1,317 stuffed bears delay Hogs game against Muskegon
Published on December 11, 2005 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- Saturday night's Rockford IceHogs game was delayed five-minutes in the third period after 1,317 stuffed bears littered the ice when's Rockford's Steve Yetman scored against the Muskegon Fury. The IceHogs fell to the Fury 4-1 in the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss game at the Rockford MetroCentre in front 4,347 fans.
Despite out-shooting the Fury 17-8 in the opening frame, Muskegon took the 1-0 advantage into the locker room after the first 20 minutes. Fury winger Robin Bouchard fired a rebound let out by Ronnie Vogel at 18:37 for his league-leading 23rd goal of the season.
In the second period, rookie winger David Wrigley netted a pair of goals to give the Fury a 3-0 advantage. Wrigley's first came 1:18 into the middle period when a puck deflected off of the rookie and past Vogel. Wrigley later sniped his second of the night, and 16th of the season, past Vogel at 18:44.
The Hogs cut the lead down to 3-1 after Yetman tipped a Corey Hessler pass past Muskegon goalie Kevin LaPointe at 10:49. After the goal, the fans tossed their stuffed bears onto the ice. The IceHogs players and staff collected the stuffed animals and they will be distributed to local hospitals and charities to brighten the holidays of under privileged kids in the Rock River Valley.
The Fury put the game away, however, with an empty netter from winger Jeff Petruic at 19:55. Both clubs finished the contest 0-for-8 on the power play. LaPointe sparkled in net for Muskegon, making 35 saves, while Vogel was handed his first loss of the season despite making 29 saves.
BARBER LOANED TO SAN ANTONIO
Following Saturday night's game against Muskegon, IceHogs team captain and winger Greg Barber was loaned to the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League. The call-up is the first of the season for Barber and he is expected to suit up for the Rampage tomorrow when they take on the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in Omaha.
Barber is the eighth IceHogs skater to get loaned to the AHL this season, tops in AA hockey. IceHogs winger Chaz Johnson made his AHL debut on Saturday with the Milwaukee Admirals in their 5-2 win over the Peoria Rivermen. IceHogs winger Billy Tibbetts continued his impressive start with the Chicago, scoring in the Wolves 3-2 shootout loss to the Iowa Stars. Tibbetts has 2g-1a-3pts in his first two games with Chicago.
Next Home Game: Friday, Dec. 16 vs. Missouri River Otters. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Jim Duhart and the River Otters return to the MetroCentre. The first 1,000 fans to the game will receive IceHogs Poster #3 in a series of seven from Medicine Man, Johnson Press, Pepsi and the Rockford Register Star.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 11, 2005
- Trashers rally late to take sixth straight game - Danbury Trashers
- Jackals defeat RiverDogs, 3-2 - Richmond RiverDogs
- 1,317 stuffed bears delay Hogs game against Muskegon - Rockford IceHogs
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