Hogs win a wild 6-5 contest in opener
October 21, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs had a club record nine returning players on the 2005-06 roster, but it was the new skaters who stole the show in the IceHogs wild 6-5 opening night win over the Elmira Jackals in front of 5,543 at the Rockford MetroCentre. Of the Hogs 16 points scored, 14 were by new skaters. The Jackals fought back three times before Rockford winger Greg Barber notched the game-winning goal at 18:05 of the final period.
Elmira jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first frame. Jarett Konkle put the Jackals on the board at the 1:01 mark, beating Hogs goalie Ronnie Vogel. Chris Chaput the extended the lead to 2-0 at 2:09. Rockford would cut the lead in half before the break when center Preston Mizzi blasted his first of the year past Jackals goalie Nick Boucher.
Rockford returned the quick strike favor in the second period to take their first lead of the contest. While on a 5-on-3 power play, winger Jason Notermann knocked in the equalizing goal just 19 seconds into the middle frame. Then on another two-man advantage, center Olivier Proulx lit the lamp to give Rockford the lead 41 seconds into the period. Elmira defenseman Jason Jaworski later tied the contest at three apiece at 13:39, and the back and forth affair was on.
In the third period, Rockford grabbed the lead back when rookie center Yannick Tifu netted his first career goal at 2:36. But at 4:46 Konkle struck again to tie the game at 4-4. Rookie center Chaz Johnson then put Rockford back on top 5-4 with his first career marker at 8:52 before winger Carl Drakensjo tied the contest back up at 11:32.
After a few back-and-forth sequences, Barber capitalized on a 3-on-1 breakaway. Barber beat Boucher for the game winner. Vogel finished the night with 18 saves in the win, while Boucher was saddled with the loss despite turning away 42 Rockford shots.
The Hogs were 2-for-12 on the power play, a franchise record for most power play attempts in a game. Elmira finished the night 0-for7. Rockford will hit the road for their first away game tomorrow at Missouri against the River Otters at 7:00 p.m.
Next Home Game: Sunday, October 23 vs. Motor City Mechanics. The puck drops at 3:05 p.m. Rockford returns home for a match-up against the Mechanics. The first 500 kids 12-and under to the game will receive an IceHogs puck from Insurance King. Sunday is also a Family Four Pack Day. That's four hot dogs, four soft drinks and four tickets for only $48. Call (815) 968-5222.
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