Harcharik on Door Step of Record

February 23, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release


Mason City (IA) When a farmer plants a seed, there are no guarantees it will ever produce the cash crop that is desired. Consequently, in sports, there are no promises that the fresh-faced rookie will ultimately turn out to be the impact player that is envisioned. Towards the tail end of the North Iowa Outlaws' first ever season in the spring of 2006, Joe Harcharik (Johnston, IA) stepped on the ice for the remaining six games of the season becoming a late member to that inaugural season team.

Since that season, dozens of players have come through Mason City -some good, some not-so good - and in the case of Harcharik he'll definitely go down as one of those rookies who has lived up to the promising expectations placed upon him through those six games he played in March 2006. As the lone remaining on-ice member with the Outlaws with ties to the first season, Harcharik has never led the team in scoring, but his consistent scoring punch has always been there and as a result he is on the verge of setting a new franchise record.

After recording six points last weekend at Albert Lea (1g, 5a), Harcharik has amassed 130 career points, which is just eight shy of matching Max Mobley's franchise record for points in an Outlaws' uniform. Mobley was a member of the Outlaws' first three seasons and is now playing at Division I St. Lawrence University, but while Mobley played in one fewer season, Harcharik has played in fewer games than Mobley ever did.

Even if Harcharik plays in all remaining regular season games, he will still come up one game short of playing in as many games as Mobley did, making what Harcharik is doing even more impressive.

"He's always been a player who we know what we are going to get with and over the last two seasons he's turned into a player who turns it on as the season goes deeper and deeper" said Outlaws' head coach Jeff Crouse. "He isn't a player who scores early and then coasts, he's been right in the mix ever since the holiday break."

Harcharik already holds the franchise record for career goals (63 goals) and power play goals (19) and has stated reaching the points record is something he is gunning for.

"Joe isn't a self-serving player so he isn't making a huge deal in public about going for the record, but he set that as a goal a few weeks back and I know the players are pulling for him" added Crouse.

Over the last 10 games, Harcharik leads the team with 14 points (5g, 9a) and has a total of 15 points (8g, 7a) since January 1st.

Spending Time in Box

While Joe Harcharik (Johnston, IA) is on his way to a franchise career points record, defenseman Ryan Peltoma (Brainerd, MN) has his sights on the single-season penalty minute record. With 123 penalty minutes, Peltoma is just 19 minutes away from tying 2005-2006 Outlaw Marc Lorence's team mark.

Representing the World

Former Outlaws' Pete Majkozak and Daryl Dee are in Harbin, China for the 2009 World University Games in which they will represent Team USA. Majkozak plays for Iowa State and Dee for Oklahoma.

After two games, Team USA is 2-0 with wins over Korea and Slovakia with Majkozak scoring a goal in the Korea victory.

Another Albert Lea Sweep

The Outlaws' moved to 10-0-0 against the expansion Thunder this season with a weekend sweep of a pair of games in Albert Lea this past Friday and Saturday. Neither game was close as the Outlaws blitzed Albert Lea to the tune of 5-1 on the first night and 7-1 on Saturday with goaltender Thomas Callaghan (New Westminister, PA) picking up the victory both nights.

On Friday, the line of Brandon Brodhag (Brooklyn Park, MN), Joe Harcharik (Johnston, IA) and Dan Durham (Chicago, IL) combined for 11 points, highlighted by Brodhag's second hat trick of the season. Harcharik earned four assists, becoming the first Outlaw to do so since Steve McLeod in March 2007 and Durham netted his first goal in a North Iowa uniform.

On Saturday, the Outlaws' power play broke out of a two-week slump by going 4-5, while seven different players scored in the victory.

North Iowa is the lone Central Division team that Albert Lea has yet to earn a single-point off of either via a win or an overtime loss.

Outlaws Last Week

Fri. Feb. 20th @ Albert Lea 5-1 Win

Sat. Feb. 21st @ Albert Lea 7-1 Win

Outlaws This Week

Fri. Feb. 27th @ Owatonna 7:00pm

Sat. Feb. 28st @ Owatonna 7:00pm

The North Iowa Outlaws Hockey Club is in its fourth season as members of the North American Hockey League. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33nd year of operation. For more information, visit northiowaoutlaws.com or call (641) 424-5468.

Outlaws home games are played at the North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, IA. All games will be broadcasted on northiowaoutlaws.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.



North American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2009


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