For Immediate Release: November 22, 2017
Game 14 (Home Game 5)
Vs. Toledo Walleye (11-2-2-0, 22 PTS)
Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - 7:35pm ET
U.S. Bank Arena – Cincinnati, OH
OVERVIEW: Cincinnati returns home to wrap up their three-game series with the Toledo Walleye on Wednesday evening. Cincinnati has dropped two in a row to the Walleye, however have won six of their last nine games and currently sit in third place in the ECHL’s Central Division.
SATURDAY NIGHT RECAP: The Cincinnati Cyclones (7-5-1-0) fell to the Toledo Walleye, 3-2, on Saturday evening. Defenseman Geoff Fortman and forward Jesse Schultz scored the goals for Cincinnati. The Walleye outshot Cincinnati, 34-18 on the night, with goaltender Anthony Peters stopping 31 in defeat.
FRIDAY NIGHT RECAP: The Cincinnati Cyclones (7-4-1-0) fell to the Toledo Walleye, 6-2, on Friday night. Forwards Dominic Zombo and Alex Kile scored the goals for Cincinnati. Toledo outshot the Cyclones, 27-15 on the night, with goaltender Jason Kasdorf stopping 21 in the loss.
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.
PREVIEWING TOLEDO: The Walleye have taken the first two games of the current three-game series between the two teams, and are winners of five straight and nine of their last 10 games. They are coming off a 3-2 win over Cincinnati on Friday, and the offense has been on display in recent games, outscoring opponents, 24-11, on their current five-game winning streak. Special teams was the deciding factor in both of the Walleye wins, as Toledo scored five power play goals and one shorthanded on Friday, and added another man advantage marker on Saturday, as well. They enter Wednesday with the eighth best power play conversion rate (12/56) and are second in the League in penalty kill (90%%). They are led by forward Christian Hilbrich who has accounted for a team-leading nine goals along with six assists. Mike Borkowski who has accounted for seven goals and eight assists comes in second and he is followed by forwards Tyler Barnes (3g, 9a) and Shane Berschbach (1g, 11a) who round out the top three. In goal, Pat Nagle has shouldered the bulk of the load, posting am 10-0-2-0 record, along with a 2.28 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
INSIDE THE SERIES: Wednesday is the finale of a three-game series between the Cyclones and Walleye, and the third 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 welcome in the Wheeling Nailers on Friday in a Black Friday matinee. The Clones and Nailers have met twice this season, splitting both games in Wheeling. The teams are scheduled to meet three more times after Friday.
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: Last 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.
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 12 points (6g, 6a). He has seven points over his last six games (4g, 3a), and has accounted for seven in his last six skates (4g, 3a), including his first pro hat trick in last Friday’s 4-1 win over the Florida Everblades.
PILING UP THE POINTS: Forward Shawn O’Donnell has been a man on a mission as of late, totaling three goals and seven assists in his last eight games. His 15 points (6g, 9a) leads the team in scoring, and he has points in all but two games played this season.
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.
DISCIPLINED HOCKEY: The Cyclones currently rank as the ECHL’s third-least penalized team, having recorded 145 minutes in penalties through 13 games. Cincinnati is also tied with the second-fewest major penalties at four, and have 10 or fewer penalty minutes in nine of their last 11 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.
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