Chicago Hounds Weekly Notes

Published on November 13, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Chicago Hounds News Release


Chicago Falls to Champs: The Hounds got their first look at the defending Colonial Cup champions Saturday night and the champs skated away with a 4 to 1 victory. After a scoreless first period the wings registered three goals in the second including a power-play goal by Brett Pilkington. After Wings forward, Andrew Leach gave his team a three goal lead the Hounds finally fired the puck past Kalamazoo goalie Tom Askey when Bob Rapozza netted one at 13:12. It wouldn't be enough and the Hounds will look for revenge when they meet the Wings again on November 29th at the Sears Centre.

Hounds digest Mallard: After losing four games in a row, the Hounds finally snapped out of their losing ways. The second game at the Sears Centre started out slow, but had a happy ending for Hounds fans. After Mallards forward Chad Wollard rifled a shot past Marty Magers on the power-play, the Hounds took over the game. Chicago netted five unanswered goals past both Jason Tapp and Ben Gray, who came in the start of the third period in relief of Tapp only to be replaced by Tapp later that period.

One of the new members of the Hounds managed his first point of the season. John Spoltore nicely set up Defesenman Chris Busby for a goal at 16:56 of the first. The eventual game winner was scored by Maris Ziedins at 3:34 of the second after an unforced turnover in the Mallards zone.

Chicago was 1 for 4 on the power-play and Marty Magers made 23 saves on 25 shots.

Two Veterans Come on Board: This past week, the Hounds lockerroom got some new faces. John Spoltore, a center who has played in the AHL, ECHL and the past few seasons in the German second tier league. Last season he played for both the Riessersee SC and Heilbronn Falcons of the GerObL league where he earned 60 points in 47 games. Also, Nikos Tselios, the Oak Park, Illinois native signed on with the Hounds late last week and played in both games this past weekend. Tselios played in the AHL as well as the Finish and Swedish elite leagues. Tselios was a draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in round 1 of the 1997 NHL entry draft.

Right Back in the Mix: Earlier last week head coach Greg Puhalski waived defenseman Bryan Gent. Less than 48 hours later, Gent was back at the Sears Centre; this time a member of the Quad City Mallards. Gent signed on with the Mallards a day later and was in the lineup against his former team on Friday night. This was the second time a Hounds player has moved to a team that was the visiting team the next game. The last time was when Mike Zbriger was traded to Flint. The Generals were at the Sears Centre the same night to play the Hounds.

Brolsma Doing Good Work...Still: The streak ends at three games, but Mike Brolsma is doing great work for his team. After scoring goals in three consecutive games, Mike Brolsma streak ended in Kalamazoo. One thing that is particularly noticeable is his attention to the defensive side of the game. Always a part of the teams penalty killing unit, Brolsma helps the Hounds on both ends of the ice...his plus minus is currently second best on the team at +7.

Chris Houle Waived: After playing in his first game of the season on Saturday, Goaltender Chris Houle was waived Monday by Head Coach Greg Puhalski. Emergency backup Andrew Joy will fill the role as backup for the time being.

Up Next...Quad City: The Hounds will take on the Mallards at Mark of the Quad November 17th. The Mallards first took on the Hounds this past week and lost by a score of 6-2. Jason Tapp was pulled after two periods and replaced by Ben Gray. Later that period, Tapp found his way back into the crease after Gray surrendered two quick goals. Both teams are resting at the bottom of the Western Conference looking to climb out of the cellar.

Greg Puhalski and the Fort Wayne Komets: The former head coach of the Komets is heading back to his old stomping grounds on November 18th when Chicago rolls into Fort Wayne and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. This will be the first time that Puhalski has faced his old team. Fort Wayne has managed eight wins and two losses in ten games this season. Meanwhile, Puhalski's current squad has mustered three wins and five losses in eight games thus far this season. Puhalski won the Colonial Cup in 2002-2003 and two years later lost in the finals.

Season Ticket Information: Season ticket, sponsorship packages, and single game tickets are now available -- for more information on the Chicago Hounds and their inaugural season, please call 847.882.2255 or visit

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from November 13, 2006


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