PREVIEW SteelHounds

PREVIEW
SteelHounds

Schedule: The SteelHounds are on the road for three games this weekend: Tonight (8:05) at Rocky Mountain, Saturday (8:05 p.m.) at Colorado, and Sunday (6:05 p.m.) at Wichita.
Radio/Internet: WBBW-AM (1240); steelhounds.com
Scouting the SteelHounds: Youngstown (32-19-4) begins its final road trip of the season (the ’Hounds are 17-11-1 away from the Chevrolet Centre). They’ve won three in a row overall, sweeping Wichita at home last weekend, and are 6-4 over their last 10 games. Chris Richards has 66 points to rank 12th in the Central Hockey League. He leads Youngstown with 46 assists. Eric Przepiorka and Joel Irving share the team lead with 22 goals. In goal, Andy Franck is 20-10-3 with a 2.99 goals against average.
Roster moves: SteelHounds forward Kevin Jarman was promoted to Syracuse (AHL) Thursday. In 45 games, the forward had 19 goals and 16 assists, and 88 penalty minutes. Thursday Youngstown re-signed forward Brad Patterson, placed defenseman Kriss Grundmanis on the 14-day injured list, and agreed to terms with defenseman Tyler Wooddisse. Patterson played most of this winter with the Hull Stingrays in England. He had seven goals, 18 assists and 84 penalty minutes in 48 games. Wooddisse, 22, is a rookie who started the season with the Twin City Cyclones of the Southern Professional Hockey League. He had five goals and 20 assists in 28 games. He also played in five games with Mississippi of the ECHL.
Scouting the opponents: Rocky Mountain (34-16-5) is tied for first place in the Northwest Division with Colorado. … The Rage have lost six of their last 10 games. … Brent Cullaton leads Rocky Mountain with 66 assists and 84 points in 48 games. Daymen Rycroft has a CHL-best 44 goals in 55 games. … Scott Reid is 23-10-3 with a 3.08 GAA. … Colorado plays host to Mississippi tonight. … The Eagles are 7-3 in their last 10 games, including a 7-3 home win over Youngstown Feb. 22. … Ed McGrane (30-48-78) and Riley Nelson (28-48-76) lead Colorado in scoring. … Sebastien Laplante and Bryan Bridges are a combined 16-8-2 in goal. … The Eagles and Rage play a home-and-home series Tuesday and Wednesday. … Wichita (18-35-2) visits Texas Friday and Tulsa Saturday. … The Thunder are 4-6 in their last 10 games, and last played Wednesday, beating Mississippi at home, 3-2. … Bruce Richardson leads Wichita with 36 assists and 49 points, while Travis Clayton has 15 goals and 42 points. Goalies Bill Zaniboni and Jon Horrell are a combined 7-24-2.
Next: The SteelHounds return to the Chevrolet Centre for their final six home games, starting with a three-game series against Laredo March 14-16.

Vindicator staff report