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Chops First Weekend A Success

October 13, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release


CHOPS CALENDAR - THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday, October 17th, Rockford Ice Hogs @ Iowa Chops, 7:05pm (CDT)-Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

Promotions: FREE 2008-09 Iowa Chops Magnetic Schedule to the first 2,000 fans through the door; Pork chop eating contest.

Radio Broadcast: ESPN Radio 1700 THE CHAMP

Online Broadcast: www.ahllive.com

This will be the second meeting of the season between the Rockford IceHogs and the Iowa Chops, and the first trip for Rockford to the Wells Fargo Arena. The IceHogs lead the season series 1-0 after a 2-1 win back on Sunday, October 12th in Rockford. The IceHogs and Chops play one another 10 times this season. #24 T.J. Trevelyan scored his first goal in an Iowa Chops uniform during the Sunday loss in Rockford. Entering this upcoming weekend, the two teams are tied atop the AHL's Western Division with identical 2-1-0 record and four points. The series between Rockford and Iowa has now become a favorite of fans due to the fact that both team's nicknames are centered on a pig.

Saturday, October 18th, Quad City Flames @ Iowa Chops, 7:05pm (CDT)-Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA

Promotions: FREE 2008-09 Iowa Chops Magnetic Schedule to the first 2,000 fans through the door

Radio Broadcast: ESPN Radio 1700 THE CHAMP

Online Broadcast: www.ahllive.com

The border war begins on Saturday night as the Quad City Flames make their first regular season appearance to the Wells Fargo Arena. This will be the first of 12 games that Quad Cities and Iowa play against one another this season. The two teams met twice in the pre-season, with both teams winning on home ice. The Chops won their pre-season game over the Flames 4-3 in overtime as former Des Moines Buc #15 Ryan Dingle had two goals and #18 Drew Miller had the game-winner. This will be the only meeting in the month of October between the two teams.

Ticket info:

Tickets for the upcoming games this weekend can be purchased at the Wells Fargo Arena box office, via phone at 866-55-DAHLS, or fans can purchase season tickets or individual tickets online. For more information about the Iowa Chops, please call 515-564-8700.

Chops out and about:

Monday, October 13 - Join Head Coach Gord Dineen, Captain Ajay Baines, forward Troy Bodie and the Voice of the Chops Alex "Cheeks" Kyrias at the season premiere of the Iowa Chops Radio Hour from 6-7pm at the Raccoon River Brewing Company.

Tuesday, October 14 - Iowa Chops President Steve Nitzel will be speaking at the Urbandale Kiwanis Club Luncheon at Mama Lacona's at Noon.

Friday, October 17 - Two Iowa Chops players will be on hand after the home game greeting fans and signing autographs at Scooter and Babs Sports Bar & Grille.

THE WEEK THAT WAS...

Friday, October 10 - Peoria Rivermen 3 @ Iowa Chops 5

The Iowa Chops era began in grand and exciting fashion. With a 5-3 win on Opening Night in front of a spirited crowd of 6,951 fans, the Iowa Chops won their inaugural game scoring five unanswered goals after the Peoria Rivermen scored the first three goals of the game. The Iowa Chops dominated the 1st period outshooting the Rivermen 12-6 in the opening frame, but thanks to goals from Juilan Talbot and Brad Winchester, the Rivermen were spoiling the Chops party early. Another goal from Talbot to begin the 2nd period, but the Chops down 3-0, but with over 37 minutes of hockey remaining, the Chops didn't panic and thanks to a timely scrap thanks to Assistant Captain Brennan Evans, the momentum quickly swung the Chops way. Evans got the best of Curtis Fraser in the only tilt of the night and quickly thereafter the Chops scored their first-ever goal thanks to a power play marker from Josh Green. Green smashed home a loose puck underneath Rivermen goaltender Marek Schwartz to cut the score to 3-1 with help from Andrew Ebbett and Eric Boguniecki. The Chops quickly scored again thanks to a big breakaway save by Chops goaltender David LeNeveu, who shut the door on Chris Conner shorthanded chance. That save led to a rush up the ice by the Chops, as Bobby Ryan and Joakim Lindstrom got the puck to an open Brian Salcido, who streaked in on Schwartz and fired a snapshot over the blocker to make it 3-2 at the end of the 2nd period. The 3rd period was all Chops, helped out by 23 saves by LeNeveu in his Chops debut. The Chops tied the game on the power play as Bobby Ryan picked up a loose puck in front after some nice passing by linemates Joakim Lindstrom and Ryan Dingle, and sent a no-look shot off the right post past Schwartz. The Chops continued the momentum and pressure, and it paid off with a shorthanded goal from Drew Miller, who played hero for the second straight game. Miller went behind the Rivermen net to attack both defensemen and came out alone in front of the net with the puck, which he deposited underneath Schwartz to give the Chops their first-ever lead. The Chops sealed the 5-3 win with a great give and go pass from Eric Boguniecki to Andrew Ebbett who streaked in alone from the side and slipped a shot underneath Schwartz for the fifth straight Chops goal of the night.

Saturday, October 11 - Iowa Chops 4 @ Peoria Rivermen 3 (OT)

Just call them the comeback kids! The Iowa Chops down in the game 2-0 and 3-1 for the second consecutive night, found a way to claw back in the game and ultimately in 4-3 in overtime off a goal from first star Joakim Lindstrom. For the second consecutive night, the Chops went down 1-0, again thanks to the stick of Peoria forward Julian Talbot who scored first for the second straight night to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead in their home opener over the Chops. The Chops managed only four shots on goal in the 1st period and a shorthanded goal from Chris Whitfield made it 2-0 Peoria with a minute remaining in the opening stanza. The Chops scored the only goal of the 2nd period as Ryan Donally picked up a Troy Bodie pass from behind the net and fired one over the glove of Rivermen goaltender Ben Bishop for his first goal of his Chops career. The Rivermen increased the lead to 3-1 with a wrap-around goal that squeezed between the legs of Chops goaltender JP Levasseur. However, the never-say-die Chops stormed back in dramatic fashion with two goals to tie the game in a minute span. First, Andrew Ebbett found himself on a give-and-go 2 on 1 with Brett Festerling and slipped one past the glove side of Bishop to make it 3-2. Then seconds later, Bobby Ryan went coast to coast to fire a blistering wrist shot past Bishop's low blocker side to tie the game at 3-3 and send it to overtime. In the overtime, Bobby Ryan took a drive that was stopped by Bishop, but the rebound came right to Joakim Lindstrom, who smashed home the loose puck past Bishop to give the Chops a 4-3 OT win and a 2-0 start to the season.

Sunday, October 12 - Iowa Chops 1 @ Rockford IceHogs 2

T.J. Trevelyan scored his first goal of the season and as an Iowa Chop, but it wasn't enough as the Rockford IceHogs defeated the Iowa Chops 2-1 in a Sunday afternoon game at the MetroCentre in Rockford. The IceHogs were fueled by two power play goals, the first coming just minutes into the 1st period from Cam Barker who fired a slapshot past Chops goaltender David LeNeveu. The Chops answered back in the 2nd period with the goal from Trevelyan, who was denied on a breakaway, but received credit for a goal when an IceHogs defender slid into goalie Antti Niemi. The Chops controlled the 2nd period, but went 0 for 7 on the power play for the game. Late in the 3rd period, Adam Berti have the IceHogs the lead for good with a power play goal from the top of the crease. The Chops comeback fell short for the first time this season, as they could not find the equalizer with LeNeveu pulled for the extra attacker. The loss by the Chops and the win by the IceHogs pulls the two teams into an early season tie in first place in the AHL Western Division with identical 2-1-0 records.

Iowa Chops Player of the Week:

#17 Joakim Lindstrom

Had one goal and two assists in three games this past weekend. Had two assists on Opening Night in a 5-3 win and scored the overtime winner on Saturday in Peoria.

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