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Bloomington Blaze Weekly

March 18, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


The Bloomington Blaze, fueled by Mid-Illini Credit Union, play two of their final four regular season games on home ice in a must-win situation.

LAST WEEK:

Tuesday, Mar. 12- @Blaze 8, Quad City Mallards 5

--The Blaze equaled a single-game franchise high for goals, including a five-goal third period, behind four-point nights from Brett Lutes and Jon Booras.

Friday, Mar. 15- @Quad City Mallards 5, Blaze 3

--The Blaze battled back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game late in the second period, but the Flock broke the tie with only 1:27 left in regulation.

Saturday, Mar. 16- @Blaze 5, Denver Cutthroats 2

--The Cutthroats didn't score until the game's 35th minute as the Blaze surged out to a 4-0 lead behind two goals from Kyle Bochek and a stellar 37-save performance from Ross MacKinnon.

Sunday, Mar. 17- Denver Cutthroats 7, @Blaze 1

--The Blaze were held off the scoreboard until 7:36 remaining in the game.

THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, Mar. 19, 7:05 p.m., U.S. Cellular Coliseum- Missouri Mavericks at Blaze (Casey's 8 Gallons Night- $8 admission with voucher from Casey's General Stores for each 8 gallons of fuel)

--The Blaze are 2-7-0 this season against the Mavs and 3-12-0 over two seasons.

Friday, Mar. 22, 7:05 p.m., iWireless Center- Blaze at Quad City Mallards

--The Blaze are 10-6-0 this season and 12-11-2 all-time against the Mallards, and are 2-5-0 this season in Moline.

Saturday, Mar. 16, 7:05 p.m., U.S. Cellular Coliseum- Quad City Mallards at Blaze (FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT- Final home game of the regular season- Post-game jersey auction)

Sunday, Mar. 17, 4:05 p.m., iWireless Center- Blaze at Quad City Mallards

--Final game of the 2012-13 regular season.

Big final home games: The last two home games on Tuesday and Saturday are filled with fan opportunities. Season ticket holders may redeem any unused tickets at both games. Fans are also invited to bid on the Blaze red game jerseys in a silent auction during Tuesday's game through the first period of Saturday's contest, and the black game jerseys will be auctioned immediately after Saturday's game. Fans are also invited to vote for the annual Blaze player awards either on the Blaze Facebook page or at the season ticket holder table during Tuesday's game. The awards will be presented before Saturday's opening face-off.

Just win, baby: The Blaze are still holding onto post-season hopes, but the margin for error has disappeared as they must win all four remaining games to have any chance at a playoff spot. The Blaze are seven points behind Arizona and eight points behind Quad City and Denver. Any point received by those three squads will put them out of reach of the Blaze, and Denver visits Quad City on Tuesday. Denver then finishes the season with two games at fourth-place Rapid City this weekend while Arizona hosts second-place Fort Worth three times this week.

Jonny be good: Blaze captain Jon Booras has gathered points in eight of the last 11 games and is now tied for second in CHL scoring with 80 points (29g, 51a). Booras is a finalist for the league's Most Valuable Player and Man of the Year awards. Booras joins Nicolas Rioux and Travis Granbois as the only Blaze players to participate in every game this season.

Blaze anatomy: The Blaze put a full roster on the ice on Friday for the first time in nearly two months, but have lost more skaters this week. D Leland Fidler and F Nicklas Lindberg are doubtful for this week due to injuries, and discipline for D Steve Makway for a match penalty in Sunday's game has not been determined.

Junior Blaze playoff-bound: The Junior Blaze have clinched the fourth and final playoff spot in the Midwest Junior Hockey League and will travel to Michigan to face the regular-season champion Hartland Hounds for a best-of-three first-round series on Friday, March 22, Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 (if necessary).

Get on the bus:The Blaze booster club is sponsoring a bus trip the final regular season game on Sunday, March 24 at Quad City. Cost is $38 and includes a game ticket. Contact Mike Corzine at oba88@mchsi.comor stop by the booster club table at Blaze home games.

Following the Blaze: All Blaze games can be heard on WJBC.com and fans inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum can listen to the WJBC broadcast on 93.7 FM. Fans are invited to watch all Blaze road games at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill St. west of Airport Road in Bloomington. Like the Blaze on Facebook and follow the team on Twitter (BLMBlaze) and at www.bloomingtonblaze.com. Group ticket packages are available by calling the Blaze office at 309-TC SPORT (827-7678). For single-game and game day tickets, stop by the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office weekdays between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. or three hours before Saturday's game or call 309-434-2679.



Central Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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