the Mid-South, will now begin their 20th season of operations. Contact comments@prohockeynews.com Publisher’s Note:  Stay tuned to Pro Hockey News for continuing coverage of this move from the SPHL perspective.

LOVELAND, Colo. – With their season on the line and in a 2-0 hole, the Rapid City Rush netted three unanswered goals to earn a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Eagles in game 6 of the Turner Conference Finals.
With the win, the Rush now force a deciding game 7 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, set for this Wednesday.
Rapid City’s penalty kill led the way, stopping all nine chances by the Eagles, including a combined three minutes and eleven seconds worth of 5-on-3. Les Reaney now leads all playoff skaters with 20 points after collecting a goal and an assist.
Colorado started the contest off on the right foot, collecting the opening goal at the 6:09 mark. After an offensive zone face off win, Kyle Peto sent a slap shot to the left side of the net that was redirected home by Scott May. May’s fifth goal of the postseason served as the only goal of the first period, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

With the Eagles on the power play nine minutes into the second period, May struck again while on a partial break, snapping shot through the pads of Tim Boron, giving Colorado a 2-0 cushion.
Rapid City’s power play responded when Gio Flamminio flicked a wrist shot from the high slot that made its way past a screened Andrew Penner.
After 40 minutes of action, Colorado held a 2-1 lead despite Rapid City holding a 26-20 shot advantage.
With a carry-over penalty on Scott Wray and delay of game called on newcomer Dan MacIntyre at the 20:00 mark of the second period, the Eagles began the final frame with a two-man advantage for 1:11. Not only did the Rush penalty kill answer the call, but Les Reaney backhanded home the first-ever two-man short-handed goal in team history, evening the game 2-2.
Then with 8:35 remaining in regulation, Derek LeBlanc slapped a rocket from the top of the right circle the beat Penner over the glove, giving the Rush their first lead of the game. Amateur Dan MacIntyre, who arrived to the BEC during the 2nd period, assisted on the eventual game-winner.
Rapid City faced one final power play chance from the Eagles, but the Rush held on for the 3-2 victory.
Tim Boron turned aside 24 shots for his 6th win of the playoffs, while Andrew Penner was dealt just his 2nd loss.
The Rush penalty kill finished the night 9-for-9 and has now stifled the last 20 chances by Colorado. The Rush and Eagles now clash in a deciding game 7, set for Wednesday at 6:35pm MST at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Contact comments@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Rapid City Rush and Colorado Eagles made a marathon of game four on Thursday night. At 104:35, the Turner Conference Finals contest finished as the fifth longest playoff game in Central Hockey League history.
Rush goaltender Tim Boron broke a league record that stood for over fifteen years, making 68 saves. Nonetheless, Adam Chorneyko’s goal in triple overtime lifted the Eagles to a 2-1 win and a 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.
After no goals in the first, Rush captain Scott Wray was able to break the scoreless tie with a power play goal 10:53 into the second period. Defenseman Riley Weselowski fired a shot from the right point that was turned aside by Kyle Jones, but Wray’s second rebound attempt slid under the goaltender for the 1-0 lead.
The Rush looked to be on their way to a 1-0 shutout win, but the Eagles forced overtime, collecting a goal with just 3:37 remaining in regulation. From the top of the left circle, Kevin Ulanski sent a fluttering shot over the head of Brett Thurston, off of the crossbar and in.
The first overtime was controlled by Colorado, spending much of the time in the Rush zone. The biggest opportunity of the period came at the 10:02 mark when Daymen Rycroft was hauled down, giving the Eagles a penalty shot. Taking the shot was Ulanski, but his move to the backhand was stifled by Boron, keeping the Rush alive. The penalty shot was the first ever overtime penalty shot, either for or against the Rush.
Despite two power play chances in the second OT, the Rush were unable to find the game-winner, sending the contest into the sixth period.
Within the first minute of the third overtime, Konrad Reeder ripped a shot over the glove of Kyle Jones, but the puck rang off of the right post and out. Then at the 4:35 mark, after numerous missed chances to clear the zone, rookie Adam Chorneyko walked to the right faceoff dot and snapped a shot just inside the right post, ending the affair.
Tim Boron’s 68 saves breaks the precious record for saves in a playoff game, set back on March 26, 1996 by the Tulsa Oilers. The 70 shots by the Eagles also set a CHL playoff record, set in the same game back in 1996 by the Oklahoma City Blazers. 
The Rush look to stay alive in game five, set for Saturday at 7:05pm MST at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne Komets netted four third period goals to tie Wednesday’s contest and force overtime. In the extra frame, Mathieu Curadeau potted the game-winner on the power play, forcing game #4 set for Friday. The Komets ended the night 4-for-8 on the power play and also converted a shorthanded tally.
Second-year defenseman Dave Grimson and center Konrad Reeder did the heavy lifting for the Rush in the opening frame, leading Rapid City to a 2-0 lead after the first. Just over eleven minutes into the game, Grimson fired a slap shot from the left point that deflected off of a body and past goaltender Kevin Reiter.
Then with 2:05 left, Grimson again blasted a shot from the left point, but this time Reiter stopped it, only to have Konrad Reeder poke home the rebound for the power play tally. The Rush held a 7-3 advantage in shots through the opening 20 minutes.
Despite a 19-7 shot advantage in the second period, the Rush scored the lone goal in the middle period. While on the power play, Les Reaney slid a pass to the goal mouth where Colt King jammed it home for his fifth playoff marker and a 3-0 lead for Rapid City.
Fort Wayne again dominated the shots in the third period, but this time, the Komets converted on their chances. Fort Wayne found the net four times in the third period, all goals came on special teams. Collecting Fort Wayne’s first goal was Kaleigh Schrock on the power play 3:43 into the frame, tipping home a shot from defenseman Frankie DeAngelis.
Andrew Smale buried a Les Reaney pass at the goal mouth at 7:08, regaining the three-goal lead for Rapid City. Then at 10:52, Michael Ratchuk netted a shorthanded goal, the first of four straight for the Komets. Schrock poured in his second power play goal of the game at 15:22 when he jammed home a rebound from behind Tim Boron.
With just 3:30 left in regulation, P.C. Drouin roofed a shot to the top-left corner for a power play goal to force overtime.
Unable to convert on three different power play chances, the Rush yielded an opportunity to the Komets who were able to capitalize at the 10:53 mark. From the left circle, Mathieu Curadeau snapped a shot under the blocker of Boron for the overtime game winner.
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RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Rush battled adversity in game two of the Turner Conference Semifinals against the Fort Wayne Komets, but earned a 4-3 win at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.
Rapid City’s regular season leader in all major offensive statistics, Ryan Menei, was knocked out of the game early in the first. In addition, the CHL’s leader in wins, Danny Battochio, exited the game during the first intermission after an apparent injury.
The Rush also faced a total of 10 power play chances from the Komets, but managed to battle back with a pair of third period goals for the 2-0 series lead.
The Rush will now look to eliminate the Komets in the best-of-five series on Wednesday night in Fort Wayne.
For the second straight night, the Rush got on the board first while on the power play. This time it was Les Reaney who had a pass from Andrew Smale ricochet off of his skate and past goaltender Nick Boucher.
With less than 1:30 remaining in the period, the Komets bounced back when Kaleigh Schrock finished an odd-man rush with the pass coming from Dan Lapointe.
The end of the first signaled the end of the game for Danny Battochio who left the game with an injury, making way for Tim Boron.
The Rush regained the lead with a goal just 23 seconds into the middle period. After a shot from Jesse Schultz was turned away, the rebound came free to Reaney who potted his second of the game. Collecting the second assist was defenseman Chris Eade who earned his first point in a Rush uniform.
Fort Wayne then had the power play awaken, collecting back-to-back goals. The first came at on a 5-on-3 chance and Sean O’Connor’s cross-ice pass set up Matt Krug at the left face off circle with an open net for the tally.
Then at 12:25, Colin Chaulk poured in his third of the weekend, tapping home a rebound that gave the Komets their first lead of the series, 3-2.
It took just 1:50 into the third period for the Rush to score the equalizer, the fourth power play goal of the series for the defending champs. The Rush took advantage of a broken stick when Dave Grimson’s shot was stopped, but the rebound was slammed home by Colt King for his fourth of the postseason.
King wouldn’t stop there, picking up his second point of the night by setting up a shorthanded goal at the 13:58 mark. On a 2-on-1 chance, King broke down the right-wing side and slid a shot in on net that was partially blocked by Boucher, but the loose change was sent in by Josh Beaulieu.
Beaulieu’s goal was the first playoff goal of his career and served as the eventual game winner, propelling the Rush to a 4-3 decision.
With 20 saves through 40 minutes, Tim Boron moved to 2-0 in the playoffs and is now 11-2 overall for the Rush.
Both power plays were on display in the penalty-filled game. Rapid City ended the night two for seven on the man-advantage while Fort Wayne capitalized on two of ten opportunities.
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