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Early Evansville Attack Downs Blaze

January 6, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Blaze, presented by Mid-Illini Credit Union, could not recover from an early onslaught and dropped a 6-2 decision to the Evansville IceMen on Friday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The IceMen scored with 15:27 left when Brian Bicek redirected a shot from the left point, and followed it up with 10:55 when Malcolm Gwilliam put back a rebound. Evansville scored another redirected shot with 9:41 left as Karl Linden tallied, and the Blaze replaced goaltender Zane Kalemba with Brian Mahoney-Wilson after the third tally. Travis Granbois put the Blaze on the board with 1:39 remaining in the opening frame on a breakaway short-handed goal, assisted by Doug Krantz and Jason Dale, to send the teams to the first intermission with the IceMen leading 3-1.

Evansville opened the scoring in the second period with 12:14 left on a shot from the high slot by Matt Gens to increase the IceMen to 4-1. Josh Beaulieu made it 5-1 with 7:59 left when he chipped a centering pass at the top of the crease into the top shelf. The IceMen lit the lamp for the sixth time with 3:03 remaining on Josh Beaulieu's second goal of the game, a rebound that trickled in to send the IceMen into the second intermission with a 6-1 lead.

The Blaze scored on a 5-on-3 power play with 11:10 left in the final period when Jason Dale took a pass from Vladimir Nikiforov at the top of the crease and lifted it under the crossbar, with Kyle Laughlin earning the other assist.

The IceMen outshot the Blaze 29-27. The Blaze were 1-for-5 on the power play while Evansville was 0-2 with the man advantage. The Blaze fall to 10-19-2 as the IceMen improve to 17-9-2.

Before the game, the Blaze placed Jon Booras on the 30-day injured reserve list due to a hamstring injury suffered at the end of the second period of Tuesday's win over Fort Wayne. Booras has registered 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points, and leads the Blaze in goals and points. The Blaze are also expected to be without assist leader Brodie Sheahan for several more days due to a shoulder injury. Forward Jordy Trottier is scheduled to come off the 10-day injured reserve list due to illness this weekend.

The Blaze host the annual Guns and Hoses Night on Saturday, when Bloomington police and firefighters will play their grudge match at 4 p.m. followed by the Blaze-IceMen rematch at 7:05. Fans can see both games for the same admission. The first 1,200 fans will receive a free Blaze T-shirt compliments of B-104 and Mid-Illini Credit Union. During Saturday's game, the Blaze will wear special Guns and Hoses jerseys that will be auctioned after the contest, with proceeds going to Special Olympics Illinois.

The Blaze travel to Evansville on Sunday for a 7:15 p.m. contest at the Ford Center in the final game of the first half of the season before the Central Hockey League All-Star break. Fans are invited to watch the game at Gill Street Sports Bar and Restaurant, 3002 Gill Street in Bloomington. The Blaze return from the All-Star break with a Friday night contest at Fort Wayne before returning home next Saturday against the Missouri Mavericks and Sunday against the Quad City Mallards. Group packages are available. More information is available at www.bloomingtonblaze.com, on Facebook, on Twitter (BLMBlaze) or by calling 309-434-2980.

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