Via the web site at www.speedhockey.com:


All-Star Game Ballots Are Here

The United Hockey League's 1999-2000 All-Star Classic Hockey game is being
hosted this year by the Muskegon Fury on February 2nd, 2000. Each U.H.L.
team will have at least 2-players representing them at the game and those
players are being voted on during the month of December by their home fans.
Knoxville fans will vote on the following Speed players to represent
Knoxville at the 1999-2000 All-Star Classic:

Trevor Jobe - Center
Dan Myre - Center
Bryan Fogarty - Defense
Dimitry Ustyuzhanin - Defense

* Fans will begin All-Star voting for Knoxville this weekend.



Fairing in the East

Knoxville has now faced two of its four opponents in the Eastern Division
and is 2-1 against them. On November 12th, they defeated Adirondack 5-4 in
a shoot-out and took one of two games against Asheville this past weekend.
As the season continues, the Speed's chemistry is starting to gel,
bettering their play on the ice. Keep a close watch because their season
rankings are sure to follow.

Here's how the Division looks:

GP W L SOL PTS
B.C. Icemen 21 13 7 1 27
Asheville Smoke 19 9 10 0 18
Mohawk Valley Prowlers 15 7 5 3 17
Knoxville Speed 20 5 15 0 10
Adirondack IceHawks 20 4 14 2 10



Playing Better Hockey

Although the record doesn't necessarily indicate it, the Speed is playing
much better hockey and the teams statistics reflect it. Knoxville has
out-shot its opponents in just 6-games this season. Three of the six were
in the last 5- games and five of the six were in the month of November.
They have also allowed fewer goals (28% less) in the last 5 games. One of
the problems the team has been facing was getting started early in the
game. Recently, Knoxville has jumped ahead in 3 of their last 5 games. A
step up from the first 15 games. Take a look :

Last 5 games First 15 Games
Knx Opp. Diff/game Knx Opp. Diff/game
SHOTS 144 151 1.4 394 483 5.0
GOALS 11 13 0.4 42 75 2.2
1st GOAL 3 2 20% 5 10 33%



Roster Improvements

Since the Speed's original team roster on October 15th, just 12 players
remain. Fourteen have been added (8 in the past two weeks) and eleven have
been released (6 last week). Finally, the team's injured reserve list is
also looking healthier. Coming back this week was Sergei Radchenko and
Dimitry Ustyuzhanin. Just two players remain: Janis Tomans and Rusty McKie.



Skating With A Full "D" Deck

For the first time this season, the Speed suited six defensemen this
weekend and it showed. On Saturday, Knoxville allowed Asheville 21 shots on
Speed goaltender Konstantine Simchuk while the Speed out-shot them with 36
and on Friday they allowed 35 while taking 39. The Speed has out-shot its
opponent just six times in 20-games this season.




Player Notes

Speed goaltender Konstantine Simchuk recorded his first shut-out of the
season on Saturday night against the Asheville Smoke. He stopped 21 shots
before taking a 3-0 victory.

All season we've been keeping an eye on Trevor Jobe. He currently leads the
league with 16 goals, three ahead of Flint's Bobby Reynolds and Missouri's
Colin Chaulk. He is also one of the United Hockey League's leading scorers
with 27 points. Just 4 players are ahead of him.

In his first appearance wearing red, white & blue, Mike Murray, the former
Knoxville Cherokee (ECHL) standout scored two goals and had two assists in
his debut with the team this weekend. He joined the Speed's roster on
Friday. Although Murray hasn't played professional hockey in several years,
his previous experience in the ECHL (Dayton & Knoxville) and AHL (Cornwall
& Saint John) gives him strong credibility on the ice and he's proving it.
Mike is just 16 goals from reaching 100 in his career.

Jan Beran has been an asset up front for the Speed lately. In his 8 games
with the team, he's had 3 goals and 2 assists.

The Speed's Eric Montreuil is just 18 points away from hitting 100 career
points. This is his 5th year playing professionally. He was an 11th round
draft pick of the Florida Panthers in 1993.




Gregory S. Williams
k4hsm@...
http://user.icx.net/~k4hsm
http://www.qsl.net/twiar