For Immediate Release: November 9, 2018
Game 11 (Home Game 6)
Vs. Indy Fuel (5-4-0-0, 10 pts)
Friday, November 9, 2018 - 7:35pm ET
U.S. Bank Arena – Cincinnati, OH
Overview: The Cyclones host the Indy Fuel on Friday night for Military Appreciation Night, in the finale of a two-game homestand. Cincinnati is coming off a 4-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday, for their fourth win in their last five games.
Wednesday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (6-2-2-0) earned a 4-1 victory over the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday night. Forward Pascal Aquin, Justin Vaive, Brady Vail, and Mike Marnell lit the lamp for Cincinnati, who have outscored their opponents, 17-5, in their last three wins. Cincinnati outshot Wheeling, 27-23 on the evening, with goaltender Michael Houser stopping 22 in the win.
Sunday Afternoon Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (5-2-2-0) took down the Brampton Beast, 6-3 on Sunday afternoon, in the finale of their three-game weekend. Forward Brady Vail led the way with a pair of goals, while forwards Vas Glotov, Mike Marnell, Justin Vaive, and Alex Wideman recorded lone tallies for the Cyclones. Cincinnati outshot the Beast, 29-26 on the evening, with goaltender Jonas Johansson denying 23 in the win.
Saturday Night Recap: The Cincinnati Cyclones (4-2-2-0) fell to the Brampton Beast, 6-1, on Saturday night. Forward Justin Vaive scored the lone goal for Cincinnati. The Cyclones outshot Brampton, 35-22, with goaltender Jonas Johansson stopping 20 in the loss.
Previewing Indy: The Fuel have won two of their last three games following a three-game skid, and are coming off a 5-3 win over the Wheeling Nailers on Saturday night. Indy sits four points back of Cincinnati in the Central Division through nine games, and have emerged as one of the League’s top offenses, currently ranking fifth in scoring with an average of 3.67 goals per game. Additionally, the Fuel rank in the top 10 in both overall power play conversion rate (18.2%) and road power play conversion rate (23.5%). They are led offensively by former Cyclones Josh Shalla (4g, 10a) who has accounted for at least one point in all nine games this season. He is followed by brothers Ryan (2g, 7a) and Matt (4g, 5a) Rupert, who round out the top three.
Inside the Series: This will be the second of a 12-game season series between the two teams, with the Fuel victorious in the season’s first meeting on October 19, 4-1. Indy had Cincinnati’s number last season, taking seven of the 10 matchups and outscoring the ‘Clones by a tight 34-33 margin.
Next Game Preview: The Cyclones and Fuel wrap up their weekend home-and-home series on Saturday evening in Indianapolis.
NEED-TO-KNOW
Offensive Explosion:The Cyclones are 4-1-0-0 in their last five games, and have outscored their opponents 19-6 in their four wins. Forward Brady Vail is leading the way with three goals and two assists along with defenseman Eric Knodel who has a goal and four helpers. Forward Justin Vaive is on a four-game goal-scoring, and has also recorded an assist.
On the Leaderboard: Goaltender Michael Houser ranks second amongst ECHL goaltenders with a 1.60 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage, while posting a 4-0-1-0 record this season. Defenseman Eric Knodel currently is tied for third in League defenseman scoring with a pair of goals seven assists, and leads all ECHL rearguards in power play scoring with five (2g, 4a).
Shutting it Down: Through 10 games this season, the Cyclones have allowed three goals in the third period, and are outscoring the opposition, 12-2 in the final 20 minutes of play. Additionally, the Cyclones are 5-0-0-0 when leading through two periods. Cincinnatiranks seventh in the ECHL with 2.70 goals allowed per game, and have given up more than three goals in regulation just two times this season.
Welcome Matt Thomas: The Cyclones enter the 2018-19 season with a new head coach. In early August, Cincinnati hired Matt Thomas as the team’s new bench boss. He replaced Matt Macdonald who was named assistant coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins; American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. A native of Maple Ridge, BC, Thomas has extensive head coaching experience in the ECHL, spanning 11 seasons with the Atlantic Boardwalk Bullies, Fresno Falcons, and Stockton Thunder from 2002-2013. Thomas served two seasons as an assistant coach with Atlantic City, including helping the Boardwalk Bullies to a Kelly Cup Championship in 2003, before assuming the role of head coach and Director of Hockey Operations with the team prior to 2004-2005. He compiled a 42-22-8 mark in his lone season as Atlantic City’s bench boss, and served as the head coach for the 2005 ECHL All-Star Game. He then moved on to Fresno prior to the 2005-06 campaign, leading the Falcons to a 43-15-14 mark along with a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Over the next two seasons in Fresno, Thomas compiled a 76-41-17 record, with trips to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs on both occasions. He coached the Falcons during the first half of 2008-09, leading the team to an 18-10-2 mark before the team ceased operations midseason. Thomas was not out of work for long however, as he was named head coach of Stockton shortly after and finished the year with a record of 22-16-3, and a trip to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Thomas went on to coach the Thunder for four more seasons, amassing a mark of 141-111-36, reaching the post season each year, including a trip to the 2013 Kelly Cup Finals. He enters the 2018-19 campaign as the ECHL’s sixth-winningest coach with a career record of 342-225-80, just one win back of fifth place all time. He is also the all-time leader in playoff games coached with 97, and ranks third with 49 playoff wins.
Thomas Selects Payne as Assistant Coach: New Cyclones head coach Matt Thomas selected Jason Payne as the team’s assistant coach. Payne is no stranger to southwest Ohio, as he split the 1999-2000 season with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL and Dayton Bombers of the ECHL. A native of Toronto, ON, Payne served as the Player Development coach of the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as well as General Manager of the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He also coached both the Toronto Patriots of the OJHL and the Mississauga Sens AAA program. Payne is also the owner of the Precision Skating School in Toronto. His school teaches the key dynamics of skating, puck handling techniques, defensive tactics, and other game-related skills. He has worked with all levels of hockey players- from pee wee all the way to professional players. Prior to his player development career, Payne enjoyed a successful 14-year pro career that saw stops in six different leagues, including 71 games in the AHL with the Mighty Ducks, Carolina Monarchs, Worcester IceCats, and Saint John Flames. He has also racked up 132 games of ECHL action and 140 games in the former United Hockey League (UHL).
Hello Again: The Cyclones return nine players from last season’s team, including forwards Vas Glotov, Jesse Schultz, Justin Vaive, and Dominic Zombo. Defensively, the ‘Clones return Arvin Atwal, Anthony Florentino, Eric Knodel, and Devante Stephens, and in goal Cincinnati sees Jonas Johansson back between the pipes. Additionally, goaltender Michael Houser is back in Cincinnati after spending last season in Ft. Wayne. Overall, Cincinnati’s returners from a season ago accounted for 72 goals and 151 assists for 223 total points, while Johansson posted a 14-11-1-0 record along with a 3.13 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.
The 2018-19 season is HERE, and the Cincinnati Cyclones want YOU along for the ride!Single game, Group, and Season Tickets are on sale NOW by calling (513) 421-PUCK! Stay on top of all the latest team updates and information on Facebook, Twitter (@CincyCyclones), and Instagram, along with our website, www.cycloneshockey.com!
