JOHNSTOWN — Jeff Flanagan hardly can wait until he doesn’t hear or read the question:
“When are the Johnstown Chiefs going to win a game?”
The first-year Chiefs coach has had the misfortune of being on the wrong side of seven ECHL scores in his debut season on the Chiefs’ bench. The last four setbacks have all been by one goal, a sign that the 0-6-1-0 Chiefs are close to breaking through but also just a tad snake-bitten.
“There’s always pressure,” said Flanagan during a phone interview Wednesday as the Chiefs traveled by bus to Cincinnati for tonight’s 7:30 game at U.S. Bank Arena.
“The guys are still very focused. We talked at the start of the year and said that in order for us to be successful we’re going to have to overcome adversity. We’re definitely seeing that now.
“The guys are keeping their nose to the grindstone. The last two games we have played well. Our penalties have hurt us, being in the box.
And not being able to score on the power play has hurt us. Those are the biggest things that have hurt us. I think we will be better on both sides this week.”
After tonight’s game at Cincinnati, the Chiefs visit Wheeling on Saturday. The team returns home for games against Reading on Nov. 11 and Wheeling on Nov. 13.
Addressing the present situation, Flanagan made two roster moves.
He claimed forward Moises Gutierrez off waivers from the Alaska Aces on Wednesday. Gutierrez played most of last season with the Elmira Jackals, picking up 11 goals, 23 points and
83 penalty minutes in 37 ECHL games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Gutierrez in the sixth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. The
6-foot-4, 227-pounder is a native of Anchorage.
“He’s a big guy,” Flanagan said.
“He can work in front of the net. I think he’s going to help us in power play situations and creating net-front chaos so we can get some shots in on rebounds.
“We’re picking him up at the airport in Pittsburgh on the way to Cincinnati. He’ll be in the lineup in Cincinnati.”
To make room for Gutierrez the Chiefs waived forward Tyler Hirsch, who was in his second stint in Johnstown.
Hirsch also played for the Chiefs in 2007-08 before being traded to Stockton. Hirsch, a former University of Minnesota standout, didn’t play last season. He had one assist in six games this season.
“We needed to get better,” Flanagan said of the move.
“We’ve been working real hard and the guys have been doing the things they’ve been asked. We’ve been snake-bitten. Our defensive zone has been just OK. We need to get better. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Cincinnati long has been a Johnstown nemesis, including last season when the Cyclones beat the Chiefs four times in the final five games to eliminate them from the playoffs. Former coach Ian Herbers’ team finished one point out of the postseason field.
On Oct. 17, the Cyclones defeated the Chiefs 2-0 at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. Cincinnati scored two short-handed goals to spoil the Chiefs season opener.
“The last time we played them we played very well. We had two very unfortunate goals scored against us,” Flanagan said. “I think we’ve matched up well with all of the teams we’ve seen so far. We just need to do some little things better. We have to stay out of the box and score on the power play.”
Local Sports
Chiefs chase first victory tonight at Cincinnati
- Local Sports
-
-
2012 AAABA League schedule
A look at this season's schedule:
-
2011 AAABA in Review
A look back at the 2011 AAABA season:
-
AAABA League Preview
A look at this season's Johnstown AAABA League:
-
Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
AAABA League will open after busy offseason
The AAABA League opens on Tuesday at Point Stadium with two new, but familiar managers, a new but familiar sponsor, an expanded interleague schedule and two new franchises committed to the 2013 season.
A lot of activity took place during the offseason, including the AAABA national committee’s vote to expand the age limit to 21 years old beginning in 2013. -
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
2012 AAABA League schedule
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
