Advertisement

History, a Japanese addition and more: How the Peoria Rivermen spent their 11-day break

dave eminian, journal star
·6 min read

PEORIA — Veteran Peoria Rivermen goaltender Eric Levine has a new mustache on his face and a collection of Harry Potter wands on his mantel at home, to which he's added the puck from a historic game this month.

And the Rivermen have a Japanese-born player for just the second time in their 41-year franchise history.

And you thought the defending Southern Professional Hockey League champions would be boring during an 11-day idle period in their schedule?

"No such thing as a day off," Rivermen coach Jean-Guy Trudel said. "Although the guys have some downtime this week. But we're always working, on some level, toward making this team better and making progress toward a championship."

To that end, Trudel signed Japanese-born defenseman Roy Kanda, who has never played in North America. He was in ECHL Wheeling's training camp this fall with Rivermen defenseman Zach Wilkie, who urged Trudel to bring him to Peoria for a look.

Levine, meanwhile, set the SPHL all-time career record for goaltender shutouts on Nov. 4, stopping Quad City on the road, 1-0.

More:'The Big Dog': Peoria Rivermen bring back popular veteran goalscoring ace

Levine didn't know about the record

Levine made 24 saves at Quad City on Nov. 4 to carry the Rivermen to a 1-0 victory. That was his 14th career shutout in the SPHL, establishing a league record.

"To be honest, I didn't even know it was a record until after the game," Levine said. "(Rivermen center) Kasey Kulczycki brought me the puck. Who had the record?"

That would be two guys, former Columbus and Pensacola goaltender Andrew Loewen (2010-2016) and none other than Kyle Rank (2011-2015), who was Levine's first partner at Peoria in the SPHL.

"I've started a mustache, for Movember, I've never had one before, so Ranker always had one, this was truly for him," Levine said, laughing. "I guess this means the mustache is staying.

"Rank was the goaltending partner I needed but didn't know I needed back then. He never got too high or low, always such a pro and committed. He played so calm, no matter the situation. I saw that and wanted to take on that even-keel approach. The team's mentality in a game stems from the goaltending out.

"Looking back and reflecting, I appreciate him so much more. He had a huge impact on me."

Kyle Rank was a star for the Peoria Rivermen in the net, twice named SPHL Goaltender of the Year.
Kyle Rank was a star for the Peoria Rivermen in the net, twice named SPHL Goaltender of the Year.

Levine has shutouts in the SPHL with the Rivermen, Quad City and Louisiana. Of his now-record 14 shutouts, eight have come in the month of November.

Eric Levine's record

Here is his shutout record, with saves made in parentheses:

Peoria Rivermen

  • Nov. 4, 2022: Rivermen 1, at Quad City 0 (24)

  • Oct. 22, 2021: Rivermen 6, Macon 0 (35)

  • Nov. 26, 2021: Rivermen 2, at Quad City 0 (42)

  • Jan. 29, 2022: Rivermen 4, at Vermilion County 0 (23)

  • Feb. 27, 2022: Rivermen 5, Vermilion County 0 (21)

  • March 4, 2022: Rivermen 4, Roanoke 0 (29)

  • Nov. 2, 2019: Rivermen 3, Macon 0 (32)

  • Nov. 29, 2019: Rivermen 4, Huntsville 0 (30)

  • Dec. 7, 2019: Rivermen 6, Quad City 0 (25)

  • Jan. 3, 2020: Rivermen 4, at Birmingham 0 (28)

  • Nov. 25, 2017: Rivermen 1, Mississippi RiverKings 0 (33)

Louisiana

  • Nov. 27, 2015: Louisiana 5, at Columbus 0 (44)

Quad City

  • Nov. 24, 2018: Quad City 1, Evansville 0 (23)

  • Nov. 30, 2018: Quad City 4, at Evansville 0 (41)

"It might have been the easiest shutout I've ever had, because we played so good," Levine said. "I've had 40-save shutouts and stole a game. I've had 1-0 wins. But this was a team defensive effort.

"It's hard to get a shutout at any level. You make that one save, play well, get bailed out by your team and have a little luck."

More:Peoria Rivermen get their first win, and a new name as the Illinois Flying Carp

And make some room on your mantel.

"That puck is there now next to my 100th pro win puck," Levine said. "I've got two pucks, a Player of the Week plaque and my Harry Potter collection. My girlfriend and I have wands up there next to those pucks.

"Mine is a Lord Voldemort wand. He's the hated evil character — sort of the way the SPHL feels about Peoria. Go ahead and laugh, but I'm telling you, the magic in those wands is real, so we keep them right up there with those pucks."

The magic Levine, at age 34, brings to the Rivermen lineup is real, too.

"He's better than ever," Trudel said. "I'm more happy because of the leadership he brings to the team. He's so old-school, it's not a record that he's after. These records are phenomenal and well-deserved, but he and this team are looking for bigger things."

New Peoria Rivermen defenseman Roy Kanda, a Japanese-born player getting his first shot at hockey in North America.
New Peoria Rivermen defenseman Roy Kanda, a Japanese-born player getting his first shot at hockey in North America.

Meet a kid from Hokkaido

The Rivermen have signed a Japanese defenseman named Roy Kanda. He's never played in North America. He was spotted by Rivermen defenseman Zach Wilkie when the two were in ECHL Wheeling's camp this fall, and Wilkie raves about him.

"Zach said he was absolutely sick in three intrasquad games and an exhibition game," Trudel said. "The Wheeling coach said he brought him in there as a favor, and by the end of camp they were talking about him making their team."

Then some players were sent down from the AHL and Kanda was pushed off the roster.

He's a 5-foot-11, 185-pound physical defenseman. He's high-energy and fearless, and Trudel has signed him to a full SPHL contract to give him a shot here.

Born in Hokkaido, Japan, the 22-year-old left-handed defenseman is the second Japanese player in the history of the Rivermen. The Rivermen signed center Daisuke Obara in the 2003-04 ECHL season, and he played four games here. He went on to play in Japan's Asia League, and incredibly, is still playing this season, now 41 years old.

Kanda, meanwhile, played five games for Japan's World Junior under-18 team in 2017-18. He played college hockey in Japan for Chuo University in 2019-20. He went on to S-Kiekko, in the Suomi-sarja circuit in 2021-22, where he scored 3 goals and 7 assists in 23 games for the Seinäjoki, Finland-based team.

He also played for the Yokohama Grits in the Asia League's Japan Cup in 2021-22.

River Readings

The Rivermen outright released defenseman Hank Sorensen this week. … The Rivermen are still looking for another impact forward, and could bring in one next week. … Former Pensacola center Dan Buccella, who played 322 games in the SPHL and helped the Flyers to the league title in 2012-13, died Sunday at age 39 from an aggressive form of Leukemia. … Former Rivermen winger Brendan Soucie — released last week — was claimed by Quad City and played against Peoria in a rematch Saturday. … Quad City's venue, by the way, officially changed names on Sept. 1 from TaxSlayer Center to Vibrant Arena at The Mark. … Former Rivermen captain Dave Pszenyczny, now head coach at Quad City, released winger Tommy Stang after he returned from a brief ECHL call-up. He filled that roster spot with Soucie. "I needed to send a message," Pszenyczny told the Quad City Times. "All bets are off that we want to win it all this year and we're going to do it at all costs. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and introduce some new blood."

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Rivermen analysis: Goalie sets record, Japanese player signed