IceHogs roll over Mallards in opener
Published on October 15, 2004 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- The Rockford IceHogs began the Steve Martinson era in the Rockford in impressive fashion on Friday night, as the Hogs thumped the Quad City Mallards 8-4 in front of 6,081 fans at the Rockford MetroCentre in the 2004-05 season opener. The IceHogs had seven skaters with multi-point games and captured their most lopsided opening day victory since their very first game on October 15, 1999, a 6-2 victory over Knoxville
It was the Mallards who jumped out to the 1-0 lead however, just 1:06 into the contest, as Drew Otten beat rookie IceHogs goalie Grady Hunt. But Rockford responded with four unanswered goals. Winger Terry Harrison lit the lamp at 5:38 of the first on a perfect feed from Olivier Proulx. Center Chris Gobert put the Hogs on top 2-1 at 7:48 with a feed from defenseman Cory Laylin.
Center J.C Ruid continued the IceHogs barrage at 9:35 when winger J.F. Dufour found him all alone in front to push the lead to 3-1. Then Dufour was on the receiving end of a Ruid pass, skated in on a breakaway and beat Mallards goalie Jeff Reynaert at 17:11. Quad City would get on the board again before the break when Jason Deskins tallied at 17:53.
Rockford came out flying in the second period and began to put the game out of reach beginning at 6:04 of the period when Harrison found the back of the net for the second time. Winger Eric Labelle etched his name in the scoring column just 49 seconds later before defenseman Nathan Lutz riffled home a shot at 9:42 to make the score 7-2, chasing Reynaert. Ruid welcomed Robert Gherson to the pro ranks with a goal at 10:39 of the second.
The Mallards closed out the scoring with a goal from Jason Lehoux on the power play at 14:12 in the second before winger Russ Guzior put one home at 9:42 of the third period. The IceHogs held the Mallards to 1-for-7 on the power play.
Hunt, on his 25 birthday, made his pro debut and picked up the win stopping 21 Quad City shots. Laylin (3a), Proulx (2a), Harrison, (2g), Dufour, (1g, 1a), Gobert (1g-3a), Ruid (2g) and Lutz (1g-1a) all accumulated multi-point games in the win.
Next Home Game: Saturday, October 16 vs. Kalamazoo Wings. Game time is 7:05 p.m. The Wings come to the MetroCentre for the first Saturday of the season. The first 5,000 fans to the game will receive an IceHogs magnet schedule courtesy of Workplace Staffing. For tickets, call (815) 968-5222.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 15, 2004
- Outlaws shoot 'em up in 5-3 inaugural game win - Kansas City Outlaws
- IceHogs roll over Mallards in opener - Rockford IceHogs
- Trashers win inaugural game 3-1 over Adirondack - Danbury Trashers
- Jackals Slide Past Komets In Opener - Elmira Jackals
- The Showdown Begins at Kemper Arena - Kansas City Outlaws
- 2004-05 Season Begins At Richmond - Port Huron Flags
- RiverDogs game notes - Richmond RiverDogs
- Mallards Add Feistiness - Quad City Mallards
- Countdown to face-off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Luciuk and Zalapski on K-Wings Live this week - Kalamazoo Wings
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