IceHogs off to fast start

October 31, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release


LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO --- The Rockford IceHogs remained unbeaten (6-0-0) to start the 2005-06 season after winning all three games during the past week. The best start in Rockford team history is due in large part that the team leads the UHL in goals scored (33). Center Preston Mizzi has nine of those goals which is the current highest total in the UHL this season. Rockford also leads the league in assists (55) and shots on goal (221).

Corey Hessler leads all UHL defensemen in scoring with seven points (1g, 6a). Left wing Jason Notermann (3g, 8a) and Mizzi (9g, 2a) are among four players tied for the league lead in points. Notermann is also tied for the UHL lead with a plus-9 rating.

The IceHogs have also been solid in net as the goaltender tandem of Michel Robinson and Ronnie Vogel have a combined 2.33 goals against average (GAA), a .913 save percentage (SPCT), and a perfect 6-0-0 record.

SHORTHANDED SUCCESS - In the 19 games played during the second week of the UHL season, there were 12 shorthanded goals scored, including three in one game (Fort Wayne vs. Muskegon on Friday, October 28th).

NO HELP NEEDED - There were 14 unassisted goals scored in week two. Danbury center Drew Omicioli recorded two unassisted goals in Friday's game vs. the Elmira Jackals.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Adirondack Frostbite - (1-1-0) - The Frostbite have scored one shorthanded goal in each of their last three games and are tied with Muskegon for the league lead (3)...Adirondack has killed off the last 19 opponent power play chances...Left wing Hugo Belanger is tied for the league lead in scoring with 11 points (3g, 8a)...Right wing Kevin Watters is riding a five-game goal scoring streak to open the season...The Frostbite have scored 12 of their 25 goals this season in the first period...Goaltender Kris Tebbs is tied for third in the UHL with a 2.00 GAA.

Danbury Trashers - (2-1-0) - The Trashers have killed off 37 of the last 40 opponent power play opportunities... Forwards Alex Goupil and Drew Omicioli have scored at least one point in four of the five Danbury games this season...Drew Omicioli's three-game goal scoring streak was snapped in Saturday's 5-2 victory vs. Richmond... After being held without a point in his first game of the season, left wing Francis Belanger has five points (2g, 3a) in his last two games...Goaltender Dustin Traylen made his professional debut on Sunday when he entered the game during the third period vs. Roanoke. He stopped both shots he faced.

Elmira Jackals - (2-0-0) - Goaltender Ryan McIntosh made his first start of the season on Friday, which was against his former team, the Danbury Trashers. He made 39 saves to earn the 4-2 victory...The Jackals scored a shorthanded goal in each of their last two games. Center Eddy Lowe scored shorthanded on Friday and forward Josh Piro added a shorthanded goal on Saturday vs. Roanoke...After only scoring once in 19 power play opportunities during the first week of the season, the Jackals netted three power play goals in their two victories this week...The Jackals hosted a sell-out crowd of 3,845 for their home opener on Saturday.

Flint Generals - (2-2-0) - The Generals notched their first win of the season on Wednesday vs. the Missouri River Otters. The 2-1 victory was also the first career coaching victory for Bobby Reynolds...The Generals currently lead the UHL with 240 penalty minutes...Right wing George Cantrall (40) and defenseman Steve Makway (33) rank third and fourth in the UHL in penalty minutes...Right wing Matt Elich is tied for the league lead with 33 shots on goal. He is also riding a three-game goal scoring streak...Jason Saal is second among UHL goaltenders with 135 saves.

Fort Wayne Komets - (0-2-1) - Goaltender Derek Dolson made his Komets debut in Sunday's 5-4 shootout loss to Port Huron. Dolson stopped 25 of 29 shots in regulation...Winger P.C. Drouin is riding a five-game assist streak which is currently a UHL season best. Drouin leads the Komets with seven points (1g, 6a)...Center David Carpentier netted his first professional goal on Sunday...Fort Wayne tallied three power play goals in Sunday's loss to Port Huron...The Komets make their home debut on Saturday vs. Motor City.

Kalamazoo Wings - (2-0-0) - Center Tyler Rennette and defenseman Greg Labenski are both riding three-game point streaks. Rennette is also on a three-game goal streak...The K-Wings have scored first in each of their three games this season...Defenseman Daniel Carriere collected his 100th career assist on Friday vs. Motor City... Forward Tommy Kotsopoulos recorded his 100th career point vs. Motor City when he assisted on Joe Seroski's third period goal. The goal completed the hat trick for Seroski...The K-Wings have killed off all 13 power plays they have faced this season.

Missouri River Otters - (0-3-0) - Right wing Frank Littlejohn scored his first two goals of the season on Saturday vs. Muskegon. He has scored 29 or more goals in five straight seasons...The River Otters allowed four power play goals on Friday vs. Rockford. It tied a team record that was set the prior week when they gave up four power play goals to Motor City...The Otters are last in the league on the power play (6.9%) and penalty killing (65.6%)... Missouri has yet to post a victory in the 2005-06 season (0-5-0)...Center Damian Surma leads the team with four points (2g, 2a).

Motor City Mechanics - (2-1-0) - Right wing Mike Ramsay recorded his first professional goal when he scored during the second period of Saturday's 7-4 victory vs. Port Huron...Center Greg Bullock is currently leading the UHL with ten assists. He is also tied for the league lead with 11 points...Dating back to last season, goaltender Rod Branch is 20-3-0 in his last 23 starts. Branch currently leads UHL goaltenders with 141 saves...Among UHL defensemen, Matt Smith is currently tied for the league lead in goals (3) and power play goals (2)...Eight Mechanics are riding two-game goal streaks.

Muskegon Fury - (2-0-0) - Coach Todd Nelson recorded his 100th victory behind the Fury bench on Friday when they defeated the Fort Wayne Komets 6-3...The Fury defeated the Missouri River Otters 9-3 on Saturday to extend their home unbeaten streak to 13 (11-0-2) against the Otters...Muskegon erased a 3-2 deficit vs. Missouri by scoring seven consecutive goals. 8 of the 9 goals scored that night were by rookies...Left wing David Wrigley scored a league season high four goals on Saturday. He added an assist to tie teammate Todd Robinson with a league season high five points. Robinson tallied five points (2g, 3a) on Friday vs. Fort Wayne...Saturday was the 300th game in a Fury sweater for Todd Robinson. He finished the evening by dishing out a UHL season best four assists.

Port Huron Flags - (2-1-0) - The Flags tallied three power play goals in Sunday's 5-4 shootout victory vs. Fort Wayne. Left wing Brett Lutes assisted on all three...Center Aaron Brand (3g, 2a), left wing Brian Felsner (1g, 5a), and right wing Brad Mehalko (5a) each scored at least one point in all three games during the week...For the season, the Flags have allowed 24 goals. They have allowed eight goals in each of the three periods.

Quad City Mallards - (0-3-0) - Left wing Jesse Rycroft scored his first professional goal on Friday vs. Flint. Defenseman Flo Iberer assisted on the goal to record his first professional point...After scoring just once on the power play in their first three games, the Mallards scored three power play goals in their last two games...Forward Chad Woollard scored a goal in each game this weekend vs. his former team, the Rockford IceHogs (Woollard was traded to Quad City prior to the season). Woollard leads the Mallards with five goals.

Richmond RiverDogs - (0-2-0) - Goaltender Doug Groenestege made his professional debut on Friday vs. Richmond. He stopped 42 of 44 shots in the 2-1 loss...Forward Warren Cooper is third among UHL rookies with two power play goals...Dan Vandermeer is third among UHL defensemen with five assists...Dennis Mullen is second among UHL defensemen with 30 penalty minutes...The RiverDogs have allowed the most goals in the UHL on the power play this season (12).

Roanoke Valley Vipers - (1-2-0) - Defenseman Matt Kenny and forward Steve Crusco scored 46 seconds apart in the third period on Friday to defeat the Richmond RiverDogs 2-1. Goaltender Jamie Hodson turned away 24 of 25 shots to earn the victory...Crusco tallied at least one point in all three games during the week...Right wing Mark Scott had a three-point night (2g, 1a) on Saturday vs. Elmira...The Vipers have been outscored 12-2 in the first period this season...Mark Scott (3g, 4a) and David Beauregard (2g, 5a) lead Vipers with seven points.

Rockford IceHogs - (3-0-0) - The IceHogs finish October with a 6-0-0 record. Over the past two seasons, Rockford is 11-1-1 in October...Center Preston Mizzi is riding a four-game goal scoring streak. Mizzi also leads the UHL with nine goals...Center Olivier Proulx has at least one point in each of the first six games. The six-game streak is currently a league best. He is also on a five-game assist streak...Winger Chaz Johnson has an assist in four straight games...The IceHogs lead the league with 33 goals and have a goal differential of +19.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 31, 2005


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