PrairieThunder this Week
February 15, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
Bloomington-Normal's only professional winter sports team, PrairieThunder Hockey, starts the week in fourth place in the Central Hockey League's Turner (Northern) Conference with a record of 25-16-3. The PrairieThunder has 53 points in the standings and are two points behind third place Quad City, eight points behind second place Colorado, and nine behind Rapid City. Bloomington, however, still has four games in hand on Quad City, five on Colorado, and six on Rapid City. Bloomington is 5-3-2 in their last ten games and 7-6-2 in their last fifteen.
The PrairieThunder went 1-1-1 last week, losing 7-1 at Fort Wayne on Wednesday (2/9), defeating the Mississippi RiverKings 4-3 in overtime at home on Friday (2/11), and losing by the same score in overtime at Wichita on Saturday (2/12).
This Week's Schedule:
Tuesday (2/15): 10am-12 noon: Practice @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum
Wednesday (2/16): 7:05pm: Home Game vs. Fort Wayne Komets
Thursday (2/17): 10am-12 noon: Practice @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum
Friday (2/18): 9:30am-11am: Practice @ Pepsi Ice Center / 7:05pm: Away Game @ Quad City
Saturday (2/19): 7:35pm: Away Game @ Evansville IceMen
Sunday (2/20): 12noon-2pm: PrairieThunder Kids Club Event at Pheasant Lanes
Monday (2/21): 7:05pm (Note Game Time): Home Game vs. Quad City Mallards
This Week's Games (Home Games @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum)
Wednesday, February 16th: 7:05pm vs. Fort Wayne Komets
Promotion: "Fox & Hounds Ladies Night"
All adult ladies receive a $2.00 ticket discount
$2.00 Hot Dogs, Popcorn, and Beer for everyone!
Ladies Expo on the Concourse
It's the seventh meeting of the year between the PThunder and the "K's". Each team has won three games and following Wednesday night's game, the two clubs will meet three times in March, with two of the games coming at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Fort Wayne (21-19-5) starts the week in eighth place in the Turner Conference but since early January has been one of the hottest teams in the CHL. The Komets are 8-2-0 in their last ten games and 11-3-1 in their last fifteen contests. Against Fort Wayne this season, Jason Dale (3 goals & 3 assists) and Bill Bagron (1 goal & 5 assists) lead the way with six points each. Tab Lardner is the Komets leading scorer vs. Bloomington with 4 goals & 3 assists.
Friday, February 18th: 7:05pm AT Quad City Mallards
Radio: WJBC-AM (1230), WJBC-FM (93.7), WJBC.com, CHL-TV
Watch the game at BlueLine Nightclub, 602 N. Main Street
This will be the eighth game in the season series. The Mallards are really the only team that has gotten the PrairieThunder's number this year, winning 5 of the first seven games, including the last three in a row. Both squads play again in Bloomington this coming Monday night (2/21) at 7:05pm. Quad City has posted a record of 27-20-1 and sits in third place in the Turner Conference. Quad City is 5-4-1 in their last ten games. Forward Obi Aduba leads all Mallards scorers against Bloomington with eight points (3goals & 5 assists). Jason Dale (2 goals & 3 assists) and Alan Mazur (5 assists) are the scoring leaders against the lads from Moline, Illinois.
Saturday, February 19th: 7:35pm AT Evansville IceMen
Radio: WEZC-FM (95.9), WJBC.com, CHL-TV
Watch the game at BlueLine Nightclub, 602 N. Main Street
It has been awhile since Bloomington and Evansville have met. The PrairieThunder won the last meeting back on January 5th by a 7-5 margin. Bloomington has won the first five games of the season series but two of the games ended in shootout and overtime victories for the PThunder. Following Saturday's game, the two teams won't meet again until a three games in three nights series (two games in Bloomington) during the final weekend of the regular season in late March.
The IceMen have slipped to ninth place in the Turner Conference with a record of 16-24-6. They begin the week nine points behind Fort Wayne for the eighth playoff spot in the conference. Jason Dale has 8 points, and both Jon Booras & John Snowden each have 6 points vs. the IceMen.
Monday, February 21st: 7:05pm vs. Quad City Mallards (Note Starting Time)
Promotion: "Hockey Across America Celebration"
Wear your favorite team's jersey and admission is only $10.00
Also: Teacher Appreciation Night: call 309-585-0507 for details!
PrairieThunder Fans: Ask about the new D.P. Dough "Thunderzone" at the Coliseum Box Office. Tickets start as low as $8.00 (walk-up ticket sales only).
The PrairieThunder in the Community
The snow is going away, so the PrairieThunder are going out to play. It's a busy week in the community for the PrairieThunder players and staff. On Monday (2/15), members of the team visited Heritage Manor in Normal to help celebrate Valentine's Day. (Please see attached photos)
Also on Monday afternoon and again today (Tuesday) at 6:30pm, team members are at the Pepsi Ice Center assisting with the Squirt youth hockey teams.
Additional Appearances this Week
Tuesday 2/15: 10:30am: Player Appearance at Chenoa Elementary School
Tuesday 2/15: 2:00-3:00pm: "Jump Rope for Heart" Appearance at Flanagan Elementary
Thursday 2/17:9:00-11:00am: "Jump Rope for Heart" Appearance at St. Mary's Catholic Elementary in Bloomington
Friday 2/18: 8:45am-11am: Player Appearance at Prairieland Elementary in Normal
Friday 2/18: 12:45pm-3:45pm: Player Appearance at Prairieland Elementary
Friday 2/18: 6:00pm-8:30pm: PrairieThunder Staff at the OSF St. Joseph "World Tour"
(Eastland Medical Plaza I, 1505 Eastland Drive)
Sunday 2/20: Noon-2:00pm: PrairieThunder "Kids Club" Event at Pheasant Lanes Fun Center
(804 N. Hershey Road, Bloomington)
PrairieThunder Notes
In their last ten games, Jon Booras (5 goals & 6 assists) and Brodie Sheahan (2 goals & 9 assists) lead the team in scoring with eleven points each.....Overall, Jason Dale still leads the team in scoring with 41 points (15 goals & 26 assists).....Dale leads in the assists category as well with his 26.....Jon Booras is the team leader in goals scored with 16.....Booras leads in power play goals with seven.....John Snowden still leads in game winning goals with six.....Brett Holmberg is the plus / minus leader with a +8 rating.....Only Jason Dale, Bill Bagron, and John Snowden have played in all 44 PrairieThunder games this season.
PrairieThunder Tickets
Bloomington PrairieThunder single game tickets are on sale at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum Box Office. Tickets are on sale at the Coliseum Box Office Monday through Friday from 11am to 5:30pm and on weekends when there are events in the Coliseum. PrairieThunder single game tickets are also available by going to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum website: http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/events/all/ and click on Tickets & Seating. And for Prairie Thunder season tickets and group sales information, please call the PrairieThunder at 309-585-0507 or go to our website: www.prairiethunderhockey.com.
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