Icehawks Enter Week 18 In First Place

Published on February 10, 2009 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Icehawks enter Week 18 in International Hockey League action still in first place in a tight standings picture. With just nine weeks left to play in the regular season, they will look to emerge from three games this weekend with that position intact.

The Icehawks currently hold 59 points in the standings, good for a three point lead over Fort Wayne and Muskegon, who are tied for second. When they return to action on Friday, however, that lead will have been cut to one, as the Komets and Lumberjacks face each other on Wednesday.

The Icehawks, who are 4-4-1-1 in their last ten games, split a home-and-home series with Kalamazoo last week to pick up two points in the standings.

The league's other teams are catching up with Port Huron in terms of games played. The Icehawks had games in hand on several of their rivals for much of the season, but when they play on Friday they will have games in hand on only Muskegon (one). They also currently hold the best winning percentage in the league with .628, though the Lumberjacks are close behind (.622).

This Icehawks play three games in three days this weekend. They will host Flint on Friday, travel to Kalamazoo on Saturday, and then return home on Sunday to battle Muskegon. Friday's game with Flint will mark the first in just four remaining showdowns between the Icehawks and Generals this season. The Icehawks currently lead the season series with Flint 7-4-1-0. The Icehawks also lead the season series with Muskegon (5-3-0-1) and are tied in the season series with Kalamazoo (4-4-0-0).

After this weekend, the Icehawks will wrap up the month with five matchups with the Bloomington PrairieThunder and another game with Kalamazoo.

Esdale's Debut: Defenseman Paul Esdale is slated to make his Icehawks debut on Friday versus Flint. The 29-year old native of Edmonton, Alberta was signed last week. He is a sixth year professional who comes to the Icehawks after beginning the season with the Skovde IK in Sweden where he put up 32 points (7g, 25a) in 32 games. A former standout at Brown University (1999-2003), he has had stints in the East Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League and in Europe since turning pro in 2003. He was named Most Outstanding Defenseman in the Central Hockey League in the 2004-05 campaign.

Home Sweet Home: After struggling at home in the beginning of the season, the Icehawks have won their last three consecutive home games and are 7-2-1-0 in their last ten home contests. They are 13-9-1-0 at home overall.

Straight Shooters: The Icehawks have been outshot just 13 times in 47 games this season. They have outshot their opponents 1,606-1,345 overall, currently lead the league in first period (552) and third period shots (516) and are ranked second in overall shots, just behind Fort Wayne. They are 17-10-1-0 when outshooting their opponent.

Hats Off: After a six game drought in which he did not register any points, Icehawks left wing Tab Lardner broke his scoreless streak in a big way last Wednesday, notching a hat trick to lead the Icehawks to a 5-2 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings. It was the Icehawks first hat trick since Brent Hughes accomplished the feat on March 28th of the 2007-08 season. With the game winning tally on Wednesday, Lardner now leads the league in game winning goals with six. Icehawks defenseman Jamie Lovell is ranked second with five.

Power Up: The Icehawks converted on three of four power play opportunities on Wednesday to power to a 5-2 win over Kalamazoo. The Icehawks are a force to be reckoned with when they convert on the power play this season. They are 12-2-0-0 when scoring two or more power play goals in a single game.

Team Leaders:

Points: Jamie Carroll, 54

Goals: Tab Lardner, 21

Assists: Jamie Carroll, 36

PP Goals: Jamie Lovell and Tab Lardner, 7

PP Assists: Jamie Carroll, 14

SH Goals: Tab Lardner, 2

Shots: Jamie Carroll, 197

GW Goals: Tab Lardner, 6

PIM: Jason Selleke, 97

+/-: Derek Merlini, +18

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 10, 2009


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