For Immediate Release: December 12, 2015
Game 22 (Home Game 13)
Vs. Evansville IceMen (8-12-0-0)
Saturday, December 12, 2015 - 7:30 pm ET
U.S. Bank Arena- Cincinnati, OH
Overview: The Cyclones wrap up their home-and-home series with the Evansville IceMen on Saturday night in Cincinnati. The Cyclones are coming off of a 7-3 loss at the hands of Evansville on Friday, and are looking for a win in their final home game prior to the Christmas break.
Last Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (11-6-2-2) fell to the Evansville IceMen, 7-3, on Friday night. Forwards Nick Huard, Peter Quenneville, and Christiaan Minella scored the goals for the Cyclones. Goaltenders Neil Conway and Brandon Whitney split time in net, combining to make 32 saves on 39 Evansville shots. The Cyclones were outshot on the night, 39-29, while the power play converted on two of its five chances.
Last Friday Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (11-5-2-2) picked up a 7-6 overtime win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Friday night. Forward Nick Huard scored a pair of power play markers, and defenseman Riley Weselowski also had two, including the game winner. Forwards Mike Hammond and Andrew Yogan, and defenseman Steve Weinstein added lone tallies for the Cyclones, who scored seven goals in a game for the first time since November 26 of 2014. The Cyclones were outshot, 44-36 on the night, while the power play converted on two of its five chances.
Last Thursday Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (10-5-2-2) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Thursday night. Forward Zach Budish scored a pair of goals, while forward Jack Downing netted one for the Cyclones. Cincinnati outshot Greenville, 28-27, while the power play converted on one of three opportunities.
Previewing Evansville: The IceMen have now won two in a row after dropping three straight. The IceMen overcame a 2-0 deficit against the Toledo Walleye on Wednesday to win 3-2, and then took down the Cyclones, 7-3, on Friday night. Forwards Daultan Leveille and Tyson Fawcett are tied for the team-lead in goals with 11, however Leveille is the overall team leader in points with 15 (11g, 4a).
Inside the Series: This is the third of nine meetings this season between the Cyclones and IceMen, with each team winning one game a piece on home ice. The two sides have met a total of 36 times all-time, with the Cyclones holding a 25-9-0-2 edge in the series.
Next Game Preview: The Cyclones head back on the road before the Christmas holiday to take on the Missouri Mavericks on Friday night. Missouri is the hottest team in the ECHL at the moment, currently riding a 14-game winning streak. This will be the first all-time meeting between the two clubs.
TOP HEADLINES
We Huard He Was Pretty Good: Rookie forward Nick Huard (pronounced HEARD) continues to pile up the points for the Cyclones. After being held off the scoresheet for a season-high three games late in November, Huard has points in three straight, and four of his last six games played, accounting for four goals and three assists in that span. He currently leads the Cyclones, and is sixth in League rookie scoring with 20 points (8g, 12a), and has multi-point efforts on six occasions this season, which is also a team-high.
Defensively Offensive: Defenseman Steve Weinstein has been a staple on the scoresheet all season long for the Cyclones. He is currently riding a three-game point streak, and has points in seven of his last nine games played (1g, 8a). He leads the Cyclones in defenseman scoring, totaling three goals and 11 assists through 21 games this season.
Budish Signs PTO: The Milwaukee Admirals, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate for the Cincinnati Cyclones, announced on Saturday that they have signed Cyclones forward Zach Budish to a pro-tryout contract (PTO). Budish skated in Milwaukee’s 3-2 shootout win over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night, however did not register a point. He averaged nearly a point per game this season with Cincinnati, ranking second on the team in scoring with seven goals and 11 assists through 19 games with the Cyclones. He is also tied for the team lead in power play scoring with a goal and seven assists.
Deuces Wild: Last week’s series with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits saw a number of players record multi-point efforts. Forward Andrew Yogan had two points in each of the Cyclones’ games against Greenville, tallying a pair of assists in Thursday’s 4-3 loss, and scoring the game-tying goal and adding an assist in Friday’s 7-6 overtime win. He has at least two points in each of his three games played for the Cyclones this season. Five other players enjoyed multi-point outings last week against Greenville, including two-goal performances from forward Zach Budish on Thursday, and defenseman Riley Weselowski on Friday, a three point night from Nick Huard on Friday (2G, 1A), and two assists each from forwards Jack Downing and Joe Wilson on Friday night.
The Comeback Kids: The Cyclones battled back from a three-goal deficit, and a pair of two-goal deficits to earn a 7-6 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits last Friday night. It marked the first overtime win of the season for the Cyclones, who are now 2-4 in games decided by overtime or a shootout.
Hitting the Road: After playing 11 of the first 18 games at home, the Cyclones will play 13 of the next 20 games on the road, skating just seven times at home between December 12 and January 30. So far this season, the Cyclones have compiled a 3-5-1-0 mark on the road, and are averaging 3.44 goals per game in those contests.
The 2015-2016 season is underway! Your Cyclones are on the march towards another Kelly Cup Championship, and want you along for the ride! Be sure to check out one of our 2015-16 Ticket Packages, available NOW! Call 513.421.PUCK to reserve your seats. Fans can also get the latest team updates on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), Instagram, and our website, www.cycloneshockey.com!
