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Icehawks Named IHL Member Club of the Year

April 2, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI - The International Hockey League announced Thursday that the Port Huron Icehawks have been named the 2008-09 IHL Member Club of the Year. The award was selected by the league's Board of Governors based on success both on and off the ice.

"This award recognizes all the hard work the ownership group and management have given while being supported by the community of Port Huron," stated Paul L. Pickard, IHL President/CEO. "Larry and Carol Kinney should be commended on leading such a first class organization on and off the ice."

On the ice, the Icehawks have compiled a regular season record of 41-20-6-3 with six games remaining in the regular season. Currently in second place, they recently became the first IHL team to clinch a berth in the Turner Cup Playoffs.

The Icehawks broke their franchise record for most points in a season, already earning 91 points so far with the record being 88, set during their inaugural season of 2007-08. They have also tied last year's number of wins. Port Huron has recorded several significant winning streaks this season, including a nine game road winning streak December 4, 2008 through January 10, 2009.

Off the ice, the Icehawks have been dedicated to giving back to the Blue Water Area. Icehawks goaltenders Larry Sterling and Ryan Mior have teamed up with E&A Credit Union to create "Saves for Charity". All saves made by the Icehawks goaltenders result in E&A Credit Union donating $1 to the goalies charity of choice, which include Port Huron Minor Hockey Association and Child Abuse/Neglect Council in St. Clair County.

Other charitable initiatives taken on by the Icehawks this season include a Spaghetti on Ice charity dinner, which helped raise $5,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Star Wars Night, which raised over $4,000 for the St. Clair County Council on Aging. The Icehawks also raised funds for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign through their Teddy Bear Toss initiative.

The Icehawks have given $6,500 back to community groups through their revenue share program and Chuck-A-Puck promotion. Groups are encouraged to sell tickets, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the charity of their choice.

The Icehawks have also been involved in helping gear children towards earning better grades by giving free tickets to K-12 students who achieve good grades on their report cards. The players have been involved in the community as well, assisting with minor hockey associations and making countless visits to local schools.

Icehawks players have seen individual success this season. Between the goalies, there have been a total of seven shutouts by Port Huron with rookie Ryan Mior earning four of those seven since joining the team in January. Forward Robert Snowball has been also called up to the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL) three different times this season. In his three stints with Lake Erie, Snowball has played a total of seven games, scoring one goal and one assist with a plus-4 rating, recording 15 minutes in penalties. Snowball scored his first AHL goal on his first shift in his first game.

The award is one of three league accolades the Icehawks received today. Coach Stan Drulia was named IHL Coach of the Year and left wing Tab Lardner was named Outstanding Defensive Forward of the Year.

All three awards will be presented prior to Saturday's home game versus the Flint Generals. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.

The Icehawks travel to Kalamazoo on Friday to face the K-Wings before returning home to take on the Generals on Saturday and the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Sunday. Saturday's game will feature a Labatt Blue Jersey Auction. On Sunday, tickets for kids 14-and-under and seniors 62-and-over are just $5 and hot dogs at McMorran Arena are only $1.

Tickets for the Icehawks three remaining home games are available now at the Icehawks office, McMorran Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations and www.ticketmaster.com. For more information call 810-966-3800 or visit www.porthuronicehawks.com.

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