Hounds sneak by Hogs as late comeback falls short
Published on October 14, 2006 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- For only the second time in the Rockford IceHogs eight-year history, the club has started a season 0-2-0. Rockford dropped a 4-3 decision to the Chicago Hounds in front of 3,679 at the Rockford MetroCentre on Saturday. The win for Chicago came in its first ever game as they staved off a late Rockford rally.
For the second straight night the IceHogs struggled to keep the momentum after scoring and the power play turned into a reliability, as the Hogs gave up two shorthanded goals. Winger Chaz Johnson put Rockford on top at the 16:49 mark of the first period as he flipped a shot past Chicago goalie Marty Magers from his knees. Just 1:58 later, however, winger Greg Koehler hammered home the equalizer off of a long rebound from Hogs goalie Frederic Cloutier.
In the second, Rockford had five power play opportunities, but the Hounds were the ones doing the scoring. The Hounds first shorthanded marker came 1:54 into the middle frame when winger Maris Ziedins skated in on Cloutier on a breakaway and netted the go-ahead goal. Less than a minute later, with Rockford on a 5-on-3 power play, winger Adam Kostichka stepped on the ice as a penalty expired and picked-up a long pass from Paul Caponigri for another shorthanded breakaway goal and a 3-1 lead.
In the third period, Rockford cut the lead to 3-2 when center Steve Yetman fired in his own rebound past Magers at 7:42. But once again, the Hogs opposition responded, this time 45 seconds later when Steve Cygan knocked in Chicago's fourth goal of the night. The IceHogs attempted another rally, led by Johnson who knocked in a Robin Big Snake rebound at 15:37, cutting the deficit back down to a goal.
Even with some late pressure, the IceHogs couldn't get another and the Hounds picked up its first win in club history. Cloutier finished the night with 27 saves while Magers made 37 for the win. The Hogs power play was anemic once again going 1-for-11, finishing opening weekend 2-for-23.
Next Home Game: Friday, October 20 vs. Quad City Mallards. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. The IceHogs and Mallards renew one of the fiercest rivalries in the UHL at the MetroCentre. The first 1,000 fans to the game will receive IceHogs Poster #1 from Pepsi, Medicine Man, Johnson Press, Rockford Register Star and Jim Orlando Photography.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 14, 2006
- Hounds sneak by Hogs as late comeback falls short - Rockford IceHogs
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