Sports stats



Evansville IceMen Weekly

December 23, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


NEXT HOME GAMES: **FRI. 12/28 VS. ELMIRA; SAT. 12/29 VS. CINCINNATI; MON. 12/31 VS. GWINNETT**

RUNDOWN/LOWDOWN: In the midst of a 6-game holiday home stand, their longest home stand of this 2012-13 ECHL season, the IceMen have divided the initial two offerings at their home of the Ford Center with a 2(1-1-0) record. Under the stewardship of third year General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm, the IceMen have climbed into a share of fourth place position in the ECHL Eastern Conference North Division standings after their first 31-games of the current campaign. Based on an overall mark of 31(11-17-3) totaling 25-points, the men of the igloo have equaled Kalamazoo 28(11-14-3)25, ascending to within 5-points of third place residing Fort Wayne 28(14-12-2) 30-points as the league recesses for the Christmas holiday. On this upcoming holiday week, the IceMen continue their home stand with a trio of Ford Center appearances on the docket. Evansville and the ECHL resume action later in the week with the IceMen hosting the Elmira Jackals for the first time-ever on Friday night, before divisional leading Cincinnati invades the hallow confines on Saturday night, climaxed on New Year's Eve Monday night, December 31st when the IceMen ring in the New Year against the Gwinnett Gladiators.

HOLIDAY HOMESTAND CONTINUES: This week, the IceMen 6-game holiday home stand continues at the Ford Center. On Friday night, the Elmira Jackals come to town as the IceMen present their first-ever "Great Airplane Toss Night" and "IceMen Bumper Sticker Night." Saturday night when the Cincinnati Cyclones arrive on the scene, the IceMen organ-ization will present plenty of holiday entertainment as the NHL Nashville Predators Dance Team will be here to perform; Cameron Hughes will also make an appearance. Then on Monday night, the IceMen will ring in the New Year with the New Year's celebration commencing at 7:15 pm at the fabulous Ford Center.

IT'S THURSDAY NIGHT; THURSDAY NIGHT!! With Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve both falling on Monday nights this calendar year, the IceMen ever-popular weekly Monday night radio show will move to THURSDAY NIGHT for the next two weeks. "IceMen Live Presented by Coors Light" will be THURSDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 27TH and THURSDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 3RD, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm live from Show-Me's East and on flagship radio home of the new "Magic 98.5 FM" and 1400 AM WEOA as well as world-wide on magic985fm.com and 1400amweoa.com.

WRAP THE RECAP: Contesting in a pair of weekend assignments on an uncharacteristically abbreviated agenda the weekend before Christmas, the IceMen launched an extended 6-game home stand with a 2(1-1-0) mark. Friday night, they succumbed to torrid Trenton, 6-3, after surmounting a 3-1 deficit and forging a 3-3 third period deadlock. However, 3-consecutive goals in 5:31 induced Evansville to sustain its third straight setback in as many meetings this season against the Titans. Nathan Moon (1-1-2)+2, Josh Beaulieu (PPG) and Dylan Clarke (GTG) were the IceMen imperial impresarios. Then on Saturday night, the IceMen dispatched division rival Kalamazoo, 4-3, detonating a 3-goal opening period powder keg before Jason Dale (1-1-2) delivered the ultimate GWG early in the third period. Matt Schepke (1-1-2)FG/PPG, Dylan Clarke (1-1-2) and Patrick Kennedy also made connection while Trent Vogelhuber assisted twice. Paul Karpowich brushed aside 24-shots in earning the victory. Evansville's shorthand band was brilliant, foreclosing all 6-of the Wings man advantages including 4 in the middle stanza.

CHRISTMAS BREAK BODY OF WORK: Reaching the Christmas break, the IceMen have seen action in 31-games of their total 72-game schedule. The Coach Kromm crew stands at 31(11-17-3) for 25-points. Its victory Saturday night over Kalamazoo halted their 3-game losing streak and 4-game winless spell; 4(0-3-1) with both streaks representing their second longest in both categories thus far this season. Thus far in December, the record is 10(5-3-2) as the IceMen quest with zest for their initial winning month of the season. The IceMen longest win streak of the season has been 3-in a row; longest undefeated skein transpired earlier in this month of December; 6(4-0-2) mirroring their first half-dozen December dates. Since their ECHL season inaugurating 7-game winless streak; 7(0-6-1), the IceMen are 24(11-11-2) in their last 24-decisions. The monthly accounting; October 7(0-6-1); November 14(6-8-0); December 10(5-3-2).

HOME DEVICE DELIGHT: When they defeated Kalamazoo the past Saturday night, 4-3, the IceMen elevated their home record through their last 6-appearances to a dazzling dynamic 6(5-1-0) reflecting their home schedule thus far for December. They did, however, have their season-best 4-game home win streak stopped one night earlier when Trenton ambushed the Icers, 6-3. For the season, the IceMen home mark stands at 16(7-9-0) and 11(7-4-0) since starting the season with that destitute 5-game losing streak.

ROAD SHOW SHALLOW: Without a road outing until January 5th, the IceMen were in the market for some form of relief from the frustration and exasperation of foreign ice warfare. With a season composite of 15(4-8-3), the IceMen have dropped 2-in a row and are actually winless in their last 6-starts abroad at 6(0-4-2). Their last success derived from hostile territory invasion was back on Thanksgiving weekend, November 24th when they derailed the high-powered Reading Royals Atlantic Division leading express, 4-2.

DISSECTION BY DIVISION: The IceMen have been profiting as of late against competition within their own division. In fact, in their last 5-such endeavors, they have composed a superb mark of 5(3-1-1). For the season overall, the IceMen have upgraded their North Division record above the .500 barrier at 18(8-7-3). It has been outside their divisional boundaries where the hometown team has staggered; against the Atlantic Division; 8(2-6-0); South Division: 5(1-4-0). Evansville's combined record against the Atlantic and South Division is a rather listless 13(3-10-0).

TIP TOP TIMBER: Center Todd Robinson's 13-PPA rank as fourth best in the ECHL. Josh Beaulieu's 3-GWG rank 5th most in the loop. Beaulieu's 6-PPG also rank in the top 10 in the ECHL. Trent Vogelhuber's 2-SHG top all league rookies. Matt Gens 30(3-12-15) is in the top 20 of ECHL scoring defensemen. Matt Gens' 29-minor penalties rank as circuit second most in the ECHL.

THE CLARKE CLIMB: Center Dylan Clarke continues to truly shine since his procurement off waivers from South Carolina. The past weekend, the former SUNY-Plattsburgh star registered 3-points in 2-games including a key, touch-in-the-clutch strike each night. Named the game's #3 Star in both games, Clarke delivered the GTG Friday night before streamlining his 9th goal of the season and 6th since joining Evansville in the Saturday night triumph over the K-Wings. With his latest scoring scourge having grown to 3-games with 3(3-4-7), the Belleville, Ontario product has now amassed 18-points in his first 11-IceMen games on 11(6-12-18). Clarke is the IceMen nomination, once again, for ECHL Player of the Week.

KARP SHARK SHARP: First-year goalkeeper Paul Karpowich continues to impress in goal for the IceMen. The parent club St. Louis Blues draft choice saw action in Saturday night's 4-3 shading of the Kalamazooans .. With the win, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native posted his fourth triumph of the season. Karpowich is the IceMen nomination for ECHL Goaltender of the Week.

MOON IN TUNE: Second-year right wing Nathan Moon has evolved into a goal scoring cannoneer for his IceMen club. The past weekend, the former NHL Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick fashioned 3-points in 2-games on 1-goal, 2-assists with a +2 rating. In the process, he swelled his latest point streak to 4-games with 5-goals, 2-assists, 7-points. Moon's 10-goals rank as second most for the IceMen Icers.

"JD WITH GWG": Slick, sleek, fleet center Jason Dale emerged as the IceMen scoring hero on Saturday night when the IceMen, vanquished Kalamazoo, 4-3. The fourth year forward engineered 1-goal and 1-assist for 2-points delivering the ultimate GWG in the third period to solve the K-Wings on-ice puzzle. For the season, Dale is one of only 3-IceMen players to play in all 31-games collecting 16-points on 6-goals, 10-assists.

MATT'S MIGHTY MARKING: Five year left wing Matt Schepke was long overdue for a breakthrough and come through he did. Reactivated after missing Friday night's home encounter against Trenton, the former Michigan State standout, fired the game's FG on an Evansville power play Saturday night in setting the tone, tempo and tenor for the 4-3 victory verdict over the Wings. For the game, Schepke generated his first points for the IceMen with (1-1-2).

THE SPECIAL STAGE STAIRWELL: The IceMen power play was 1 for 2 on Saturday night in the 4-3 triumph over Kalamazoo. In recent activity, it is 2 for the last 5; 40% proficiency. At 4 for the last 19, the power play is germinating and percolating at 21.1% proficiency. Meanwhile the ace penalty-killing cast of characters remains redoubtable. Evansville has extinguished 40 of the last 45 man advantages for an efficiency rating of a superlative 88.9%. The opposition is 13 for the last 101 for a rating of a sterling 87.1%.

THE HISTORY BOOK LOOK: Kevin Baker (488) is 12-games shy of pro career 500. Center Jason Dale (193) is 7-games shy of pro career #200. Todd Robinson (1,247) is 3-points away from pro career 1,250. Josh Beaulieu (290) is 10-games shy of pro career 300-games. Nathan Moon (97) is 3-games away from pro career 100.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The IceMen continue to flourish on Saturday night, having won 7 of their last 8-Saturday night dates. The IceMen are 13(10-1-2) when entering the third period with the lead but 13(0-13-0) when entering the third period trailing. When the IceMen score 4 or more, they are 9(8-1-0) and when they allow 2-GA or less, they are undefeated at 7(7-0-0). In his last 6-games, Josh Beaulieu is 6(2-8-10). The IceMen are 8(5-1-2) in their last 8 one-goal games. Only 3-players have played in all 31- games; Jason Dale, Matt Gens and Josh Beaulieu.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28TH ELMIRA AT THE ICEMEN 7:15 PM

The IceMen and the Jackals will collide four times this season with this one representing the first-ever confrontation between the two Eastern Conference inter-divisional rivals. This is game #3 of the IceMen extended 6-game holiday homestand while for the Jackals, this will be game 4 of a 7-game road mission. Thus far, the Elmirans are winless in their initial trio of foreign ice affairs at 3(0-3-0).

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29TH CINCINNATI AT THE ICEMEN 7:15 PM

For the IceMen and the first place, North Division front-running Cyclones, this will be their second consecutive contest in Evansville and the sixth meeting overall between the two on-ice combatants. The IceMen are 5(2-2-1) in 5-clashes with the Cincinnatians. In the Cyclones lone previous appearance in downtown Evansville, the IceMen dismissed the "Queen City" sextet, 4-1.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31ST GWINNETT AT THE ICEMEN 7:15 PM

The IceMen collide with the Gladiators for the third time this season with all bouts waged in Evansville, Gwinnett paces the series 2(2-0-0), sweeping the IceMen in a 2-game series back in late October with both games at the Ford Center. The Gladiators will launch the holiday week with a 4(1-3-0) over the past 4-games.

THE ICEMEN ON THE NEW "MAGIC 98.5 FM" WEOA/WEOA-AM 1400 & THE ICEMEN RADIO NETWORK:

All of the IceMen game broadcasts are on flagship stations, the all-new "Magic 98.5 FM, WEOA as well as on WEOA-AM 1400. Also, on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com and magic985fm.com as well as the IceMen Radio Network. WLME-FM 102.7, "The Game" in Owensboro, KY; WMSK-AM 1550, Morganfield, KY and WVLN-AM 740 in Olney, IL broadcast the complete schedule of IceMen games while WITZ-AM 990 and WITZ-FM 104.7, Jasper, IN carry a select schedule of games, numbering 23-30 for the season.

THE ICEMEN DAILY UPDATES ARE EVERYWHERE ON THE AIR: The IceMen daily update reports can now be heard on 18-different radio outlets throughout the Tri-State region. Flagship WEOA-FM 98.5 and WEOA-AM 1400 program the IceMen report at 4:200 pm Monday through Friday. The Townsquare Media family of stations; WGBF-AM 1280, WGBF-FM 103.1, WKDQ-FM 99.5; WJLT-FM 105.3; WKDS-FM 106.1; WBKR-FM 92.5, Owensboro, KY and WOMI-AM 1490, Owensboro, KY present the report every afternoon in drive time between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. Elsewhere, WITZ-AM 990 and WITZ-FM 104.7 in Jasper, IN; WSON-am 860 and WSON-FM 96.5 in Henderson, KY; WMSK-AM 1550, WMSK-FM 101.3 in Morganfield, KY; WRAY-AM 1250 in Princeton, IN; WLME-FM 102.7, "The Game" in Owensboro KY and WYFX-FM ESPN Radio 106.7, Mount Vernon, IN.

THE ICEMEN TICKET INFORMATION: IceMen single game tickets for all 36-home games are on sale at the Ford Center Box Office and at Ticketmaster.com or by contacting the IceMen offices for various season ticket plans and great group rates at (812) 421-GOAL (4625). Visit the IceMen website at www.evansvilleicemen.com.

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from December 23, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Evansville IceMen Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central