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Icehawks Soar To Five Straight Victories

December 14, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release


ROCHESTER, MI--- The Port Huron Icehawks had the busiest schedule in the league this week, playing four games in five nights. They have won their last five contests, recording the second highest winning streak in the IHL this season. The longest streak so far was nine games recorded by Muskegon from November 7th thru November 27th.

Port Huron entered the week in a second place tie with Fort Wayne with 25 points, just five behind the league-leading Muskegon Lumberjacks. After traveling to Fort Wayne and recording a 4-2 win Wednesday, the Icehawks made it back home for a Friday tilt against the Lumberjacks. After trading goals each period, the Icehawks came out victorious in a shootout, winning the contest 4-3.

The Komets rolled into town Saturday night looking to take back their loss Wednesday, only to get shutout by the Icehawks. Port Huron netminder Larry Sterling recorded 59 minutes and 29 seconds of shut out hockey until he was involved in a fight with Komet goaltender Tim Haun. Goalie Adam Russo came in and finished the shutout for the Icehawks, giving them their first shutout of the season and their 100th franchise win.

Sunday, they arrived in Muskegon for their fourth game of the week and second against the Lumberjacks. Russo earned the nod be- tween the pipes and played stellar, turning aside all 22 shots he faced to earn his first shutout of the season. The Icehawks finished their busy week in a tie for first place with Muskegon (33 points) after picking up eight points.

Quad City goaltender Jerad Kaufmann made his debut with the Mallards Sunday, earning his first start since signing with Quad City on December 7th. In just his second professional game, the rookie netminder made 33 saves against the Flint Generals, allowing only one goal against to earn his first win as a Mallard.

AROUND THE "I"

Bloomington PrairieThunder (2-0-0-0)- The PrairieThunder posted two victories for a perfect weekend, snapping a four- game winless and three-game losing streak. The results are outstanding when the Thunder score first and holds the lead at the end of the first and second periods. They are 11-0-1-1 when leading after the first; 9-0-1-1 when leading after the second; and 10-1-1-1 when scoring first. Craig Macdonald and Jamie Carroll broke out of scoring droughts over the weekend. Macdonald had three points after going three games without a point, while Carroll scored his first point in six games. Coach Jarrod Skalde continues to rotate goalies Andrew Martin and Paulo Colaiacovo with good results. Martin got the call over the weekend and posted two victories. He has five for the season while Colaiacovo has a team-high six.

Dayton Gems (1-1-0-0)- The Gems traveled to Quad City this weekend for the first meeting between the two clubs, with the Gems winning by a final score of 7-5. It will be more than a month until the two teams meet again on January 24th when Quad City will make the trip to Hara Arena to meet the Gems on their home ice. The Gems have now played 11 games on the road and 11 games at home. As of Friday they have now met all the teams in the IHL and have won at all the away arenas at least once with the exception of Port Huron and Fort Wayne. Rookie Chris Myhro joined the Gems Thursday and made his presence know the following night, scoring his first IHL goal and assist at the i-wireless Center against Quad City on Friday. Saturday against Muskegon he proved his worth again in an assist in the second period.

Flint Generals (0-2-0-0)- The Flint Generals troubles returned this past weekend with a two game road skid. The team could not ask for more from netminder Rob Nolan who let in four total goals despite countless scoring chances by Bloomington and Quad City. Both games lacked the intensity that had been shown the two previous weeks until it was too late. Friday they dropped a 3-1 decision to the PrairieThunder followed by a 2-1 loss to the Mallards on Sunday. The team looks to get back on the right track with a busy week ten, playing four games in six days, including three in three nights. Friday, December 18th marks the return of the Generals to Perani Arena. Friday is also the Toys for Tots drive, so bring a toy for donation and some money to finish your holiday shopping with the second "Pre-Holiday Shopping Night".

Fort Wayne Komets (0-2-0-0)- The Komets dropped both games played, falling to 12-8-0-1 and 25 points. Defenseman Guy Dupuis skated his 900th game (regular season and playoffs) as a Komet Wednesday and sets a new record of Fort Wayne career games played by a single player with each appearance. Goaltender Tim Haun appeared in both games last week and has started 15 straight games (8-6-0-1) since Nov. 6. Haun ended his streak of games finished at 14 when he was ejected from the game at Port Huron Sunday. Parris Duffus, 39 and a Fort Wayne career firefighter, had to finish the last 31 seconds of the game, marking his first pro appearance since he completed his 11-year playing career with the Komets during 2002-03. Incidentally, his last pro game was at Port Huron Jan. 18, 2003, a 5-1 loss.

Muskegon Lumberjacks (1-1-0-1)- When the Lumberjacks lost on home ice Sunday to Port Huron 1-0, it was only their second loss since October 31st , spanning the last 17 games (12-2-0-3). When being shut out Sunday, it was the first time since Muskegon changed its name to the Lumberjacks at the inception of the 2008-09 season that the team had been blanked in IHL play, spanning 99 regular season games. The 'Jacks have played the fewest road games at eight, however, eight of their next nine games will be played on the road. David Rohlfs seven goals through the first 23 games this season equals his entire goal output of last season in with Stockton (ECHL). Rookie Matt Lundin has posted the IHL's best goaltender's winning record so far this season at 6-1-0-1 for a win percentage of .813.

Port Huron Icehawks (4-0-0-0)- The Icehawks had 22 penalty kill opportunities in their four games and did not allow a single power play goal. They have allowed just one power play goal in six December games and have held opposing teams scoreless in 91.1% of power play chances, by far the best mark in the league. Nick Lindberg had a shorthanded goal in Saturday's game against Fort Wayne to add to the team's penalty killing performance. Allowing just five total goals in four games, the Icehawks have the stingiest defense in the IHL, leading the league at just 2.48 goals allowed per game. Goalies Adam Russo and Larry Sterling have a combined streak of over 154 minutes without allowing a goal with two consecutive shutouts. The Icehawks won their franchises' 100th game after defeating Fort Wayne 2-0 Saturday.

Quad City Mallards (1-2-0-0)- The Mallards ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Flint 3-1 yesterday. Jerad Kauffman made 33 saves to earn the win in his Mallards debut yesterday. Patrick Levesque's eight-game point scoring streak (5g, 6a, 11pts.) ended yesterday against Flint. Levesque's is the longest point streak put together by a Mallard this season. In last Friday's 7-5 loss to Dayton the Mallards set a team season high for goals allowed in one game and matched a club season high for most goals scored in one game. Last Friday's loss ended the Mallards' five game home regulation unbeaten streak. After bouncing back to defeat Flint yesterday at the i wireless Center, the Flock is now 4-1-1-1 in its last seven home games.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 14, 2009


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