Cincinnati Enquirer

A weekly look at Cincinnati's minor-league hockey teams.

Cincinnati Cyclones

Last weekend: Lost 4-2 in Johnstown; beat Wheeling 5-2.

Where they stand: 17-16-2, sixth in the nine-team Northern Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference.

Who's next: Peoria at home today (7:30 p.m.); at Wheeling on Friday and Saturday (both games on Cycloneshockey.com via webcast beginning at 7:20 p.m.); at Toledo on Sunday (webcast begins at 2:50 p.m.).

Who's hot: Garrett Prosofsky, the Cyclones' nomination for ECHL Player of the Week, had a goal and three assists in two games last weekend. Ryan Brindley (one goal and two assists), Dean Stork (three assists) and Terry Marchant (one goal and one assist) also scored in both Clones games.

Nuts & bolts: Defenseman Ryan Brindley will represent the Cyclones at the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game on Jan. 21 in Peoria, Ill. Brindley is 10th among ECHL defensemen with 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 35 games. Brindley was elected to start for the East.

Tickets/promotions: U.S. Bank Arena box office or any other Ticketmaster location including by phone at 562-4949.Group tickets and partial season plans are available from the U.S. Bank Arena ticket office. The ticket office can be reached at 421-3222. Upcoming promotions include an appearance by Scooby Doo and Shaggy on Jan. 25th when the Clones take on Atlantic City.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

Last week: Beat Milwaukee (3-2); split at Chicago (5-3, 3-2).

Where they stand: 15-17-5-1, fifth in seven-team AHL West Division.

Who's next: Manitoba (16-20-6-1) at home, 7:35 p.m. Friday; Milwaukee (17-11-4-2) at home, 7:35 p.m. Saturday.

Who's hot: LW Chris Kunitz has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last five games and 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) in his last 12. The Ferris State product ranks first among AHL rookies in points (31), second in goals (15) and shots (109) and third in power play goals (five). ...D Chris Armstrong has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his last six games, including three multiple-point efforts in that stretch. ... C Keith Aucoin has five points (three goals, two assists) in his last three games.

Nuts & bolts: LW Casey Hankinson scored his 100th career goal and D Mike Mottau earned his 150th career point with an assist on the goal Jan. 11 at Chicago. Tickets/promotions: Call 351-3999 or 562-4949. Saturday, NASCAR's Tony Stewart, who drives the No. 20 car, will drop the first puck.