‘Yotes Notes: Rieder exits Worlds; Keller still excelling
May 9, 2017, 7:32 AM | Updated: 2:00 pm
Germany's forward Tobias Rieder celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench during the Ice Hockey World Championships group A match between USA and Germany at the LANXESS arena in Cologne, Germany, Friday, May 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Coyotes forward Tobias Rieder suffered what the team is calling a lower-body injury in host Germany’s 6-3 loss to Russia on Monday at the IIHF Word Championship in Cologne. Rieder appeared to twist his leg as he went down.
The Coyotes announced that Rieder would miss the rest of the tournament, but initial indications are that the injury is not serious. The team expects to know more in the next few days, suggesting that Rieder will have further tests.
Rieder had a goal in three games for Germany, which defeated the United States in its opening game, but has lost its last two. This is the second straight year in which Rieder has suffered an injury at the World Championship. He suffered a knee injury while playing for Germany in Russia last May 12, colliding with forward Corey Perry in the second period of a game against Canada.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHECK-IN
Coyotes forward Clayton Keller had a goal and defenseman Connor Murphy had an assist in the United States’ 4-3 victory over Sweden on Monday in Cologne. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had an assist in a losing effort.
For Keller, the goal came one day after notching a hat trick against Denmark in another preliminary round game. Keller is the first player to post a hat trick for Team USA since Craig Smith (Nashville) did it in 2013.
Keller leads all Coyotes with four points. Murphy and Ekman-Larsson have a goal and an assist each.
OPEN HOUSE
The Coyotes will host an open house event on Saturday from 2:30-4:00 p.m. at Gila River Arena. Kids attending the event will get an opportunity to play ball hockey on the arena floor with Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
The event will also allow fans to secure full season ticket memberships for next season and select the best seat locations available for the 2017-18 Coyotes season.
Those planning to attend the event should enter via Gate 6 on the east side of Gila River Arena. Coyotes ticket sales and service executives will be on hand to assist with seat selection and to answer questions.
LOOSE PUCKS
• Team sources confirmed that Tampa Bay Rays minority owner Randy Frankel is no longer being considered as a possible Coyotes investor, but Coyotes majority owner Andrew Barroway’s efforts to buy out the minority owners are still progressing with the expectation they will be completed.
• Former Sun and current NBA analyst Charles Barkley on the NBA playoffs: “Thank god for the NHL Playoffs. That’s what I’ll be watching in the back instead of these blowouts.”
