Peoria Update – Captains Named, Fletcher Injured
Much like the Blues, the Peoria Rivermen have started off with a mediocre start to the 2009-10 season. After 6 games the Rivermen have a record of 2-2-1-1 (note: in the AHL, overtime losses and shoot-out losses are categorized separately but as in the NHL, both count as one point in the standings).
After a 4-3 shoot-out loss to Rockford on Saturday, they will play the IceHogs two more times in a row, the first being this evening and then again on Saturday evening. Both games will be at Carver Arena in Peoria.
Leading the way yet again this season is veteran Yan Stastny. More of a checking line player at the NHL level, Yan is a veteran offensive force at the AHL level and it shows as he is leading the team with 7 points in 6 games. Also having good starts to the season are second year defenseman Jonas Junland (6 points in 6 games) and rookie forward Lars Eller (5 points in 6 games). In the event the Blues need to re-call players from Peoria, expect those three, along with veteran forward Derek Armstrong and defender Brendan Bell, to be among those most likely to get the call.
Yan Stastny named Rivermen captain.
More good news for Stastny is that he was recently named team captain. Cam Paddock and Danny Richmond were named alternate captains. All three provide a veteran presence in the AHL and have shown good leadership skills. Stastny in particular is a very valuable part of Peoria’s lineup – both on the ice and in the locker room.
Some bad news is that the Rivermen will be without defenseman Justin Fletcher for the next 6 – 8 weeks as he broke his hand blocking a shot in Saturday’s game against the IceHogs. He will be a big loss as he was the team’s leading scorer from the blueline last year with 32 points in 68 games. Newcomer Adrian Veideman had been serving as the team’s 7th defenseman so should now see more consistent action along with a core group of Junland, Bell, Danny Richmond, Steve Wagner, and Bryce Lampman.
