Ice Home Friday and Saturday
Published on December 31, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
CLOSE SHAVES: The Indiana Ice head into 2013 after finishing the calendar year with a 0-1-1 weekend against the Youngstown Phantoms and the Chicago Steel. Youngstown rattled off a pair of goals in the third period to narrowly escape with Saturday's 3-2 win at the Covelli Centre. Vince Pedrie and Austin Hervey scored for Indy while Anderson Snair snagged 21 saves in his second USHL contest. Trailing late in the third period during Sunday's contest against Chicago, Drew Smolcynski tallied his sixth power play goal to knot the game before falling to the Steel in a shootout. Dalton Izyk bested 22 of 23 Chicago scoring opportunities in front of the 4,070 people in attendance at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
SECOND-HAND "SMOKES": Ice forward Drew Smolcynski has established himself this season as one of the league's most dangerous skaters on the power play, leading Indy with six power play goals and sitting in a three-way tie for third amongst the rest of the league. The Hatfield, PA native is currently second on the team in points (24) and goals (15).
YOUNGBLOOD: Josh Jacobs is having a solid first year with the Ice as the 16-year old defenseman is tied with Peter Hand for first among team blueliners in assists (9) and tied for third among team defensemen in points. Jacobs, already committed to Michigan State, is currently riding a three-game assist streak with a +3 plus-minus rating in the past three games.
TICKLING THE TWINE: Indy continues to two of the league's top goal scorers in Austin Ortega and Drew Smolcynski. Ortega is tied with Fargo's Gabe Guertler for the USHL's top spot with 19 lamplighters while Smolcynski is one of three players tied for fifth in the league with 15 tallies. Ortega is also tied with fellow Iceman Brian Morgan for second in the league with four game-winning goals this season.
PLAYER BURSTS: Joe Fiala has three assists in his last five games and a +3 plus-minus rating in the same stretch...Vince Pedrie has three points (G, 2A) in his last four games and scored his first career goal Saturday vs. Youngstown...Dalton Izyk leads league goaltenders in minutes played (1543:57) and saves (764).
TEAM GRIFFITI: Indy has not allowed a power play goal in their last six games, successfully killing 30 of their last 31 penalties...The Ice is third in the league in power play conversion at home (22.5%)...Four of Indy's five December's losses were one-goal games with two being decided in shootouts...Indy is 6-0-3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the past two seasons and has not lost in regulation since Feb. 26, 2011 (5-4 vs. Dubuque).
United States Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2012
- Hawks Win Matches Record - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Close 2012 with 5-4 Victory in Sioux City - Omaha Lancers
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Defeats Canada Quebec, 5-1, at 2013 World Under-17 Challenge - U.S. National Team
- Lumberjacks Fall in Overtime to Green Bay on the Road 6-5 - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fighting Saints End 2012 with a 4-2 Loss at Fargo - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Vecchione, Moore Lead Storm Past Cedar Rapids - Tri-City Storm
- Ice Home Friday and Saturday - Indiana Ice
- U.S. National Jr. Team Advances to Quarterfinals with 9-3 Win vs. Slovakia - U.S. National Team
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