GAME NOTES: 11/17 vs. Toledo

GAME NOTES: 11/17 vs. Toledo

For Immediate Release: November 17, 2017

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Game 12 (Home Game 4)

Vs. Toledo Walleye (9-2-2-0, 20 PTS)

Friday, November 17, 2017 - 7:35pm ET

U.S. Bank Arena - Cincinnati, OH

FULL GAME NOTES

VIDEO PREVIEW

 

OVERVIEW: Cincinnati wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Friday night against the Toledo Walleye. The Cyclones are coming off a 5-2 win over the Quad City Mallards on Tuesday morning, and have now won six of their last seven games. 

TUESDAY MORNING RECAP: The Cincinnati Cyclones (7-3-1-0) skated to a 5-2 win over the Quad City Mallards on Tuesday morning, in front of more than 7,500 on Field Trip Game day. For the second time in three games, Cincinnati recorded a hat trick, as captain Eric Knodel lit the lamp three times, while forward Shawn O’Donnell and defenseman Arvin Atwal each potted lone markers. The Cyclones were outshot, 26-25 on the day, with goaltender Anthony Peters stopping 24 to collect the win.

SATURDAY NIGHT RECAP: The Cincinnati Cyclones (6-3-1-0) fell to the Florida Everblades, 1-0, on Saturday evening. The loss snaps the Cyclones’ five-game winning streak. Goaltender Anthony Peters was near perfect on the night, turning aside 28 of the 29 shots he faced in the loss.

LAST FRIDAY NIGHT RECAP: The Cincinnati Cyclones (6-2-1-0) secured a 4-1 win over the Florida Everblades. It was a career night for Cyclones forward Justin Danforth, who recorded his first career hat trick, while forward Shawn O’Donnell added a goal and two assists. Cyclones netminder Jason Kasdorf was stellar in net, stopping 28 of the 29 shots he faced to collect the win.

PREVIEWING TOLDEO: The Walleye enter Friday’s game five points ahead of Cincinnati in the standings, and are winners of three straight and seven of their last eight games. They are coming off a 6-3 win over the Ft. Wayne Komets on Thursday morning, and the offense has been on display in recent games, outscoring opponents, 15-7, on their current three-game winning streak.  They are led by forward Christian Hilbrich who has accounted for a team-leading eight goals along with five assists. He is followed by forward Mike Borkowski (5g, 6a), and defenseman Kevin Tansey (5g, 4a) who is tied for third on the team in scoring with nine points. In goal, Pat Nagle has shouldered the bulk of the load, posting am 8-0-2-0 record, along with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. 

INSIDE THE SERIES: Friday marks the beginning of a three-game series between the Cyclones and Walleye, and the first of eight meetings between the two teams this season. The Walleye took three of the five meetings between the two last season.

NEXT GAME PREVIEW: The Cyclones head to Toledo on Saturday night in the second of this three-game series. 

 

NEED-TO-KNOW

HATS OFF: Cyclones captain Eric Knodel scored his first career hat trick on Tuesday morning, making him the second Cyclone in three games to accomplish that feat. Forward Justin Danforth scored his first pro hat trick in last Friday’s 4-1 win over the Florida Everblades. Knodel is now second on the team in scoring with five goals and seven assists, while Danforth is right behind him in third with six goals and five helpers. 

MOVIN’ ON UP: On Thursday, defensemen Arvin Atwal and Eric Knodel have each signed Professional Tryout agreements (PTO) with Cincinnati’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans. Atwal has skated in all 11 of Cincinnati’s games this season, accounting for a goal and three assists along with 23 minutes in penalties in that time. The Delta, BC, native appeared in 39 games last season and accounted for a pair of goals and 15 assists. Despite being sidelined for the final 33 games of the season, Atwal posted a team-high plus-11 on-ice rating, and ranked third on the team with 98 minutes in penalties. Knodel is coming off his first career hat trick in Tuesday morning’s 5-2 win over the Quad City Mallards, and currently ranks second on the Cyclones in scoring with 12 points (5g, 7a). This season’s team captain skated in 58 games with the Cyclones in 2016-17 and led the team in defenseman scoring with eight goals and 20 assists, and was tied for third with a plus-seven on-ice rating. He was one of the ECHL’s top defensemen at the midway point of the season, and for his efforts he was awarded a spot in the 2017 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic in Glens Falls, NY. He also took part in the All-Star Hardest Shot competition, where he finished in second place with a shot of 96mph.

CYCLONES ADD TRECAPELLI: The Cyclones have claimed defenseman Nick Trecapelli off waivers from the Indy Fuel, and have signed him to a Standard Player Contract (SPC). A native of Guelph, ON, Trecapelli has appeared in seven games this season between the Fuel and Adirondack Thunder. He split last season between he Atlanta Gladiators and Wichita Thunder, appearing in 41 games and accounting for four goals and 10 assists.  He turned pro late in the 2015-16 season, skating in nine games between the Evansville IceMen and AHL’s Binghamton Senators, recording a goal. He played collegiately at the University of Guelph from 2012-2016 amassing 65 points (3g, 18a) in 101 career games. 

RADJENOVIC TRADED: The Cyclones have traded forward Andrew Radjenovic to the Orlando Solar Bears, completing the trade the two teams made for forward Austin Block earlier in the season. Signed by Cincinnati in the off season, Radjenovic was fifth on the team in points, accounting for a pair of goals and six assists in 10 games played. 

MAKING A STATEMENT: Forwards Justin Danforth is having a stellar first full pro season, currently ranking second on the Cyclones in scoring, and seventh in League rookie scoring with 11 points (6g, 5a). He has six points over his last four games (4g, 2a), and has accounted for seven in his last five skates (4g, 3a), including his first pro hat trick in last Friday’s 4-1 win over the Florida Everblades. 

THE PUCK STOPS HERE: Goaltenders Jason Kasdorf and Anthony Peters have allowed a combined eight goals over the last five games, while facing 25 or more shots in each game, and 29 or more in three of the four. Peters has handled the bulk of the load this season for the Cyclones, appearing in eight games and posting a 5-3-1-0 record. Kasdorf has been stellar in his two games of work, recording a perfect 2-0-0-0 record along with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. 

CYCLONES SIGN THOMPSON: The Cincinnati Cyclones have signed defenseman Blake Thompson to a Standard Player Contract (SPC). The 24 year-old has spent eight games this season with the Evansville Thunderbolts of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), accounting for a goal and five assists. He made his pro debut late last season, skating in a pair of games with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears. Prior to turning pro, the Listowel, ON, native enjoyed a successful collegiate career at St. Norbert College where he totaled 73 points (19g, 54a) in 112 career games. He was also name assistant captain during his senior season.

PILING UP THE POINTS: Forward Shawn O’Donnell has been a man on a mission as of late, totaling three goals and six assists in his last six games. His 14 points (6g, 8a) leads the team in scoring, and he has points in all but two games played this season. 

DISCIPLINED HOCKEY: The Cyclones currently rank as the ECHL’s second-least penalized team, having recorded 109 minutes in penalties through nine games. Cincinnati is also tied with the fewest major penalties at three, and have 10 or fewer penalty minutes in eight of their last nine games. 

NEW AFFILIATION: This offseason, the Cyclones, in conjunction with the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Buffalo Sabres, announced a new affiliation agreement. For Cincinnati, the move comes following a 10-year partnership with the Nashville Predators, while the Sabres recently concluded a two-year relationship with the now-defunct Elmira Jackals. This affiliation will be a reunion of sorts for the cities of Cincinnati and Buffalo, as the Sabres’ American Hockey League (AHL) Affiliate from 1971-1974 was the Cincinnati Swords. The Rochester Americans will serve as Cincinnati’s new AHL affiliate, and have been the AHL affiliate of the Sabres since 2011. This is not the first time Cincinnati and Rochester have been affiliated, as the two clubs teamed up in 2010-11 when the Americans were affiliated with the Florida Panthers.

Stay Connected!: Follow the latest news on Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and more! Also, for all of the latest news and notes, head over to www.cycloneshockey.com.

 

The 2017-18 season is underway, and the Cincinnati Cyclones want YOU along for the ride! Call (513) 421-PUCK for information regarding Cyclones single game tickets, ticket packages, and Season and Group Tickets! Also, stay on top of the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram, along with our website, www.cycloneshockey.com