IceHogs Ground Aeros 4-1
Published on January 6, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Houston, Tex.- The Rockford IceHogs hoped to put 2011 behind them and get off to a good start to kick-off the new year and got just that, defeating the Houston Aeros 4-1 at the Toyota Center in Houston on Friday night.
Ben Smith put the IceHogs on the board first as wristed in his ninth goal of the season. Houston netminder Matt Hackett kicked out a Jeremy Morin shot and Smith picked up the rebound and sent it to the back of the net to give the IceHogs a 1-0 lead in the first period. Brandon Pirri also factored in on the play with an assist.
With time winding down in the first period, Houston evened the score at 14:31 in the opening frame. Nate Prosser ripped a shot from the blueline and Mike McKenzie tipped the puck past Alec Richards to tie the game at 1-1.
The IceHogs regained a 2-1 advantage as Peter LeBlanc finished off a perfect sequence of passes from Brett McLean and Rostislav Olesz. Olesz raced the puck into the Houston zone and dished the puck off for McLean to setup LeBlanc for his 11th goal of the campaign at 5:10 in the middle frame.
Brandon Bollig pushed the IceHogs lead to two goals as he made it 3-1 at 5:52 in the third period. Bollig picked up a Brian Connelly pass and beat Hackett for his second goal of the season.
Then, Houston pulled Hackett late in the game in favor of the extra attacker but Olesz picked up a loose puck and chipped in an empty net marker to give Rockford a 4-1 win.
The IceHogs held their opponents to just one goal for the first time in 2011-12. Richards picked up the win turning away 27 of the 28 shots he faced. Hackett was handed the loss stopping 27 IceHogs chances.
Next Home Game: Monday, Jan. 16 vs. Texas Stars. Game time is 1:05 p.m. The IceHogs return home for the first time in more than two weeks for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. matinee game to take on the Stars for the second and final time at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 1,500 kids 14 and under will pick up an IceHogs Drawstring Bag courtesy of Frito Lay.
For every goal that the Rockford IceHogs score in 2011-12, IceHogs head coach Ted Dent will make a donation to children's cancer research. BMO Harris Bank will also make a donation for every goal to the "BMO Harris Bank Goals For Grades"
American Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2012
- Admirals Lose Four-Goal Lead, Game to Devils - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Slay Monsters 6-3 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sharks Grab Point in Wild Shootout Loss in Springfield - Worcester Sharks
- Duco Scores Three as Wolves Sink Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
- IceHogs Ground Aeros 4-1 - Rockford IceHogs
- Phantoms Ink Fairy-Tale Finish - Adirondack Phantoms
- Rampage Power Past Stars in 4-3 Shootout Win - San Antonio Rampage
- Rockford Bests Aeros, 4-1 - Houston Aeros
- Record AHL Crowd Sees Phantoms Defeat Bears in Overtime at Outdoor Classic - Hershey Bears
- Duco's Hat Trick Leads Wolves Past Rivermen - Chicago Wolves
- Falcons Beat Sharks 4-3 in a Shootout - Springfield Falcons
- B-Sens Win Second Straight of the New Year, Defeat Whale 3-1 - Binghamton Senators
- Stars Fall to Rampage 4-3 in a Shootout - Texas Stars
- Amerks Fall to Penguins 4-3 in Shootout - Rochester Americans
- Devils Come Way Back for 5-4 OT Win - Albany Devils
- Penguins Battle Past Americans in Shootout - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Crunch Drop 5-2 Decision in Hamilton - Syracuse Crunch
- P-Bruins Rob Pirates 4-1 - Providence Bruins
- Lead Melts Away - Manchester Monarchs
- Whale Can't Hold off Senators - Connecticut Whale
- American Hockey League History Made in Philadelphia - AHL
- Flames Assign Ivanans to the Heat - Abbotsford Heat
- Lightning Recall Pierre-Cedric Labrie from Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Lightning Reassign D Evan Oberg to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Play Three in Three this Weekend - Milwaukee Admirals
- Ducks Assign Defenseman Matt Smaby to Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Announce "Pink in the Rink" on January 14th - Norfolk Admirals
- Three Names Added to Outdoor Classic Alumni Roster - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Panthers Send Tim Kennedy to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Aeros Game Day, January 6: Aeros Vs. Hogs - Houston Aeros
- AHL Announces Suspension - AHL
- Flames Acquire Blair Jones - Abbotsford Heat
- Lightning Acquire Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson from Calgary - Norfolk Admirals
- Lindback, Blum Head to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- "Trading Card Weekend" at Whale Home Games January 27 and 28 - Connecticut Whale
- Falcons Host Sharks Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Blue Jackets Recall Center Ryan Russell from AHL's Springfield Falcons - Springfield Falcons
- Heat Vs Griffins Game Preview - Abbotsford Heat
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