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Icehawks Welcome New Teams to the IHL

July 14, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Icehawks of the International Hockey League are proud to join the league in welcoming two expansion teams for the 2009-10 season.

The league announced Tuesday, June 30, 2009 that the Quad City Mallards (Moline, Illinois) have become the second expansion team to sign on for the upcoming season. The first expansion team to be signed, the Dayton Gems (Dayton, Ohio), was announced last month. The two additions bring the league to a total of seven member clubs for the 2009-10 campaign.

The league also recently announced that more growth is on the horizon as the Evansville IceMen (Evansville, Indiana) have been granted admission to the IHL and will begin play within the next two years.

"The Icehawks are excited to be a part of a stable league that continues to expand," Icehawks Governor Frank D. Kinney said. "We believe in the league's model and our partner clubs. The ownership groups that have chosen the IHL did so because of its entrepreneurship, strong competition on the ice and partnerships with the other member clubs off the ice."

The Icehawks anticipate fierce rivalries with the two new member clubs. Port Huron fans will remember the Mallards as they previously played against Port Huron teams in the United Hockey League. Strong competitors, the Mallards won three Colonial Cups and were known for never missing the playoffs in their years of existence. The Dayton Gems also have a strong history, as they played in the IHL from 1964-80 and won the Turner Cup three times.

"We welcome more worthy adversaries to the league. Having more competitors will only provide further incentive for us to excel both on and off the ice," Icehawks Owner/President Larry Kinney said. "Our existing rivalries with teams such as Fort Wayne and Flint will continue and be stronger than ever, but we are excited to watch additional rivalries develop."

"The additions of the ownership groups in Quad Cities, Evansville and Dayton are the function of a collaborative community effort and we are excited about the upcoming season and the future of the IHL," said Governor Kinney. "When factoring our minimal travel and the total player payroll allowance, our league really is a AA plus professional league, as no other league matches our concise footprint and overall allowance for its players at this level."

The Icehawks are currently building their team for the upcoming season. They have announced six player signings for the 2009-10 campaign and will continue to add new and returning players in the quest to bring the Turner Cup to Port Huron. The roster currently includes defensemen Ian Turner, Daniel Tetrault, Rob Cowan and Kevin Hansen, and forwards Kerry Bowman and Jason Kostadine.

The league held scheduling meetings on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, and will release a schedule for the upcoming season shortly.

Season tickets for the upcoming season are on sale now. Get in the action with ticket packages that are more affordable than ever. For more information, stop by the Icehawks office at 325 Huron Avenue in downtown Port Huron or call 810-3800.

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