Evansville IceMen Weekly

Published on March 5, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


THE ICEMEN MAJESTICS: The Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League are embarking on the final three weeks of the 2011-12 season sharing first place distinction atop the Turner Conference standings with their principal archrivals, the Fort Wayne Komets. With both teams having 9-games remaining on their 66-games' regular season slate, both teams have assembled identical records of 57(36-17-4) totaling 76-points. The past week, while the IceMen saw their league season's best 10-game win streak come to a close to be followed by an unexpected 4-game losing spell, the Komets were taking full advantage as they collected 7 of a possible 8-points for the week in a complete contrast of the IceMen fortunes, posting a mark of 4(3-0-1). In the process the IceMen archenemies gained 7-full points on Evansville to forge the first place dead heat. The remaining schedule would seem to favor the Fort Wayners as they play 7 of their 9-games on home ice while the IceMen have the exact opposite docket in front of them, playing 7 of their 9-games on the road. The two teams' records also mirror each other in another interesting manner as well. The IceMen have attained the same home record of 31(20-10-1) as the Komets road mark 31(20-10-1). The IceMen road record is the same as Fort Wayne's home record; 26(16-7-3). This week, the IceMen continue their seemingly incessantly grueling schedule when they play their 19th game in 33-days Tuesday night at Missouri in a clash with the third place Mavericks before "The Showdown" this weekend between the two Turner titans. The IceMen will travel to Fort Wayne for a two-game series on both Friday and Saturday nights.

17-DAYS AWAY FROM HOME BAY: Playing their next 5-games on the road, the IceMen actually will be away from their home of the Ford Center for a period of 17-days. They will not return to their amiable climes and environs until the final week of the regular season, Wednesday, March 21st when they tangle with Missouri. The IceMen regular season home finale is set for Friday, March 23rd when they renew rancor with the Quad City Mallards on "Fan Appreciation Night." That night has been designated the Second Annual Player Awards Night and IceMen Team Photo Night.

SPECIAL NIGHT FOR "ICEMEN LIVE PRESENTED BY COORS LIGHT": Due to the IceMen team travelogue this week, "IceMen Live Presented by Coors Light" will have a special Wednesday night edition for two full hours, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm live from Show-Me's East and on the IceMen radio flagship home of WEOA-AM 1400 and am1400weoa.com.

THE RECORD RED GLARE: The past week, the IceMen CHL season-best 10-game win streak came to a close and evolved into their longest losing spell of the campaign at 4-in a row. In the process, the IceMen overall record was lowered to a still-lustrous 57(36-17-4) 76-points and .667 winning percentage. Since the beginning of the New Year, the IceMen have composed a sterling record of 31(21-8-2). Their longest win streaks of the season have been 10-in a row; 6-consecutively and 5-in succession. Their longest undefeated streaks have been also a CHL season best 12(10-0-2) and 7(6-0-1). The IceMen have not encountered a losing month thus far this season in a remarkable reversal of form from last year's AA/CHL maiden voyage, fledgling campaign. The Monthly Breakdown: October 2(1-0-1); November 11(8-3-0); December 13(6-6-1); January 13(10-1-2); February 15(11-4-0); March 3(0-3-0).

FORD FALL: The past week, the IceMen sustained 3-consecutive setbacks on home ice at the Ford Center. It marked the second month in succession that the IceMen have broached a new month by dropping their initial 3-home performances. Evansville launched the month of February on the same somber, solemn note before rebounding with 5-consecutive victories. For the season, the home record stands at a superb 31(20-10-1). Longest home win streaks have been 7-in a row and 5-consecutively. When the IceMen bowed to Wichita the past Wednesday night, 8-5, it was the club's first defeat at home in 3-weeks when Fort Wayne nipped the home team, 4-3. Of their 10-home defeats this season, the IceMen have sustained 9 among 3-teams; Fort Wayne (4); Wichita (3); Rapid City (2).

ROAD STREAK STIFLED: When the IceMen trembled in Moline, IL Saturday night to the Quad City Mallards, 5-2, it halted the club's longest road win streak of the season at 6-in a row which also matched the longest achieved in the CHL thus far this season. Evansville absorbed defeat abroad for the first time since way back on January 28th when they capitulated at Dayton, 4-3. The IceMen brilliantly fashioned a perfect foreign ice log in February at 6(6-0-0). For the season, the Coach Kromm crew continues to own the CHL's second best abroad mark at a superlative 26(16-7-3). Longest road win streaks have been 6-in a row and 4-consecutively; longest unbeaten streak in hostile territory 6(5-0-1).

THE CONFERENCE COMPASS: When the IceMen were thunderstruck in a stinging 8-5 setback Wednesday night on home ice in the clash for the CHL league-leadership against Berry Conference and league-leading Wichita, Evansville not only saw its amazing 10-game win streak stymied but it also had its 8-game win streak against Berry Conference competition rendered asunder. For the season, the IceMen have a stellar record of 13(10-3-0) outside their own conference boundaries with all 3-setbacks incurred against Wichita on their home ice of the Ford Center.

PRE-EMINENT PROGRESS: Under the category of "what a difference a year makes," comes the IceMen team records from one year to the next. In 2011-12 after 57-games, the IceMen have assembled a brilliant record of 57(36-17-4) 76-points. One year ago after 57-games, the IceMen record was a rather drab and dreary 57(18-29-10) 46-points. Fast forward to today; the IceMen have collected double the number of wins (18), have 12-fewer losses (29 to 17) and a whopping 30-more points (46 to 76).

STAR-STUDDED STAGE: All-Star center Todd Robinson continues to lead the CHL in scoring excellence with 57(22-60-82); Brian Bicek is listed 10th; 57(33-26-59); Nicklas Lindberg is 15th; 56(14-39-53). Bicek's 33-snipes are circuit second while his 4-SHG continue to top the loop. Robinson's 60-assists are 13-more than the rest of the league; his 28-PPA are also the most in the CHL. Bicek's stellar +25 rating is ranked #2 in the league; his 36-minor penalties rank as 4th most. Mario Boilard's 160-PIM rank 6th most in the CHL. For the defense, the IceMen are tied for the CHL's premiere pinnacle. Steve Makway 55(4-37-41); Matt Gens 57(10-31-41) share the premiere distinction with Philippe Plante 56(10-23-33) listed 9th. Makway's 37-assists rank #1; Gens 31-assists are #2 while Gens and Plante's 3-GWG run 2nd as do Gens 16-PPA rank #2 among this year's blue line group. In CHL rookie scoring, Malcolm Gwilliam is 10th and climbing with 57(17-17-34). Gwilliam's 17-goals tie for 5th most in this year's rookie class. In the goaltending department, rookie phenom Bryan Gillis owns the league's best winning record of 30(23-6-1) for a win percentage of .783. Gillis GAA of 2.40 is 4th best and his SPCT of .923 third best in the loop.

The "Great Gilly in Goal" also has posted the league's best road record at 11(10-1-0).

"T. ROB" TITLE TIMBER: Veteran center Todd Robinson is approaching the precipice of an unprecedented fifth minor pro individual scoring title. The 13-year pro perennial All-Star performer maintains a 5-point advantage over Quad City's Brandon Marino with 9-games left to play. "T. Rob" recently completed the CHL's longest point-scoring streak of the season at 17-games, registering 28-points in that prolific, propitious span on 11-goals, 17-assists, 28-points. The pre-eminent prince of points playmaking pivot paces his club in PPG with 9 and multiple point games with 20. For the month of February, he, again, topped his team in scoring with 15(10-16-26) and 4-GWG. He was acclaimed the CHL's #2 Star for the month.

DO THE MATTHEW: All-Star defensemen Matt Gens also enjoyed a sound and solid month of February. The 6-year pro from St. Cloud State was Evansville's third leading point-maker with 15(2-12-14) with both of his strikes stoked on the power play. Currently, in his last 12-games, he is averaging over a point a game with 12(3-11-14).

PHIL FEELING IT: Defenseman Philippe Plante continues as one of the true unsung heroes of this IceMen tied for first place aggregation nation. The 13-year pro has been stable and steady in leading the backline blue line. For the month of February, he finished tied for 4th in team scoring with Malcolm Gwilliam 15(8-4-12) with 2-goals, 10-assists, 12-points. Both Plante strikes as well were stroked on the power play while his +5 rating was third best on the club behind Brian Bicek's team-best +8 and Steve Makway's +6 efforts.

GOAL GEYSING GUYS: The IceMen top goal-scoring cannoneers for the month of February; 1-Todd Robinson (10); 2-Brian Bicek (9); 3-Malcolm Gwilliam (8); 4-John Ronan (6); 5- Josh Beaulieu (4).

CONSISTENT & RESISTANT: The IceMen special teams have been an absolute paragon of consistency and continuity all season long. The power play continues to rank a lofty #2 in the league, operating at 21.2%; 49-231 with the 49-PPG tied for second most in the CHL with Arizona. In recent action, the the IceMen power play is 2 for the last 10; 20%; 11 for the last 30; 36.7%; 13 for the last 40; 32.5%.

Meanwhile the penalty-killing ensemble cast has been exemplary as well, operating at #1 in the CHL with an efficiency rating of 86.2% with the opponents being 38-274. The opposition is 4 for the last 35; 88.6%; 6 for the last 46; 87%; 10 for the last 90; 89.9%.

MILESTONES MARKINGS: Brian Bicek's goal in Saturday night's setback at Quad City was the 100th of his pro career with 60 of those struck in less than 2-seasons in Evansville. Bicek has now played in 199- consecutive games dating back to the 2009-10 season with the IHL Muskegon Lumberjacks. Matt Gens (195) is 5-points shy of pro career 200. Nicklas Lindberg (294) is 6-assists away from pro career 300. Steve Makway (193) is 7-assists from 200. Sean O'Connor (92) is 8-assists shy of 100. Todd Robinson has 883- assists in 862-pro career games.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The IceMen suffered their first Sunday loss of the season when Bloomington defeated them, 6-2. The IceMen had been 9(8-0-1) on Sunday. The IceMen are 21 (13-4-4) in 1-goal games this season. They are 31(27-2-2) entering the third period with the lead and 28(20-5-3) when leading after the first period. Brian Bicek tops the team in 2-goal games with 6; Josh Beaulieu is next in line with 5. The IceMen have not had a three-goal "hat trick" this season. The IceMen are 31(30-1-0) when surrendering 2-GA or less; 22(19-3-0) when scoring 4-GF or more.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY, MARCH 6TH THE ICEMEN AT MISSOURI 7:00 PM

The IceMen and the Mavericks will tangle for the fifth time this season and the third and final time in Independence where the IceMen have garnered 3 of a possible 4-points thus far this season through a record of 2(1-0-1). Three of the previous 4-meetings have resulted in extra time with the IceMen claiming one win in overtime on home ice and the Mavericks collecting a pair of OTSO successes. For the season, the IceMen are 4(2-0-2) at the expense of Missouri.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH THE ICEMEN AT FORT WAYNE 7:00 PM

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

The final two times the two in-state archrivals will collide in regular season action with the IceMen owning a mark of 11(4-6-1) in the previous 11-encounters. Evansville is 3(0-2-1) in its last 3-junkets to Fort Wayne after inaugurating the current campaign with an opening night, 5-0 shutout triumph back on October 22nd. In the last bout between the two teams, the IceMen blanked the Komets at the Ford Center in Evansville back on February 25th, 3-0. It was also the IceMen last victory at home.

THE ICEMEN ON YOUR SMART PHONES AND I-PHONES: IceMen fans who own Smart Phones and I-Phones can now take the IceMen game broadcasts and Monday night radio show wherever you go! For more information, visit the IceMen web-site at www.evansvilleicemen.com.

THE ICEMEN ON WEOA-AM 1400 & 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 home WEOA-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 for the season.

THE ICEMEN DAILY UPDATES ARE EVERYWHERE ON THE AIR: Continuing with their Expanded coverage, the IceMen daily update report can be found on 16-different radio stations throughout the Tri-State region including flagship home 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 ; WDKS-FM 106.1 at 4:35 pm; WBKR-FM 92.5 (Owensboro, KY) 4:40 pm; WOMI-AM 1490 (Owensboro, KY) at 4:50 pm. Elsewhere, on WITZ-AM 990 and WITZ-FM 104.7 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 WMSK-AM 1550 at 7:30 am and 4:30 pm and WMSK-FM 101.3, Morganfield, KY at 4:25 pm. The latest addition is WYNX-FM ESPN Radio 106.7 in Mount Vernon.

THE ICEMEN TICKET INFORMATION: IceMen single game tickets for all home games are 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) or visit our website at www.evansvilleicemen.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2012


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