Evansville IceMen Weekly

December 5, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


THE ICEMEN MAJESTICS: Despite a less than favorable early season schedule, compounded by a spate of injuries, the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League have been undaunted and untrammeled in their successful pursuit of the top perch atop the CHL Turner Conference standings. Under the astute auspices of second-year General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm, Evansville's finest on ice has elevated its record to the best of the rest in the league at 16 (11-4-1) totaling 23-points and winning percentage of a sparkling .719. To amplify and otherwise magnify the hometown team's superb record is the fact that until Sunday's 3-2 victory verdict over Bloomington at the Ford Center, the IceMen had become veritable road weary warriors, having played 11 of their first 15-games on the road with an exorbitant and inordinate travelogue. Embarking on the second week of their December schedule, the IceMen are on top of a logjam that features the top 4 teams distinguished by a scant 3-points. Evansville will commence the new week clinging to a minuscule 1-point advantage over surging, molten-lava hot archrival Fort Wayne 16(11-5-0)22-points with the Komets having won 6-in a row and 9 of their last 11-decisions. They are 8(7-1-0) in their last 8-dates away. It is only an Evansville 3-points lead over Missouri 18(9-7-2)20 and Dayton 18(8-6-4)20. However, the IceMen do have 1-game in hand on both the Mavericks and the Gems. This week, the Icemen Icers will confront 3-games in 3-nights with all contests to be waged and staged within the confines of their own Turner Conference alliance. Friday night, Dayton comes to town with Bloomington touching down downtown in our town Sunday. In between, the IceMen have a date with the Komets in Fort Wayne.

2-GAME HOME WEEKEND: The IceMen will be spending the vast majority of this year's holiday season at their new home of the fabulous Ford Center, downtown Evansville. Two of their 9-home dates for the month of December are on the docket for this weekend. On Friday night, the Dayton Gems come calling on "Scout Night" and "Harley Night." All scouts will receive special discounted tickets. In addition, the IceMen will don special Harley Davidson jerseys which will be auctioned immediately following the game. On Sunday, when the IceMen play host to Bloomington, it has been designated "Mascot Night" with a huge population of mascots from all over in attendance to entertain the IceMen fond following of faithful fans.

"ICEMEN LIVE PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT": It's another lively, entertaining edition of "IceMen Live Presented by Coors Light" Monday night from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, live from Show-Me's East on radio flagship home WEOA-AM 1400 and 1400amweoa.com. This week, Terry Ficorelli's special guests will be defensemen Nick Schneider and Jake Obermeyer.

TOP SPOT SPECIAL: The past week, facing 3-games in 4-nights, the IceMen responded masterfully with a 3(2-1-0) mark, dividing a pair of bouts abroad before prevailing on home ice Sunday. In the process, the kinetic "Kromminator" contingent upgraded its record to the best in the CHL at 16(11-4-1) 23-points and .719 win percentage. Evansville has come back and won 2-consecutively after incurring its first back-to-back setbacks thus far this campaign. Dating back to last season and this year's early pre-season slates, the IceMen have been exceling as their record of 21(15-4-2) would reflect; the last 25(16-5-4). The longest win streak this season has been 5-in a row; longest unblemished skein 7(6-0-1), mirroring the initial 7-games of the current campaign. Monthly accounting: October 2(1-1-0); November 11(8-3-0); December 3(2-1-0).

HALLOWED HOME HALLS: Making their first appearance on home ice at the Ford Center since November 18th, the IceMen prevailed over Bloomington the past Sunday, 3-2. With the win, the IceMen hiked their home record to a superlative 5(4-1-0), having played the fewest home games in the CHL. Their .800 win percentile at home also gives Evansville the best home mark in the league. The "Kromm Crew" has won 2-in succession at home; both by single-goal differentials. Dating back to last season and combined the early pre-season endeavors, the IceMen home record has prospered at 11(7-1-3) in the last 11 and 16(9-3-4) through the past 16-home encounters.

ROAD GLORY STORY: The past week, the IceMen concluded a strenuous stretch of 6-consecutive games invading hostile territory with a respectable, commendable log of 6(3-3-0), garnering 6-points in those 6-games. In so doing, the IceMen advanced their foreign ice composite to an excellent 11(7-3-1) for 15-total points. When the IceMen bowed at Bloomington Thursday night, 6-2, it marked the club's first set of back-to-back setbacks this season with both of those incurred abroad. However, resiliently and buoyantly the IceMen bounced back on Friday night in Wichita where they silenced the Thunder in a 5-2 victory verdict. Dating back to last season and combining this year's pre-season schedule, the IceMen have been profiting in their ventures away as their 15(10-3-2) mark would indicate. The longest win streak of the year away has been 4-in a row; the longest unbeaten streak on the road has been 6(5-0-1) with the latter numbers reflecting their initial half-dozen foreign ice affairs to this point of the season.

THE FAMINE FINALE: When the IceMen strode into Wichita Friday night and halted the formidable Thunder's 3-game win streak with a stirring and stunning come-from-behind 5-2 triumph, it finally brought to an end an IceMen winless skid that had reached a rather ignominious 10-consecutive decisions outside their conference walls against Berry Conference competition. It was also the team's initial adventure this season outside their own conference confines. The IceMen are 15(10-4-1) within the Turner Conference and 1(1-0-0) against the Berry delegation.

FRONT FENCE DEFENSE: The IceMen have continued their prominence and dominance as one of the premiere defensive aggregations in the CHL. Through 16-games, they have stubbornly surrendered only 43-GA for a GAA of a stingy and stellar 2.69. Only Fort Wayne (16-games, 42-GA, 2.62) is slightly superior to Evansville's sextet as the Komets have allotted merely 1-less GA than have the IceMen. In 5-games on home ice, the IceMen have allowed an avarice 10-GA for a GAA of a frugal 2.00.

MEN OF DISTINCTION: Center Todd Robinson is back on top of the CHL scoring derby with 16(6-21-27). His 21-assists are league-foremost and his 11-PPA rank runner-up. Brain Bicek's 3-SHG continue to lead the league with Robinson tied for circuit second with 2-SHG. Bicek's 16-minor penalties tie him for the league-leadership. Steven Makway 16(2-11-13) is tied for 5th in CHL defense scoring with his 11-helpers ranking #2. Philippe Plante 15(4-8-12) is tied for 7th in defense scoring; Matt Gens is 14th; 16(4-5-9). Plante and Gens share the GWG leadership among this season's blue line brigade, each with 2. Plante tops the league in SHA with 4. In the goaltending department, rookie Bryan Gillis ranks a strong second in the circuit with a GAA of a masterful 2.27; his SPCT of .933 is the best in the league. Pier-Olivier Pelletier ranks 8th with a 2.68 GAA; his .924 SPCT lists him league-wide 5th. In CHL 3-Stars total points, Todd Robinson has soared to #2 in the league with 22-total points; Pier-Olivier Pelletier is tied for 12th with 14-points.

THE PRINCE OF POINTS: Savvy center Todd Robinson remains in a zone of his own as has always been the case through his extraordinary 13-year premiere career. The past week, "T. Rob" engineered a 3-game point streak in 3-games; 3(2-2-4) including a still-extant 2-game goal-scoring streak. The pre-eminent prince of points playmaking pivot is presently averaging a prodigious 1.69 points per game thus far this season which exceeds his career average of 1.47. Through his team's first 16-games, he has choreographed 8-mulit-point masterpieces, representing one-half of the IceMen schedule at this juncture of the campaign.

MASKED MYSTIC MARVEL: Rookie sensation Bryan Gillis has been bedazzling and bedeviling in the IceMen goal since the inception of training camp. The Halifax, NS product laid claim to his 5th consecutive victory Friday night at Wichita as he was named the #3 Star in backstopping his club to the 5-2 triumph there. He is the last and lone undefeated goalkeeper in the loop with an impeccable mark of 5(5-0-0); 6(6-0-0) combining the pre-season. On the road, he is 4(4-0-0); 5(5-0-0) including the pre-season. Moreover, he has accounted for both of his club's wins in overtime.

"BIG MAK'S" FACTS: Leviathan defenseman Steven Makway is making it happen at both ends of the ice. The 6-5, 230lb intimidating blue line ace of the place collected scoring points in all 3-IceMen outings for the past week. In the process, he pushed his personal scoring streak to 5-games, matching the second longest by an IceMen player at this hour of the season. In those 5-games, he is 5(1-6-7).

J.R. RADAR: Veteran right wing John Ronan has his scoring touch back on high beams with the power play becoming his trump card. The past weekend, the U. of Maine product wired a PPG in each IceMen winning contest; Friday night in the 5-2 triumph at Wichita and Sunday in his club's 3-2 dismissal of Bloomington. Ronan's 4-PPG top the club. In his last 5-games; 5(4-2-6).

THE MIGHT OF MIKE: Veteran left wing Mike Sgroi emerged as an improbable scoring hero in his club's Friday night victory at Wichita. The IceMen's rugged, rock-ribbed ruffian standout earned the game's #1 Star when he fired a pair of first period GTG strikes which erased two 1-goal deficits. Not only did he deliver his first 2-goals of the season but he also set the tone for the night's action when he decisioned the Thunder's reputed enforcer Eric Lizon in an opening face-off fistic debate at the :02 mark of the contest.

MATT MARKINGS: Left wing Matt Pierce relished his best weekend of the season for the navy, sky and white team. The versatile forward made key connection on the GWG in each of his team's victories in back-to-back fashion the past weekend. He stashed the GWG at 19:09 of the second period Friday night at Wichita before performing an encore to climax the IceMen 3-goal unanswered opening period rapture in the Sunday verdict over Bloomington. Pierce's 2-GWG tie him for the team leadership.

PROFICIENT/EFFICIENT/CONSISTENT: The IceMen special teams have been the foundation of this first place team since the inception of the season. The penalty-killing cast has been brilliant, operating at a league-best efficiency rating of 86.1% at 68-79 with their 6-SHG tying them for the CHL lead. Evansville is currently 25-27 for a rating of a magnificent 92.6%. Not to be overshadowed has been the IceMen power plant power play. For the season, it ranks a close second best, 17-65 for a conversion ratio of a proficient 26.2%.

MILESTONES STORIES: The past Friday night in Wichita, Matt Gens played in pro career game #300. Philippe Plante (798) is 2-games away from 800 for his pro career. Plante (298) is 2-assists from 300. Brian Bicek (94) is 6-assists shy of 100. Nicklas Lindberg (395) is 5-points shy of 400 for his career. Sean O'Connor's (149) next point will be the 150th of his pro career. Matt Pierce (148) is 2-points away from 150. Mike Sgroi (98) is 2-assists away from 100.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": When the IceMen score the game's FG, they are unbeaten at 9(8-0-1). The IceMen are undefeated this season when they hold the lead at the end of a period; first period 9(8-0-1); second period 10(10-0-0). The IceMen are the best first period team in the CHL, outscoring the opposition, 24-12 overall and a dominating, 7-1 at home. The IceMen are undefeated this season when they score 3 or more goals at 11(10-0-1). When they surrender 2-GA or less, it's a perfect 9(9-0-0) mark. The IceMen have outshot the opponents in only 3 of 16-games but are undefeated when they accomplish the feat at 3(3-0-0). Evansville has a perfect record in Friday night games this year at 5(5-0-0) overall; 4(4-0-0) on the road. Demonstrating the embodiment of scoring balance, the IceMen have 5-players sharing the goal-scoring leadership, all with 6-snipes; Todd Robinson, Josh Beaulieu, John Ronan, Brian Bicek and Sean O'Connor. The IceMen are also unbeaten in 1-goal decisions this year at 5(4-0-1).

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH DAYTON AT THE ICEMEN 7:15 PM

The fourth time for the two teams to clash and the second consecutively to be staged in Evansville. Three weeks ago, the IceMen swept a 3-game series in 3-nights, registering back-to-back 3-2 triumphs on consecutive nights in Dayton with the latter success extracted in overtime on a Philippe Plante OT/GWG/PPG. The IceMen capped the trilogy with an emphatic 5-2 conquest in the Gems lone previous appearance at the Ford Center thus far this season back on November 13th.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH THE ICEMEN AT FORT WAYNE 6:30 PM

For the fifth time the Indiana archrivals will lock antlers with this one having a direct impact on the top perch in the Turner Conference. Through the previous quartet of bouts, the IceMen are 4(2-1-1) against the Komets. They are 2(1-1-0) at home, trembling back on November 17th in the last actual meeting of the two teams, 5-2 at the Ford Center. The IceMen are 2(1-0-1) in 2-appearances in Fort Wayne.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11TH BLOOMINGTON AT THE ICEMEN 5:00 PM

The second successive Sunday for the IceMen and the Blaze to collide with both games in Evansville. The IceMen lead the 10-game season series, 3(2-1-0) after dispatching the Illini-based squad, 3-2 the past Sunday at the Ford Center. That has been Bloomington's lone prior appearance here in the Tri-State region.

THE ICEMEN ON YOUR SMART PHONES & I-PHONES: IceMen fans who own Smart Phones or I-Phones now can take the IceMen game broadcasts and Monday night "IceMen Live Presented by Coors Light" radio show with them wherever they go. For more information, visit the IceMen website at www.evansvilleicemen.com or the WEOA-AM 1400 website at 1400amweoa.com.

THE ICEMEN ON WEOA-AM 1400 AND THE ICEMEN RADIO NETWORK: Evansville and the Tri-State, your pro hockey team plays here! All of the IceMen game broadcasts are on flagship station WEOSA-AM 1400 and the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com and the IceMen Radio Network. WMSK-AM 1550 in Morganfield, KY also is there on the air for every game while WITZ-AM 990 and WITZ-FM 104.7, Jasper, IN carry a select schedule of games numbering between 23-30.

THE ICEMEN DAILY UPDATES ARE EVERYWHERE ON THE AIR: Continuing with their expanded coverage, the IceMen daily update reports can be found on 14-different radio stations throughout the Tri-State region including flagship WEOA-AM 1400 Monday through Friday at 4:20 pm. On the Townsquare Media family of stations; WGBF-FM 103.1 at 4:40 pm; WGBF-AM 1280 at 4:50 pm; WKDQ-FM 99.5 at 4:35 pm; WJLT-FM 105.3 at 4:45 pm; WKDS-FM 106.1 at 4:35 pm. WBKR-FM 92.5 (Owensboro, KY) 4:40 pm; WOMI-AM 1490 (Owensboro, KY) 4:50 pm. Elsewhere on WITZ-AM 990 and WITZ-FM 104.7 in Jasper, IN at 8:20 am, 12:20 pm and 4:20 pm; WSON-AM 860 and WSON-FM 96.5 in Henderson, KY at 4:30 pm as well as on WMSK-AM 1550 at 7:30 am and 4:30 pm and WMSK-FM 101.3, Morganfield, KY at 4:25 pm.

THE ICEMEN TICKET INFORMATION: IceMen single game tickets for all 33-home games are now on sale at the Ford Center Ticket Office and at Ticketmaster.com or by contacting the IceMen offices for various ticket plans and great group rates at (812) 421-GOAL (4625).



Central Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2011


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