ICE CLOSES OUT DIFFICULT SEASON ON A WINNING NOTE

Published on March 19, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Indianapolis Ice News Release


GEORGE RETIRES ON GAME-WINNING GOAL: All-star right winger Chris George ended an historic six-year CHL run with the game-winning goal in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Oklahoma City Blazers. The 30-year-old forward finished the year tied for third in the CHL in goals (44) and was first in power play goals (18).

Other Career Accolades

  • Retires as the fourth-leading goal scorer in CHL/WPHL history with 278 goals
  • Is the 11th all-time leading scorer in CHL/WPHL history with 486 career points
  • Overall career numbers include 571 points (324G, 247A) in 469 games
  • Member of the Huntsville Channel Cats 1999 CHL Championship Team
  • Three-time CHL All-Star
  • Has been a hockey "Iron Man" as he has only missed one game in his last five years in the league
  • Felt one of his greatest moments in the sport was taking the shot last season on Steven Kirkpatrick, who fulfilled his dream by becoming the first person in a wheelchair to play in a professional hockey game

ROOKIE RAGE: Ice rookies Peter Bournazakis and Dylan Taylor finished their first-year campaigns as the top-scoring rookie tandem in the CHL with a combined 108 points. Their 108 points was 13 points better than Tulsa's rookie duo of Pat Hallett and Klage Kaebel. Bournazakis led the Ice in scoring this year and was the top-scoring rookie in the CHL with 78 points (29G, 48A), while Taylor produced 31 points (12G, 19A) of his own.

PLAYER RECAP: Bernie John, despite missing the team's last 18 games due to injury, still managed to finish fourth among CHL d-men in scoring with 53 points (16G, 37A) and in a tie for second in goals....Dan Cousineau is the all-time games leader for the CHL Ice as the defenseman has played in 192 games the last three seasons...Leon Delorme was the only Ice player on the team's closing roster to not score a goal this season....Chris MacKenzie (20-gamer) had the top point streak for the Ice this year...J.C. Wells' 49 save-effort in Austin back in November was the top save output for an Ice goaltender this season...Peter Bournazakis and Chris George led the Ice with seven multiple goal games, while "Bourno" led the team with ten games of three-or-more points.

CAREER YEARS: Jason Selleke finished the year just two points away from 50 and was first on the team with five game-winning goals and tied for first with a (+6) plus/minus...Casey Harris was just two goals shy of 20 for the first time in his career and finished second on the club with 278 penalty minutes....Kevin Popp proved there is more to his game than just his fists as the rugged defenseman notched a career-high 13 points (2G, 11A) to go along with a solid (+5) plus/minus and a team-high 299 penalty minutes....Jamie Morris had his best season with the Ice as the third-year netminder set career bests in wins (18), GAA (3.06) and save percentage (.908).

MILESTONE MAKERS: Bernie John is the top-scoring defenseman in the CHL since the start of the 2000-01 season with 211 points...John also crossed the 500-game mark as a pro this year...Kevin Popp went over 1,000 career penalty minutes this season...Crossing the 300-game plateau as a pro this season were Ryan Aikia and Jon Sorg...Crossing the 200-game barrier as a pro this season were Don Malko and Kevin Popp.

WHISTLE TALK: The Ice had more power plays than its opponents in just 13 of 64 games this season...The Ice had more power plays than its opponents on home ice in just seven of 32 home games this year...In the team's final 14 games alone, opponents were granted a whopping 36 more power plays than the Ice (86-50).

SEASON NOTES: The Ice sent three players to the CHL All-Star Game in forwards Chris George and Peter Bournazakis and defenseman Bernie John... Peter Bournazakis, Dylan Taylor and J.C. Wells all made their professional debuts...Five Ice players (Peter Bournazakis, Chris George, Casey Harris, Don Malko and Jon Sorg) played in all 64 games this season...Six players off of the team's 2000 CHL Championship Team (Dan Cousineau, Rob Davidson, Bernie John, Lubos Krajcovic, Chris MacKenzie, Jamie Morris) played for the Ice this season... One-goal games were a backbreaker for the Ice this season as the team struggled in the close affairs with a 6-15-7 overall record...Indy finished third in the CHL at home on the power play (32-134, 23.9%).

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS RECORD: 1-1-1
Friday, Mar. 15 (2-3 SOL vs Memphis) Pepsi Coliseum
Saturday, Mar. 16 (1-9 L at Bossier-Shreveport) CenturyTel Center
Sunday, Mar. 17 (3-2 W vs Oklahoma City) Pepsi Coliseum

HOT GOALTENDING GIVES "KINGS" 3-2 SHOOTOUT WIN
• The Ice outshot Memphis 56-19, but Bobby Da Costa turned back 54 in regulation and all four in the shootout to lead the "Kings" to victory...Charlie Elezi and Casey Harris scored goals for the Icemen.

MUDBUGS SQUASH ICE, 9-1
• A six-goal first period was all that was needed for Bossier-Shreveport...Ryan Aikia had the lone Ice goal.

ICE GETS 3-2 ST. PATRICK'S DAY WIN
• The final game for Chris George and special green jerseys on St. Patrick's Day proved to be the winning karma for the Icemen...George scored the game-winning goal, while Ryan Aikia and Charlie Elezi also scored first period goals...Jamie Morris turned back 34 shots for the win in net.

2001-2002 INDIANAPOLIS ICE FINAL STATISTICS
Record: 20-37-7 (47 points)
Home 11-19-2
Road 9-18-5

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2002


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