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Preview of the "U"

October 9, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release


LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO --- The 16th season for the United Hockey League (UHL) begins play on Friday, October 13th, 2006. A total of nine games are scheduled for the opening weekend of the 2006-07 season as all ten UHL Member Clubs will hit the ice for game action.

The ten UHL teams are divided into two conferences (Eastern and Western) and each club will play a total of 76 games (38 home, 38 road) during the regular season.

New Rules

The UHL has adopted the following rules and procedure changes for the 2006-07 season:

* A team that is called for an "icing" infraction will not be allowed to make any player substitutions prior to the ensuing face-off.

* A restricted area has been added for goaltenders. Should a goaltender play the puck outside of the designated area behind the

goal line, a minor penalty will be imposed for "delay of game". The determining factor is the position of the puck.

* The maximum curvature for a player's stick blade has been increased to ¾ of an inch.

* Prior to the start of the 2nd and 3rd periods, all players will be allowed to skate around the ice for a warm-up session.

* Prior to a shootout, the Zamboni will make a dry scrape through the center of the ice.

Pointstreak

For the second consecutive season, Pointstreak will be the real-time scores and statistics provider for all UHL players and teams during the regular season and playoffs. Live scores and statistics for each UHL game can be accessed at the official website of the UHL, www.theuhl.com.

"B2 Power Play"

B2 Networks and the UHL have introduced a new premium web service, "B2 Power Play", for fans during the 2006-07 season. Included in the "B2 Power Play" package is access to watch every game of your favorite team, free viewing of the "UHL Game of the Week", and exclusive viewing of weekly highlights. In addition to viewing on personal computers, "B2 Power Play" will be available on the new B2toGO network, allowing fans to watch the action on cell phones and wireless devices. Pricing for the new features are offered on a seasonal and monthly basis. The package is offered through individual team websites and the official website of the UHL, www.theuhl.com. Fans interested in purchasing individual games may continue to do so for the same $6 price as last season.

2006-07 Team Previews

Bloomington PrairieThunder (expansion team)

The PrairieThunder embark on their first campaign in the UHL in 2006-07. Although they are a new team, the PrairieThunder are looking to make an impact right away. Head coach Derek Booth will lead a solid mix of young players and experienced veterans into the new era of hockey in Bloomington. Booth was named the Coach of the Year in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) following the 2004-05 season. He led his team to the playoffs in both seasons in the SPHL. His strong leadership was evident during his playing days when he was a team captain in nearby Peoria during the 2002-03 season.

The team acquired high scoring forward Tyler Rennette prior to training camp. He helped the Kalamazoo Wings claim their first Colonial Cup last season. Goaltender Jeff Reynaert also comes over from Kalamazoo. He is no stranger to the UHL as he enters his fifth season in the league. Bloomington also welcomes rugged winger/defenseman Jason Lawmaster to the mix. Lawmaster brings toughness and experience as he was a part of two Colonial Cup Championship teams in Muskegon.

Chicago Hounds (expansion team)

Like Bloomington, the Hounds want to make a quick impact on the UHL. The squad is led by Greg Puhalski, who has the most coaching wins (359) in the history of the UHL. Puhalski takes over the reigns of the Hounds after spending the previous six seasons in Fort Wayne where he twice led the team to the Finals and captured the Colonial Cup in 2002-03. Coach Puhalski has assembled a group that includes new faces to the UHL along with a number of players who have spent significant time in the league.

Veteran winger Greg Koehler will provide scoring punch up front. He has posted 20 or more goals in each of his three previous UHL seasons, including 42 goals in the 2004-05 season split between Elmira and Adirondack. Veteran defenseman Bob Rapoza will patrol the blueline in his eighth UHL season. His plus-35 rating led his Adirondack team in 2005-06 and ranked 11th in the entire UHL. Center Steve Cygan returns to the league. He was the UHL Rookie of the Year following the 2002-03 season.

Elmira Jackals (27-42-7, 61 points in 2005-06)

The Jackals seek a return to the playoffs after a two-year absence from the postseason. The Jackals had reached the Colonial Cup Finals in two of the three seasons prior to that. Kris Waltze begins his first season as head coach in Elmira. Waltze was a mid-season replacement in 2005-06 with the Richmond RiverDogs. He posted a 20-9-2 record to end the season and narrowly missed the playoffs as the team was left out of the postseason because they were on the short end of a tiebreaker.

A pair of UHL veterans join the Jackals for the upcoming campaign. Defenseman Scott Drevitch enters his 19th professional season and fifth in the UHL. He has been named to the UHL All-Star Classic in three consecutive seasons. Winger Frank Littlejohn begins his seventh UHL season. He ranks ninth in UHL history with 1,489 career penalty minutes. Newcomer Brent Cullaton (RW) brings winning experience as he helped Laredo capture two consecutive championships in the Central Hockey League (CHL). Kris Tebbs will compete in net for the Jackals after posting 22 wins a season ago in Adirondack.

Flint Generals (31-35-10, 72 points in 2005-06)

The Generals are also looking for a return trip to the playoffs after missing out in the previous two seasons and three out of the last four. Kevin Kerr begins his first season behind the Generals bench. He spent parts of eight seasons on the ice for the Generals and ranks as the all-time leading scorer in team history. He also ranks as the all-time goal scoring leader in minor professional hockey history. Kerr will bring his passion that he displayed as a player to his role as a coach in efforts of bringing an organization back to the success it enjoyed in the 90's when they captured two Colonial Cups.

Flint's roster will be full of different names than from a season ago. Veteran winger Jason Selleke will be the only returning player who saw significant time in 2005-06. Selleke played in all but three games a season ago and netted 20 goals for the Generals. Newcomer Jan Jas (RW) scored 21 goals last season in Roanoke. Veteran center Richard Keyes has averaged nearly a point per game in three previous UHL seasons. Goaltender Jason Muzzatti brings a wealth of experience to the team. Muzzatti has been in net for 62 career National Hockey League (NHL) games and was the goaltender for Team Italy during the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Fort Wayne Komets (44-26-6, 94 points in 2005-06)

Pat Bingham was named the new head coach of the Komets during the off-season, taking over for the departed Greg Puhalski. Bingham is quite familiar with the league after accumulating 89 wins over two seasons, which included guiding the Asheville Smoke to the 2001 Colonial Cup Finals. Teams under Bingham have always been known for their toughness and energy.

Anchoring the Komets defense will be goaltender Kevin St. Pierre. He ranks in the top ten on several UHL all-time lists including a league best 21 career shutouts. In front of St. Pierre will be defenseman Guy Dupuis. He was named All-UHL Second Team a season ago after leading the Komets with a plus-27 rating. Center Bruce Richardson adds scoring, speed, and grit to the Komets front line as he begins his third season in the league. Daniel Goneau (LW) was added in the off-season, bringing 53 games of NHL experience. Forward J.C. Ruid was recently signed by the team. Ruid has averaged better than a point per game in his four previous UHL seasons. He was named All-UHL Second Team following the 2002-03 season and was a game MVP at the 2005 UHL All-Star Classic.

Kalamazoo Wings (52-17-7, 111 points in 2005-06)

After claiming the first Colonial Cup in team history last season, the team now faces the challenges of being the defending champions. Three-time UHL Coach of the Year Mark Reeds is back for his fourth season in Kalamazoo. Reeds is three wins (306) shy of third all-time in UHL coaching victories. Several key positions were left vacant with the departure of players from the championship squad during the off-season. Reeds will look to re-load for the title defense as the team will surely have targets on their backs all season.

Captain and Colonial Cup Playoff MVP Nick Bootland (39g, 39a) returns for his second season along with second leading scorer Kory Karlander (28g, 52a). Both played in all 76 games for the K-Wings a season ago. Gritty winger Tyler Willis (20g, 46a) is coming off a career season and embarks on his fourth season in Kalamazoo. The trio of Bootland, Karlander, and Willis combined for a plus-106 rating last year. Goaltender Tom Askey looks to fill the crease after 2005-06 UHL Goaltender of the Year Joel Martin has departed. Askey has spent a large amount of time in the AHL, plus a total of seven games in the NHL.

Muskegon Fury (51-18-7, 109 points in 2005-06)

The Fury has been the most successful team over the past few seasons in the UHL. Todd Nelson departed in the off-season to accept an assistant coaching role with the Chicago Wolves (AHL). Assistant coach Bruce Ramsay earned a promotion to the head coaching spot and looks to guide a team that always has high expectations. Ramsay has already won 52 games in the UHL, spending parts of two seasons as head coach in Port Huron.

Muskegon returns a core of players that have been a part of past Fury success. Center Todd Robinson and captain Rustyn Dolyny return and will be looked upon to lead an offense that lost four of the top five scorers from a season ago, including Robin Bouchard and Todd Nelson who tied for the UHL lead in scoring during the 2005-06 season. Dave Van Drunen returns to lead the defense. Van Drunen led the team with a plus-37 rating last season and has emerged as one of the top defensemen in the league. Goaltender Clayton Pool returns for his third season with the Fury. He has tallied an impressive 47-16-8 record in a Muskegon uniform.

Port Huron Flags (23-47-6, 52 points in 2005-06)

As the Flags ready for their second UHL season, they are preparing to vastly improve from their finish in the 2005-06 campaign. Stan Drulia takes over as the new head coach for the Flags. Drulia has proved that he can win as he led Orlando of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) to a championship in the 2002-03 season. He also filled coaching roles in the ECHL for three seasons after completing a 13-year professional playing career which included 126 games played in the NHL.

Drulia's philosophy is to build a strong defensive unit which is evident in the return of veteran defensemen Ryan Gillis and Shayne Tomlinson from the 2005-06 Port Huron squad. Winger Trevor Edwards also returns after posting 37 points (17g, 20a) with the Flags last season. Veteran center Greg Bullock will add scoring punch to Port Huron's offense. He tallied 58 points (18g, 40a) in 59 games with Motor City a season ago. Newcomer Steve Hildenbrand will also make an impact after scoring 69 points (29g, 40a) last year in the ECHL.

Quad City Mallards (41-27-8, 90 points in 2005-06)

Mallards head coach Brian Curran returns for his second season after being named the UHL Coach of the Year in 2005-06. It is the third league in which he has earned that honor (WPHL in 1999-2000 and ACHL in 2002-03). His hard-working squad was a surprise to many last season. Whatever they lacked in the talent was made up in effort. The team nearly completed a first round playoff upset, but lost in seven games to eventual Colonial Cup runner-up Danbury.

Captain Patrick Nadeau returns for his eighth season in a Mallards uniform. Veteran winger Chad Woollard also returns after playing in all 76 games a season ago and scoring a career high 44 goals. Forward Glenn Detulleo also played in every game a season ago and had a breakout season with 70 points (17g, 53a). Goaltender Jason Tapp was a workhorse last season for the Mallards, appearing in 64 games and posting 34 wins with five shutouts. Quad City "beefed up" their defense in the off-season with the additions of Steve McIntyre (6-6, 265 lbs) and Bryce Charpentier (6-5, 220 lbs).

Rockford IceHogs (48-19-9, 105 points in 2005-06)

The team is coming off their best season in Rockford team history. Head coach Steve Martinson returns for his third season with the club. Martinson had led his team to 45 wins or more in each of his eleven seasons behind the bench. The 2005-06 IceHogs roster was filled with young energetic players that made huge contributions to the team. The IceHogs promoted 14 different players to the AHL last season and have further strengthened their affiliation with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).

Wingers Chaz Johnson (23g, 22a) and Robin Big Snake (27g, 19a) both played in their first professional season last year. Each returns for their second tour of duty in Rockford. The team's leading goal scorer from last season, Preston Mizzi (38g), also makes a return to the Rockford lineup. Defenseman Matt Gens will suit up for the IceHogs again after being named to the UHL All-Rookie Team last season. 2001-02 ECHL Goaltender of the Year Frederic Cloutier will compete in net for Rockford along with Brenden Cuthbert, who was a late-season acquisition in 2005-06 and was impressive in four appearances with the club.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 9, 2006


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