IHL 2 Rockford IceHogs

Hogs Win 3-1 In Front of Largest Crowd of the Year

Published on February 25, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release


Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs must have decided that since they don't have another home game for three weeks they would treat their fans to a win over rival Quad City 3-1 Saturday Night. Actually, it was the fans that treated the Hogs by showing up in droves and delivering the fourth largest crowd in franchise history, 6,792 at the Rockford MetroCentre, and the largest of the 05-06 campaign.

After dropping Friday night's tilt to Port Huron 5-4, the IceHogs came out and skated with a real focus, trying to avoid their third straight loss at home. Rockford Captain Jason Ralph scored at 4:02 in the first to put the Hogs up 1-0. Despite outshooting the Mallards 22-4 in the frame the IceHogs only had a one-goal advantage at the first break.

The second period was all about defense and goaltending. Mallards goalie Terry Friesen blocked 10 shots in the frame and held the Hogs scoreless for the full 20 minutes. Rockford goaltender Michel Robinson got back on track after Friday night's loss by not giving up a goal until the 15:01 mark of the second period when Quad City forward Patrick Nadeau put one in the net. The rivals took the 1-1 tie to the locker room and came back out with the same defensive intensity in the third period.

The large crowd was starting to anticipate a shootout as Robinson and Friesen maintained their high level of play. Rockford rookie Yannick Tifu put an end to any talk of a shootout by tallying two goals in the final five minutes. The first one came at 15:32, a putback from winger's Chaz Johnson and Jason Notermann. The final goal of the night, and Tifu's second, was a power-play strike at the 17:45 mark. That put Rockford up for good and the IceHogs maintain their best record in the UHL status at 39-9-6 on the season.

Rockford now hits the road for a big East Coast swing the next couple of weeks playing the next seven games away from the "Big Orange Box." It's been three seasons since the IceHogs have traveled to the East Coast and it is their longest stretch away from home this season. Rockford heads to Muskegon next to take on the team who they are fighting it out with for the top seed in the playoffs, the Muskegon Fury. The game is at 1:10 at L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 25, 2006


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