Thursday, February 28, 2013

March 1 Weekend Preview

Well, February ended with SnowPocalypse and March is here. so if you have been snowbound you are probably itching to get out and do something. There are movies for every taste opening this weekend. First up is the Party Comedy “21 and Over”. In this laugher Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what’s expected of him. But when his two best friends Casey and Miller surprise him with a visit for his 21st birthday, he decides to do the unexpected for a change, even though his critical medical school interview is early the next morning. What was supposed to be one beer becomes one night of chaos, over indulgence and utter debauchery in this outrageous comedy.
Next up is the horror thriller “The Last Exorcism Part II”. Continuing where the first film left off, Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is found terrified and alone in rural Louisiana. Back in the relative safety of New Orleans, Nell realizes that she can't remember entire portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just the beginning.
Then there is the Cold War Thriller “Phantom”. Ed Harris plays the captain of a Cold War Soviet missile submarine who has secretly been suffering from seizures that alter his perception of reality. Forced to leave his wife and daughter, he is rushed into a classified mission, where he is haunted by his past and challenged by a rogue KGB group (led by David Duchovny) bent on seizing control of the ship's nuclear missile. With the fate of humanity in his hands, Harris discovers heas been chosen for this mission in the belief he would fail. "Phantom" is a suspense submarine thriller about extraordinary men facing impossible choices.
If those are not to your liking you could take in the Fantasy flick “Jack the Giant Slayer”. This movie tells the story of an ancient war that is reignited when a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing the young man, Jack, into the battle of his life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend—and gets the chance to become a legend himself.
Lastly there is the British Crime Drama “The Sweeney”. Tearing up the streets of London, "The Sweeney" is a stylish, exhilarating action thriller proving sometimes you have to act like a criminal to catch a criminal. Armed and dangerous, the Sweeney Flying Squad are old school crime fighters enforcing the law. Led by legendary detective Jack Regan (Ray Winstone) and his loyal partner, they have their own unique way of operating and always get results. With a bank heist in progress and his old enemy making a reappearance on the London crime scene, Regan will do whatever it takes to get the job done, even defying orders from his no-nonsense boss (Damian Lewis).
As far as the local teams you have several options this weekend. The Comets regular season is over with them hosting a playoff game next week and the Mavericks only having one home game this weekend. On Friday the Mavericks take on the Quad City Mallards and will be wearing their BLACK jerseys. There will be an American Red Cross Blood Drive and plenty of pre and ingame activities planned. For a full list of all the activities click here. Chuck-A-Puck is benefitting Child Abuse Prevention Association and the jackpot will be $600!
The Missouri Rhythm hosts a two game set against the Oklahoma Impact  this Saturday and Sunday.
If you are an indoor football fan and can barely wait for the Kansas City Renegades season to kickoff their inaugural season you are in luck. The team has begun their training camp at the KC Sports Lodge (19310 E. 50th Terrace, Independence, MO).  This is open to the public so you can check out KC’s newest sports team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Training camp dates:
Wednesday 2/27/13 practice #3 (8am-11am) practice #4 (1pm-4pm)
Thursday 2/28/13 practice #5 (8am-11am) practice #6 (1pm-4pm)
Friday 3/1/13 practice #7 (8am-11am) practice #8 (1pm-4pm)
Monday 3/4/13 practice #9 (8am-11am)
Tuesday 3/5/13 practice #10 (8am-11am)
Wednesday 3/6/13 practice #11 (8am-11am)
Thursday 3/7/13 practice #12 (8am-11am)
Friday 3/8/13 practice #13 (8am-11am)
For fans: Players will be available to sign autographs and take pictures after practices.
These games will be played at the Grandview Christian School. For more details check out the Rhythm site.
If you are in the mood to see some roller derby action then you are in luck. The Kansas City Roller Warriors kickoff their season this Saturday night. The action starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Over at the Sprint Center there will ne plenty of action this Saturday and Sunday. Speed! Air! Danger! It’s what makes Arenacross the premier indoor, off-road motorcycle racing championship. What separates Arenacross from traditional motorsports is its intimate close-to-the-action setting, giving fans the on-track feel of horsepower and gravity. Fans will be treated to an exciting new competitive format in 2013 with a pair of high-octane 12-lap Main Events during each night of racing on the highly-technical, air-inducing tracks of Arenacross. As reigning champion Tyler Bowers sets his sights on a third consecutive title, a highly-talented field of challengers, led by veteran Jeff Gibson, will stop at nothing to capture the coveted crown. Fans can also get a one-of-a-kind chance to meet the riders and feel the dirt at the Track Party, full of interactive experiences and the unique chance to see Arenacross up close and personal.
Kansas City will also host the Junior Supercross Challenge (KJSC) that will be making its debut in Arenacross, where the future stars of the sport are showcased in a professional racing environment.
The KJSC will select 15 lucky racers for the chance of a lifetime as they live the life of a factory rider. Aboard identically prepared, factory backed 50SXS bikes these riders will be competing on the very same track as the superstars of Arenacross. The junior racers will also be provided custom racing gear and their very own crew to work on the bikes. During race day, KJSC riders will be able to participate in the rider track walk, opening ceremonies and autograph sessions just like Arenacross competitors and fellow teammates Jeff Gibson and Kelly Smith. KJSC riders will have a full day of activities, from the minute they arrive. These riders will be pitted in a state of the art KJSC race team transporter where they will gear up to begin afternoon practice laps and prepare themselves to compete in a four-lap exhibition race which takes place during the night program.
Professional Racing will be held on Saturday and Amateur Racing will take place on Sunday.
The Topeka RoadRunners return home for the first time in a month as they play two against the Wichita Falls Wildcats. One dollar from each ticket sold for Friday night’s game will be used to help send CPL David Gogian and OFC Jeff Atherly families to Washington DC for the National Police Week Memorial. The Expocentre will match each dollar collected in this effort. For more information on tickets, call 785-286-PUCK or visit the Expocentre Box Office.
Have a great and safe weekend!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

UMKC Kicks Off Final Road Trip With Western Illinois Thursday

The 'Roos start their final regular season road swing on Thursday as they head to Macomb to face second place Western Illinois. A 'Roos win can improve their seed in the Summit League Tournament. WIU needs to win its final two games to clinch at least a share of the league crown. The Kangaroos and Leathernecks are meeting for the 43rd time, the most played series for UMKC in the Division I era. The 'Roos lead the series 26-16 overall, and have won three of the last five meetings, but dropped the last two, including a 68-63 contest in KC earlier this year.
The Western Illinois Leathernecks come in with a 19-7 overall record, with an 11-3 mark in Summit League play. They have gone 15-4 since the last time they played the 'Roos.
The Leathernecks are paced by their two all-conference performers in senior guard Ceola Clark and senior forward Terell Parks. Parks leads the team with 12.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Clark averages 11.7 per contest, including 27 points against UMKC in December, as well as 109 assists and 42 steals. Adam Link is the third in double figures at 10.0 a game.
As a team the Leathernecks will slow it down, averaging 60.3 points and allowing a league-best 52.5 per outing. They hold opponents to 38.7 percent shooting.
Nelson Kirksey has had the hot hand for the 'Roos recently. The junior guard/forward matched his career-high with 18 points against Oakland and followed that up with a game-high 16 points against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, as well as a career-best eight boards.
Kansas City will be either the No. 5, No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the upcoming Summit League Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D. To get the No. 5 seed, UMKC must win both games this week and IPFW must lose to Oakland. To get the No. 6 seed, UMKC must record as many or more wins than South Dakota in the next two contests. Both teams play Western Illinois and IUPUI this week. To get the No. 7 seed, South Dakota must win one more game than UMKC this week.
UMKC heads to IUPUI for a 6:30 p.m. CT regular season finale on Saturday.

Comets Close Regular Season With Win

With playoff seeding on the line, the Comets traveled to Chicago to finish their regular season against the Soul. The Comets needed a single win to ensure themselves of the third seed in the 2013 MISL Playoffs. It took more than four quarters, but Byron Alvarez scored three minutes into the overtime period to give the Comets the 8-6 win against the Chicago Soul.
After waiting until the final six seconds to net a goal in their previous matchup, the Comets jumped on the scoreboard first tonight. Ryan Junge found Jeff Hughes along the left side, who buried his shot from close range. Matthew Stewart was able to tie it up for Chicago with a nice shot of his own from the side only a minute later.
Tied 2-2 at the start of the second quarter, Coach Kim Roentved employed a high pressure strategy that saw two, and sometimes three, Comets players with immediate pressure on any Soul player who gained possession in his defensive third of the field. Ryan Junge earned his second helper of the game, feeding Vahid Assadpour for the only score of the quarter. Comets led at the break 4-2.
Relaxing a bit from their high pressure stance, the Comets still had several opportunities in the third quarter. The Comets controlled the ball through much of the game, outshooting the soul 38-16 in the game. Matt Stewart and Freddy Degand were able to break through the Missouri attack late in quarter, scoring two goals in thirty seconds to put Chicago in the lead briefly 6-4. However, Assadpour answered right back two minutes later, intercepting a defensive clearance from Soul goalkeeper Jeff Richey and passing to Robert Palmer. Palmer returned the pass and Assadpour scored his second of the game, tying it up.
The fourth quarter saw no scores as both teams applied tentative pressure, not wanting to make a mistake as the clock wound down. With the score tied 6-6, the fans who braved the weather in Chicago were treated to overtime soccer. The Comets once again broke out their high-pressure attack and controlled much of the action. After Chicago's Carlos Munoz was whistled for a foul to the right of his goal, Comets midfielder John Sosa found Byron Alvarez on the restart for the goal and 8-6 victory.
The Comets will return home for the MISL Semi-Final series on March 7th at 7:35pm.

Mavericks Waive Defenseman Brock Wilson

The Missouri Mavericks announced Wednesday the Central Hockey League (CHL) team has waived defenseman Brock Wilson.
Wilson, 28 (10/15/84), played in two games with the Mavericks and had two penalty minutes.
The Mavericks' are at home this Friday, March 1 against the Quad City Mallards.

Mavericks Sign Goaltender Ryan Daniels

The Missouri Mavericks announced Tuesday the Central Hockey League (CHL) team has signed goaltender Ryan Daniels.
Daniels, 24 (6/22/88), is a fifth round draft pick (151st overall) of the Ottawa Senators in the 2006 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft.  A native of Pickering, Ontario, Daniels recently finished his career at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.  In his final three years at Wilfrid Laurier, the 6-foot-1, 194-pound goaltender had a 2.89 goals-against average (GAA) and .921 save percentage in 81 games played.
“Ryan as a tremendous track record in the Ontario Hockey League and Canadian University hockey,” said Mavericks’ Head Coach Scott Hillman.  “He has also gained valuable experience participating in a number of NHL and AHL training camps.  We are excited to add Ryan to our roster.”
Prior to playing collegiately, Daniels played just over four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Saginaw Spirit and the Peterborough Petes.  In 166 games played, he finished with an 85-58-14 record, 3.37 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Comets Close Season On Road

As the final week of the Major Indoor Soccer League begins, the playoff picture begins to take focus. The Missouri Comets, along with the Baltimore Blast and Milwaukee Wave have each earned a spot in the tournament, with one spot still remaining. The Comets final regular season opponent, the Chicago Soul, currently holds onto the fourth and final place in the standings.
The game holds importance for both teams. A win for Missouri assures the Comets of the third seed in the playoffs and a date with the Milwaukee Wave for the third straight preseason. Chicago would clinch a place in the playoffs with a victory.
The Comets will be without the services of Leo Gibson, who is serving a suspension following a red card received last Friday against the Soul. On Sunday, also without Gibson, Brian Harris and Mads Falck stepped up to secure the Comets victory over the Wichita Wings and the team’s place in the postseason. To be successful in Chicago tomorrow, the Comets will look for more players to assert themselves. Jeff Richey, the goalkeeper for the Chicago Soul, has been difficult for the Missouri offense to solve. Last Friday night, he was six seconds away from shutting out the Comets for the first time in modern team history.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Fans are invited to watch with the Comets Nation fan club at Coach’s Bar & Grille, or they can tune in to the action on MISLNation.com.
The Comets will return home for the MISL Playoffs semifinal series on March 7th at 7:35 p.m. CT.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Mavericks News

Mavs Streak Towards Top Four- The Missouri Mavericks (28-19-4) have won three straight games and are coming off back-to-back extra time wins beating a pair of teams ahead of them in the standings in Fort Worth on Friday night in overtime and Wichita on Saturday night in a shootout. The Mavs are now just one point behind Rapid City for fourth place in the conference and are seven points behind third place Fort Worth. Missouri's game on Tuesday against Denver has been postponed due to bad weather in Denver and Independence and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 13. Forward Colt King has scored goals in five straight games (six goals over that stretch) and is one game shy of the longest goal streak in the CHL this season (Jesse Dudas - six games). The Mavs penalty kill has not allowed a power play goal in the last three games (10 for 10) which is a positive sign as they are last in the league with a 78.2% PK.
Forward Sebastien Thinel is riding a five-game point streak and his CHL points lead has stretched to nine points over second place Jon Booras (24-43=67). Thinel has a goal and six assists during his win streak and the two-time CHL points champion has 22 goals and 54 assists on the season (76 points). The veteran also is second in the CHL with a +24 plus/minus rating, the highest of his 10-year career.

Topeka RoadRunners Forward Tyler Poulsen Named NAHL South Division Star of the Week

Thanks to a weekend road sweep of the Tornado and a subsequent seven-game winning streak, the Topeka RoadRunners sit comfortably in 2nd place in the South Division and still have their sights set on 1st place. Leading the way this past weekend was 19-year-old forward Tyler Poulsen. The Arvada, Colorado native made a significant impact in each of the RoadRunners two wins in Texas in the weekend sweep. On Friday, Poulsen (5'7/146) had an assist in the eventual game-tying goal in Topeka's 4-3 win over the Tornado. A night later, he scored twice (including the game-winning goal) and added an assist in a 4-2 win over Texas. He was also a +3 during the weekend. "We acquired Tyler for exactly what he has been doing, which is adding depth to our offense and providing some spark and talent," said Topeka head coach Scott Langer. "He has been very dynamic, especially since Christmas and is a threat every time he touches the ice. Tyler plays with a lot of speed and plays with some grit. He is tough to play against."

Comets Clinch Berth In Playoffs

The Missouri Comets began this weekend simply needing a win to clinch their spot in the Major Indoor Soccer League Playoffs. They got that win on Sunday night against the Wichita Wings behind the strength of two incredible 3-point goals from Brian Harris and a pair of scores from Mads Falck. The 15-11 win also clinched the I-35 Rivalry Series, sponsored by Independence Tourism, for the second straight season.
Coming off a disappointing loss on Friday night to Chicago, Missouri dug itself into another hole in the first quarter. In the span of two minutes, Freddy Moojen netted two scores and Daniel Villegas put in another for a 6-0 Wings' lead at the end of the quarter.
Brian Harris took matters into his own hand as the second quarter began. He first collected a distribution from goalkeeper Danny Waltman and went the length of the floor, scoring a 3-point goal only 34 seconds into the period.  A minute later, Jeff Hughes took a pass from Vahid Assadpour and fired into the far corner to get the Comets within a point before Harris scored his second 3-point goal from the yellow line, absolutely burying the shot past the outstretched hands of Wichita goalkeeper, Sanaldo to give his side an 8-6 lead.
The Comets would hold their advantage to the halftime break, but in the third quarter Wings forward Andrew Hoxie got his side back on even terms with the only goal of the third period, setting up an exciting fourth quarter.  The 4,239 fans in attendance at the Independence Events Center were on the edge of their seats to see how the final frame would turn out. Missouri needed a victory to solidify their playoff standing and Wichita needed a win to even the season series with the playoffs already out of reach.
It was the Wings who struck first in the final frame as defender Victor Quiroz scored less than 30 seconds into the quarter to briefly put Wichita ahead 11-8, but Hughes and Falck each found the net for the Comets to regain the lead for their side, 12-11. Falck then added an insurance marker, winning a footrace down the sideline against the Wings’ sixth attacker Chris Lemons in the final three minutes to ice the game with his second goal of the night, a 3-pointer, to give the Comets a 15-11 victory.
The Comets finish the regular season on Wednesday, February 27th at Chicago’s Sears Centre Arena as they look for revenge from their game on Friday night against the Chicago Soul. Game time is at 7 p.m. CT and can be seen on MISLNation.com. Missouri will host the first game in a Semifinal Series of the MISL Playoffs on March 7th at 7:35 p.m. Fans can call (855) 4KC-GOAL on Monday, February 25th at 10 a.m. CT for information and tickets.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Mavericks Reschedule Tuesday's Game vs. Denver For March 13

The Missouri Mavericks, in conjunction with the Central Hockey League (CHL) announced the game between the Mavericks and Denver Cutthroats this Tuesday, February 26 at Independence Events Center has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 13 at 7:05 p.m.  Due to the storm already in Colorado and heading to Missouri, the teams and the league want to ensure the safety of the fans and teams respectively.
All tickets purchased for Tuesday’s game will be honored on March 13.  The Mavericks will still present it as a Price Chopper Two-for-One game in which fans can purchase two-for-one tickets.  To do so, fans must show a Price Chopper card in person in the Silverstein Eye Centers Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.com by typing the code "ChopperXXXX" with the Xs representing the last four digits of the Price Chopper Card (certain restrictions apply).
“The safety of our players is of primary concern therefore we have been very proactive with the current situation,” said Mavericks’ President and General Manager Brent Thiessen.  “We decided to push the game back to a date that works for both teams.”
The Mavericks’ next scheduled home game is Friday, March 1 against the Quad City Mallards.

Mavericks Take Down Thunder In Shootout

The Missouri Mavericks defeated the Wichita Thunder, 5-4, in a shootout Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 5,800 people at Independence Events Center. Mavericks' forward Evan Vossen had a pair of goals including the game-winner in the shootout and forward Kenton Miller added a goal and two assists for the Mavericks. Missouri (28-19-4) won their second game over the Thunder this season and stayed alive in the battle for the Independence Cup presented by Independence Tourism. Thunder forward RG Flath also had a pair of goals and defenseman Andrew Martens added three assists in the losing effort.
Wichita jumped out to an early lead when Flath scored just 89 seconds into the opening period. The visitors then took a 2-0 lead at 9:13 of the first period on a shorthanded goal by Neil Trimm. The Mavericks answered quickly and cut the lead in half when Vossen scored his first of the night on assists from Miller and Riley Emmerson.
Missouri controlled for a majority of the second period and scored three goals to take a 4-2 lead. First, Kellan Tochkin tied the game at 4:37 in a scrum in front of the net. Then Miller gave the Mavericks their first lead of the game when he took a centering feed from Sebastien Thinel and beat Wichita goaltender Grant Rollheiser. Mavericks' forward Colt King made it 4-2 and scored his sixth goal in the last five games at the 15:00 mark. Wichita would not go quietly and they tied the game at four with a pair of goals late in the second period. Flath added his second goal of the game at the 17:34 mark, and Chad Painchaud scored with 2.7 seconds remaining in the period to tie the game.
The third period was a defensive battle as only 11 total shots were put on net and the teams remained tied at the end of regulation.
Missouri was awarded a penalty in the overtime period, but they couldn't convert and the game was decided in the shootout. After goals from John-Scott Dickson and Thinel, the Mavericks won the game on Vossen's shootout goal, his second of the game and eighth on the season.
The Mavericks and Thunder each finished 0-for-2 on the power play.
Missouri stays home and will host the Denver Cutthroats Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Independence Events Center.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Topeka RoadRunners Win Seventh Straight, Down Texas 4-2

It was a tale of two teams heading in opposite directions. The RoadRunners capped off a perfect six-game road trip, including four wins over the now third place Texas Tornado, with a 4-2 win at Dr. Pepper Arena. The victory marks the RoadRunners seventh straight and puts them five points ahead of Texas who suffered their eighth loss in a row.
Jackson Leef gave the Tornado an early boost with his power play goal at 12:30. The score would remain 1-0 Texas until the second when Kevin Patterson notched his first goal of the season at 2:15.
Tied at one, the RoadRunners benefited from a sketchy goal of their own. Brandon Brossoit fielded a pass from Tyler Groat. Brossoit lost his footing, fell on the puck and straddled goalie Hunter Leisner into the goal for a score at 7:20. The replay wasn’t clear as to whether the puck crossed the line before the net popped loose but the RoadRunners took a 2-1 lead nonetheless. Texas struck back though, taking advantage of Michal Pastor’s holding penalty at 12:11 with another power play goal, this time from Scott Conway.
Following the closing horn of the second period, goalie Mackenzie Sawyer was ejected for fighting. In came Spencer Viele to close out the game. In the third, Viele and the RoadRunners D killed the major penalty and paved the way for Tyler Poulsen’s spectacular breakway/fall down/unassisted/backhander that gave the Runners a 3-2. At 10:17, Anthony Mousseau’s slash gave Poulsen a penalty shot opportunity which he capitalized on to give the Runners a 4-2 lead. The RoadRunners managed to grind it out the rest of the game through a couple of late penalties to seal the victory.
In stark contrast to Friday night’s 28 total penalty minutes, Saturday’s contest featured 99. In short, the RoadRunners were a man down for an entire period which only underscores the work of Runner goalies. In particular, Viele, who played only 20 minutes but was impressive as he sealed off the crease in the final frame stopping all 16 shots on goal.
The RoadRunners finally return to Landon Arena next Friday night against the Wichita Falls Wildcats. One dollar from each ticket sold on that night will be used to help send Officers Gogian and Atherly’s families to Washington DC for the National Police Week Memorial. The Expocentre will match each dollar collected in this effort.

Tennessee Tech Outlasts UMKC In BracketBuster, 68-62

Tennessee Tech converted with big shots down the stretch to pull away from Kansas City in the annual BracketBuster event on Saturday at the Eblen Center, 68-62.
The 'Roos (7-22) and Golden Eagles (11-16) went back-and-forth in the opening 20 minutes, with six ties, while neither squad led by more than five points. TTU led by a 7-3 score in the opening minutes, but it was a sloppy first half, with points hard to come by. With 13:19 on the clock, the 'Roos knotted the score at 13, and eventually took their first lead with 10:40 remaining on a Trinity Hall layup, 15-13.
The 'Roos got up by five with 6:14 left, but an 8-0 run gave the advantage back to the Golden Eagles with 4:36 to play. TTU held on for a 28-25 advantage at the break.
UMKC couldn't get the offense going in the half, hitting only 29 percent from the floor, but Tennessee Tech wasn't much better, hitting 34.6 percent. Estan Tyler and Nelson Kirksey had six points apiece, while Fred Chatmon posted a game-high seven rebounds. His effort helped Kansas City record a 26-18 advantage on the glass in the period. The leading scorer was TTU's Jud Dillard with 10 points.
The second stanza was tight as well, with three ties in the first five minutes. Chatmon tied the game for a fourth time on a layup with 12:14 left, 36-36. The Eagles used the game's first significant run to pull in front though, scoring the next nine points over a span of 2:13. The rally was spurred by Lanerryl Johnson, who had six of those points.
The 'Roos didn't quit though, getting within one at the 6:14 mark on a big three-pointer from Kirk Korver. TTU got it back to six after a couple free throws from Dillard, but back-to-back threes from Tyler and Korver tied it at 58 with 3:48 on the clock (the first tie since the 12:14 mark). The Golden Eagles hit a couple free throws to get the lead back, and followed with a huge three by Jeremia Samarrippas to extend the advantage to five with 1:39 left.
The 'Roos got it to three, but TTU again answered with a big jumper with 20 seconds left to seal it. The two squads lit it up in the second half, with UMKC hitting 50 percent and TTU drilling 58.3 percent. That proved to be the difference, as well as free throws.
Kirksey finished with 16 to lead UMKC, while Tyler tallied 14. Kirksey's total was the second game in a row with 15+ and only the third of his career. Chatmon pulled down 10 boards, his seventh double-figure rebound game of the season. UMKC took a 37-32 rebound edge.
Dillard led all scorers with 20 points for TTU, while three others finished in double-figures.
Kansas City will finish the regular season with two road games this week, starting with a Thursday contest at Western Illinois at 7:00 p.m.

Sprint Center Owner AEG Receives Low Ball Bids

A report in the New York Post is saying that Sprint Center Owner/Operator AEG is not receiving satisfactory bids for the company. The article states that the bids are below what AEG feels is market value and well below what the company would like to receive.
AEG spokespeople on several occasions have said that the sale of the company would not have an impact on any of the company’s assets. People in Kansas City still have to wonder how the sale will affect the company’s several failed attempts to secure an anchor tenant for the Sprint Center.

Comets Lifeless Against Soul

As the MISL regular season winds down and teams position themselves for the playoffs, the Comets need just one win to clinch a spot in the postseason tournament. The Chicago Soul need two wins to overcome the Comets for the third seed. The Soul were definitely the hungrier team tonight as Matthew Stewart led his team to a 13-2 win over the Missouri Comets
Alex Megson got things started off in the first quarter, followed by Stewart's first two goals. Megson bookended the half with his second of the half and the Comets were down 8-0 after the first half.
At halftime, the Comets celebrated one of the greatest players from their storied history in Alan Mayer. Mayer, who was best known for being the first goalkeeper to wear a helmet while he played, was honored with his number being retired and hung in the rafters next to his former teammate Gino Schiraldi.
Having faced large deficits previously, coming back in the second half was not unexpected for the Comets. Chicago defended against that with superb play from goalkeeper Jeff Richey and strong defense from everyone in front of him. Frustrated, Leo Gibson was caught elbowing Chicago's Eric Lukin in the third period and was ejected from the game. On the ensuing power play Chile Farias scored a three point shot and the Comets were down 11-0 after three quarters. Vahid Assadpour was inserted as the sixth attacker, but Alex Megson completed his hat trick shortly after. Brian Harris avoided the shutout for the Comets, scoring with 6.2 seconds remaining in the quarter, but it was not close to enough as Missouri loses 13-2.
The Comets will be able to rebound on Sunday when they face their rivals to the south, the Wichita Wings at 3:10pm. It is the final game of the I-35 series, sponsored by Independence Tourism. With a win, the Comets will clinch a playoff spot for the third straight season and the Turnpike Trophy for the second straight season.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Perrin’s OT Winner Gives Mavericks 2-1 Win Over Brahmas

Defenseman Jesse Perrin scored just 11 seconds into overtime to give the Missouri Mavericks a 2-1 win over the Fort Worth Brahmas Friday night at NYTEX Sports Center.  Perrin finished with two points on one goal and one assist and Mavericks’ goaltender Mike Clemente stopped 26 of 27 shots for his league-leading 20th win of the season. Forward Colt King scored Missouri’s first goal and it marked his fourth straight game with a goal and fifth goal in those four games.  The Mavericks (27-19-4) head home for a game against the Wichita Thunder Saturday night at Independence Events Center.
“Incredible team win tonight,” said Mavericks’ Head Coach Scott Hillman.  “We just wore them down by the end of the game, and we played a great defensive hockey game.”
Fort Worth scored their only goal of the game in the first period on an unassisted goal by Shawn Szydlowski at the 10:05 mark.  The Brahmas held a 13-8 lead in shots after one period as well.
Missouri turned it on in the second period and King was the recipient of a nice pass by Trevor Kell.  King blasted his shot past Brahmas’ goaltender Brad Fogal at the 6:13 mark of the second period and the teams were tied, 1-1.
The game remained tied until 11 seconds into the overtime when Perrin scored his second goal of the season and sent the visiting team home with a win.  Perrin was assisted by Brandon Smith and Sebastien Thinel, and the Mavericks improved to 2-1-0 against the Brahmas this season.
Neither team was able to score on the power play with the Mavericks going 0-for-5 and Fort Worth 0-for-4.  Missouri finished with 29 shots compared to 27 for the Brahmas.

Topeka RoadRunners Win 4-3

Any chance of getting instant replay in the NAHL? After narrowly avoiding Snow-magedden by traveling to Frisco a day early the RoadRunners slept on the bus, overcame two bizarre goals and defeated the Texas 4-3.
The Tornado held the early advantage as Brandon Hawkins shot off the crossbar was ruled a goal at 7:37. The score remained 1-0 going into the second period where Tyler Groat evened the contest at a goal-a-piece.
Things got a lot more interesting in the third. Drew Kariofiles gave the Runners their first lead of the game with his goal at 7:25 off a rebound from Jake Kamrass. A hooking call on Jerad Tafoya left Topeka a man down at 7:54 allowing the Tornado to capitalize with a Max Shuart power play netter at 8:12. Or did they? Replays clearly showed that the net had been knocked from its moorings before the shot had even been taken but the goal was allowed with little discussion.
With the game tied at two, Tomas Nechala scored his first goal as a RoadRunner and was immediately followed by a Tafoya goal not 30 seconds later (8:37 and 9:05 respectively). At 9:59, Shuart would take advantage of a bad turnover in front of the net to make the score 4-3.  The RoadRunners defense, anchored by goalie Spencer Viele, battened down the hatches and rode out the final 10 minutes to secure the Runners sixth straight win.
The loss marks the seventh straight for the Tornado who have fallen behind the Runners by three points in the South Division standings. The two teams will battle again on Saturday night at 7:30pm. Fans in Topeka can catch all of the action at Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant but are advised to get there early as seats are limited. The RoadRunners return to Landon Arena on March first against the Wichita Falls Wildcats. One dollar from each ticket sold on that date will be used to help send Officers Gogian and Atherly’s families to Washington DC for the National Police Week Memorial. The Expocentre will match each dollar collected in this effort.

'Roos Head To Tennessee Tech For BracketBuster Game

The 'Roos step out of conference play for the final time as it plays in the Ramada Worldwide BracketBuster Event, drawing Tennessee Tech. UMKC is 0-1 in BracketBuster games, falling last season at home to Wright State, 76-62. The 'Roos play their final three regular season games on the road, and then head to the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls. The two squads have played four times in their history, but the last meeting came on February 9, 1991 with a TTU win, 84-74. The Golden Eagles lead the series 3-1, with a 2-0 advantage in Cookeville. UMKC's lone win came on December 8, 1990 in Kansas City by a score of 87-78.
Tennessee Tech enters the contest with a 10-16 overall record, and is 4-10 in conference play. The Golden Eagles won at home on Thursday night against UT-Martin, an important win in the chase for a berth in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
The Golden Eagles are led by Jud Dillard, who averages 19.1 points per game, while also pulling down 7.8 rebounds per contest. They also get 10.3 points a contest from Dennis Ogbe, who is coming off a 23-point game on Thursday night. He also grabs 5.5 boards per game. Point guard Jere Samirrapas posts 112 assists and 46 steals to lead the team.
The Golden Eagles average 64.8 points and allow 67.5 per game. They have 310 assists and 420 turnovers, but out-rebound the opposition by 1.0 per contest. They shoot 42 percent overall and only 31.7 percent from three.
In a loss last Saturday to Oakland the two bright spots for the 'Roos were Nelson Kirksey and Thomas Staton. Kirksey matched his career-high with 18 points last Saturday against Oakland. He went 7-of-9 from the floor, and hit 3-of-4 from three-point range. Staton logged a career-high 38 minutes and scored 17 points.
Kansas City heads to Western Illinois for a 7:00 p.m. contest on the road this Thursday.

Chicago Wolves Recall Mavericks' Corbeil

The Missouri Mavericks announced Friday goaltender Mathieu Corbeil has been recalled to the Mavericks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.
Corbeil has notched a 7-8-0 record, 2.68 goals-against average, and .916 save percentage in 16 games with the Mavericks during his professional debut this season. He has not played in any games with the Wolves this year.
The Mavericks signed emergency goaltender Jordan Crudo for tonight's game against the Fort Worth Brahmas.

Topeka RoadRunners Bingo Night Spaghetti Feed

The Topeka RoadRunners Booster Club would like to invite everyone to a fun filled evening on February 24th. They are hosting their annual Spaghetti Feed with the Team, but this year they have added Bingo! Come have dinner and play some action packed Bingo! The fun starts at 6:00 p.m. so come hungry and we hope you are feeling lucky, there will be prizes! The Spaghetti Feed and Bingo Night will be held at Garfield Shelter House, 1600 N Kansas. Invite your friends and family. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A BOOSTER CLUB MEMBER TO ATTEND! Questions contact Maria at 232-1568.
Spaghetti Only - Adults-$6, Kids-$3 (6-12)
Bingo Only - Adults-$6, Kids-$3 (6-12)
Spaghetti and Bingo - Adults - $10, Kids-$5 (6-12)

Renegades to Open Training Camp On Tuesday

The Kansas CityRenegades training camp begins on Tuesday February 26th at 8:00a.m. and 1:00p.m. Practices will be held at the KC sports lodge 19310 E. 50th Terrace, Independence, MO. Additional camp dates are listed below. These dates are open to any member of the media or the general public. They encourage you to come out and see what you have to look forward to this season. The season opener is March 17 at Kemper Arena. Kick off is at 2:05 p.m. with pre-game starting at 1:45p.m.
Training camp dates:
·         Tuesday 2/26/13 practice #1 (8am-11am) practice #2 (1pm-4pm)
·         Wednesday 2/27/13 practice #3 (8am-11am) practice #4 (1pm-4pm)
·         Thursday 2/28/13 practice #5 (8am-11am) practice #6 (1pm-4pm)
·         Friday 3/1/13 practice #7 (8am-11am) practice #8 (1pm-4pm)
·         Monday 3/4/13 practice #9 (8am-11am)
·         Tuesday 3/5/13 practice #10 (8am-11am)
·         Wednesday 3/6/13 practice #11 (8am-11am)
·         Thursday 3/7/13 practice #12 (8am-11am)
·         Friday 3/8/13 practice #13 (8am-11am)

February 22nd Weekend Preview

This weekend there are two movies being released. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returns to the big screen in "Snitch". Inspired by true events, the fast-paced action thriller stars Dwayne Johnson as a father whose teenage son is wrongly accused of a drug distribution crime and is looking at a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years. Desperate and determined to rescue his son at all costs, he makes a deal with the U.S. Attorney to work as an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel on a dangerous mission- risking everything, including his family and his own life.
The other movie is a creepy Sci-Fi flick. From the producer of "Paranormal Activity," "Insidious," and "Sinister" comes "Dark Skies": a supernatural thriller that follows a young family living in the suburbs. As husband and wife Daniel and Lacey Barret witness an escalating series of disturbing events involving their family, their safe and peaceful home quickly unravels. When it becomes clear that the Barret family is being targeted by an unimaginably terrifying and deadly force, Daniel and Lacey take matters in their own hands to solve the mystery of what is after their family.
On Saturday there will be a Screening & Discussion at the Black Archives of Mid-America, Inc.
of the documentary "Separate to Equal". Produced by Kevin Wilmott, Separate to Equal chronicles the history of African American health care in Kansas City. Following the screening, Kevin Wilmott, Randal Jelks, Tanya Hart and Deborah Dandridge will host a panel discussion about the history of Perry Sanitarium, Douglass Hospital and Wheatley-Provident to name a few early hospitals. This program addresses the ASALH annual theme of "At The Crossroad of Freedom and Equality." There will also be a display of the collection housed at the Black Archives.
The Comets host two game this weekend. On Friday they battle the Chicago Soul. The Comets will be retiring the jersey of one of the franchise's all-time great players, former goalkeeper, Alan Mayer.
Sunday they take on their I‐35 rival, the Wichita Wings at 3:10pm. This game will determine who will win this season's Turnpike Trophy. With a win in any of the team's remaining 3 games (2 home, 1 away), the Comets will make the MISL Playoffs and host a home playoff game on Thursday, March 7th at the IEC at 7:35pm.
On Saturday, UMKC’s men's basketball will head to Tennesee Tech of the Ohio Valley Conference as part of the Ramada BracketBuster event, presented by ESPN. The pairings for the 11th annual event, which is a two-day men's college basketball weekend pitting NCAA Tournament bubble teams against each other. There are 122 teams from 15 conferences involved in the 2013 event.
Also on Saturday, The Renegades (KC’s newest indoor football team) will be hosting a Texas Hold'em Tournament benefiting the Blue Springs Education Foundation. The event will take place at the Blue Springs Elks Lodge (100 NE Brizendine Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64014).
$1,000 FIRST PLACE PRIZE plus a guaranteed seat at next year's tournament. Cash prizes through fifth place!
Former Chief and two-time Super Bowl winner Neil Smith is playing along with other local celebrities. Win additional prizes if you knock out Smith or one of the other celebs!
Must be 21 to attend. $50 pre-registration, $60 at the door. Checks payable to BSEF. Email poker4bsef@gmail.com to lock in the pre-registration price (include name in the subject line). Registration and happy hour starts at 6, deal at 7.
On Friday the Mavericks are in Texas to take on the Texas Brahmas. On Saturday they are back home to host interstate rival the Wichita Thunder. The Zooperstars will be providing entertainment between periods. After the game head to Strikerz (18900 East Valley View Parkway, Independence, MO 64055) for a full team post game party.
On Sunday, Mavericks will be appearing at two events. From 12pm-2pm players John-Scott Dickson and Evan Vossen and Mac will be at Backyard Burger in Independence. Backyard Burger will be offering Mavericks fans food specials and you can register for your chance to win a Mavericks team autographed item.
The Missouri Mavericks' fan club, The Wranglers, present "Trivia Night with the Mavs" from 4p-7p at Grain Valley High School Gym. Trivia Night costs $10 per seat and each table of 8 will have at least one Mav's player at the table. Registration is open to the public and space is limited. All ages are welcome, there will be questions geared for the younger members. Pre-register at the Wranglers booth on the concourse during upcoming home games. You may also register at the door if space permits.
Also Mavericks players Mathieu Corbeil, Kellan Tochkin and Riley Emmerson will be at  BD’s as guest chefs  on Wednesday, February 27th from 6pm-8pm. BD’s will be donating 15% of Mavericks fans entire bill to the Cure for Cancer Organization. Meet and Greet with the players and register for your chance to win a Mavericks team autographed item.
At the Sprint Center, the PBR is returning for the fifth straight year. They are bringing the pain, as the toughest cowboys and baddest bulls on the planet rock Sprint Center on Feb. 23 & 24. The Top 35 bull riders in the world risk it all for two unforgettable nights.
The Topeka Roadrunners are on the road to face the Texas Tornado. As with all RoadRunners away games there will be a watch party at Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant. There will be games, prizes and a chance to hang out with players who didn’t make the trip. The games begin at 7:30 but get there early as seats are limited.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Comets Look To Clinch Playoff Berth

The Missouri Comets face two important games as they prepare for the final weekend of the MISL regular season, with the Chicago Soul the first visitor to the Independence Events Center on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. CT. Friday's game matches the third and fourth seed in the MISL playoff brackets, while Sunday afternoon's clash at 3:10 p.m. CT is the final match of the season between the Comets and their long-time rivals, the Wichita Wings.
The top four teams in the MISL qualify for the postseason tournament. With the top two seeds locked up by Baltimore and Milwaukee, the Comets and Soul are battling to lock down their spots in the playoffs. Missouri just needs one win in its final three games to clinch a playoff berth. If that win comes on Friday night against Chicago, the team will also guarantee itself the No. 3 seed. Chicago needs to win all three of its final games, two of them against the Comets, to take third place. That task was made a little harder this week with the suspension of three Soul players following an incident after their game last week.
Friday is also Alan Mayer night. The Comets continue to support and honor their rich indoor soccer history by retiring the number of another of their greatest players.  Mayer was best known as the goalkeeper who wore a helmet in his matches, but he was an outstanding player who backstopped some of the greatest defenses in the original Major Indoor Soccer League. The team will celebrate his career and lift his number to the rafters at halftime.
Sunday is the final game of this season’s I-35 Series, sponsored by Independence Tourism. Missouri holds a 3-2 advantage against the Wings in the series and can earn the Turnpike Trophy for the second straight season with a win at the Independence Events Center. With 16 points in his last five games, Wings captain, Frederico Moojen, hopes to lead his team to a strong season finish. He will have a tough task though, as Comets defender/forward Leo Gibson has 21 points of his own in the last six games as shows no signs of slowing down.
Due to the severe weather in the Kansas City metro area, the Comets offices are closed today, but fans can still purchase tickets for either of this weekend’s games by visiting CometsIndoorSoccer.com or emailing tickets@kcprosoccer.com.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Mavericks Sign Defenseman Brock Wilson

Missouri Mavericks’ Head Coach Scott Hillman announced Wednesday the Central Hockey League (CHL) team has signed defenseman Brock Wilson.  The Des Peres, Missouri native will join the Mavericks for the team’s game in Fort Worth on Friday night. Also, the Mavericks have placed defenseman J.P. Testwuide on team suspension.
Wilson, 28 (10/15/84), is a veteran of 321 professional games, a majority of which were played in the ECHL.  A 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman, Wilson most recently played overseas for the Nottingham Panthers in the British Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) where he accounted for 28 points (6-22=28) in 54 games played.
“Brock brings great experience and will give us added depth on the blueline,” said Hillman.  “It may take him a few games to get his timing back but once he does he will add an offensive punch to our defensive core.  He is a good team guy, battles very hard and plays the game with an abrasive attitude which should fit in very nicely with our hockey club.  He is the kind of defensemen we have been patiently searching for.”
Playing in his sixth professional season, Wilson played the previous three seasons in the ECHL with four different teams (Augusta, Dayton, Toledo, Utah).  He played the majority of his rookie season with the International Hockey League’s (IHL) Flint Generals.  Overall, he has 109 points (20-89=109) and 514 penalty minutes in 321 games played.
Hillman also commented on the suspension of J.P. Testwuide, “JP is a valuable member of our hockey club.  Although he has some commitments he must fulfill outside of the game, he is doing what he can to be part of this organization down the stretch, and we hope to see him in a Mavericks’ sweater again in the future.”
Missouri travels to Fort Worth to take on the Fort Worth Brahmas on Friday, Feb. 22.  The Zooperstars! will be in attendance for the Mavericks’ next home game against the Wichita Thunder on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Independence Events Center.

The Topeka RoadRunners Partnering With FOP Foundation For National Police Memorial Fundraiser


The Topeka RoadRunners are partnering with The Fraternal Order of Police Foundation to help raise money to be used to send the families of CPL David Gogian and OFC Jeff Atherly to Washington DC for the National Police Week Memorial. The Kansas Expocentre will join the RoadRunners by matching funds raised in this effort.
“On Sunday, December 16th, two officers tragically lost their lives in the performance of their duties. It was a terrible loss for our community but an even more devastating blow to their families,” said Joe Clark, RoadRunners Executive Director of Business Affairs. “It is important for the RoadRunner organization and our fans to honor their sacrifice.”
For every ticket sold for the RoadRunners March 1st game against the Wichita Falls Wildcats, the team will donate one dollar to The Fraternal Order of Police Foundation. The FOPF will in turn use the funds raised to pay the travel expenses of the Gogian and Atherly families. And for every dollar raised by the RoadRunners, the Kansas Expocentre will make a matching donation.
“We are proud to partner with the RoadRunners in this pursuit,” said H.R. Cook, General Manager of the Kansas Expocentre. “Nothing is more important than honoring the brave men and women who serve our city and respecting the families who support them. We look forward to seeing Topeka turnout to help support this worthwhile cause.”
Tickets for Friday, March 1st are available at the Expocentre Box Office. Ticket information for this and all other upcoming games can be found at www.topekaroadrunners.com or by calling 785-286-7825.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Comets' Gibson Named Player Of The Week, Waltman Joins Him On MISL Team of the Week

The Major Indoor Soccer League announced today that Missouri Comets defender Leo Gibson has been named the league’s Player of the Week for the 16th week of the 2012-13 season. Gibson recorded his sixth hat trick of the season as the Comets snapped the Milwaukee Wave’s 16-game winning streak on Sunday afternoon at the Independence Events Center.
The Comets fell behind to a pair of goals by Ian Bennett, but Gibson led the fight-back in the second quarter. Gibson scored both goals as Missouri was able to draw level at the halftime break, the second coming while the Comets were shorthanded. The shorthanded goal was a league-leading fifth by Missouri this season.
The goals gave the Comets momentum into the second half, and Gibson capped his night with what proved to be an insurance tally on a fourth-quarter power play that gave his side a five-point lead with a little more than five minutes to play.
Gibson was joined on the Team of the Week by teammate Danny Waltman who recorded 13 saves, including some vital stops in the second half. Baltimore’s Ptah Myers was named for a second consecutive week with Gibson in the defensive unit after recording a pair of goals in the Blast’s 12-6 win against Wichita on Saturday night.
Syracuse’s forward pair of Andriy Budnyy and Kenardo Forbes both earned selection after scoring the crucial goals in the Silver Knights’ 17-15 overtime victory against Rochester. Budnyy’s second goal of the game tied the match 15-15 with 12 seconds to play, and Forbes notched the overtime winner a little more than five minutes into the extra session.
Rochester’s Gary Boughton completed the lineup despite the Lancers’ defeat, with the athletic midfielder recording a seven-point night against Syracuse that included a 3-point goal and a pair of assists.
The 2012-13 MISL season continues on Friday night as the Wichita Wings visit the Syracuse Silver Knights at The Oncenter at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game that will see the loser eliminated from playoff contention. Missouri can clinch the No. 3 seed in the playoffs that night as they host the Chicago Soul at the Independence Events Center at 8:35 p.m. ET.
Saturday night sees the Baltimore Blast and Milwaukee Wave clash for the final time this regular season, with the Blast needing victory at 1st Mariner Arena at 7:35 p.m. ET to maintain a chance at earning top spot in the standings. Sunday then sees the Wave move on to face the Rochester Lancers at the Blue Cross Arena at 4 p.m. ET in a must-win game for the Lancers’ playoff chances, while the Comets and Wings conclude their regular-season series at the Independence Events Center at 4:10 p.m. ET.