IceHogs Weekly Report
October 18, 2004 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
For the first time ever the Rockford IceHogs have begun a season 2-0-0. The IceHogs picked up two victories on opening weekend at the Rockford MetroCentre before nearly 10,000 fans. J.C. Ruid led the attack for Rockford, netting five-goals in two games, including a hat-trick against the Kalamazoo Wings on Saturday. Week 2 has the Missouri River Otters and expansion Motor City Mechanics slated to visit the MetroCentre
Friday, October 15: Quad City 4 vs. Rockford 8: The Rockford IceHogs began the Steve Martinson era 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, then 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.
Saturday, October 16: Kalamazoo 2 vs. Rockford 4: For the first time in franchise history the Rockford IceHogs are 2-0. The IceHogs topped the Kalamazoo Wings 4-2 in front of 3,495 at the Rockford MetroCentre. J.C. Ruid wooed the crowd with three goals and Eric Labelle sent them home happy with a showdown with Kyle Sheen in the final moments of the third period. Ruid netted the games first goal at 4:05 of the first period when Jason Ralph helped create a turn over resulting in a break away goal. The Wings would strike right back just 33 seconds later, however, when center David Hukalo tipped in a Yannick Carpentier shot. The Wings lit the only lamp in the second period and grabbed a 2-1 lead on a power play marker from Chad Allen. Allen snuck home a loose puck under Hogs goalie Michel Robinson at 13:11 of the middle frame. Then Ruid took over for Rockford. The 6'-4" center tied the contest with a rebound goal at 2:14 of the third period. On his next shift, Ruid laid the hit of the game when he checked Wings forward Tim Turner into the glass in front of the Official Scorers Box, shattering it. The game was halted for nearly 20 minutes. After the break, the Hogs picked up, right where they left off. Winger Chris Gobert blasted home the eventual game-winning goal at 8:40 on a perfect set-up from Steve Pelletier and Terry Harrison. Ruid would later complete his hat-trick at 19:35 with an empty net goal. Ralph finished the night with three assists, the third Hogs skater to get three helpers in a game this season. Robinson picked up the win in his IceHogs debut by turning away 23 Wings shots. Alban stopped 19 Rockford shots in the loss
Transactions
-Forward Paul Vincent was placed on waivers on Saturday, October 16.
Bacon Bits:
The IceHogs are 2-0-0 for the first time in franchise history.
IceHogs center and team captain J.C. Ruid scored a UHL high five goals over the weekend and also turned in a UHL best +7.
The IceHogs had eight skaters register a multi-point game over the season's first two games. Last season, in 76 games the Hogs had a total of 21 players with multi-point games.
Both IceHogs goaltenders, Michel Robinson and Grady Hunt, made their Hogs debut over the weekend and both picked up victories. Hunt started Friday night and picked up a win in his in his professional debut on his 25 birthday.
The IceHogs open the season with six straight home games.
The IceHogs opening day 8-4 win over Quad City was their most lopsided opening game since their very first contest five years to the date, October 15, 1999 vs. the Knoxville Speed.
IceHogs center Chris Gobert also had a solid opening weekend for Rockford netting 2g-3-a-5pts, including the game-winning goal on Saturday against Kalamazoo.
Hot Hog: Week 1
Center J.C. Ruid: Center J.C. Ruid had a successful IceHogs debut over the weekend, lighting the lamp five times, chipping in an assist, breaking a pane of glass and accumulating a plus/minus rating of +7. Both feats are good for best in the United Hockey League. Ruid notched the IceHogs first hat-trick on Saturday against the Kalamazoo Wings
Upcoming Games:
Friday, October 22 vs. Missouri River Otters. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. The Otters and IceHogs match-up for the first of 12 meeting during the 2004-05 season. The first 1,000 fans to the big orange box will receive Smash Hit Poster #1 courtesy of Pepsi, Medicine Man, Johnson Press and The Eagle, 96.7 FM and the Rockford Register Star.
Rockford's Voice is The Home of the Hogs:
Catch all 80 Regular Season and all Playoff games on the official radio home for the Rockford IceHogs, Rockford's Voice, 1330 AM, WNTA. The broadcast begins with the SBC Pregame Show 20 minutes before the puck drops and make sure to give your opinion during the Seven11 Productions Post Game Call In Show following each home game at (815) 874-8255.
Season Tickets :
Season tickets for the 2004-05 season are still on sale at a prorated price!. Season ticket holders receive great benefits like same seat for every game, first right of refusal for playoff tickets and the "Never A Wasted Ticket Policy" so no ticket will go unused. For more information, call the IceHogs office at (815) 986-6465.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 18, 2004
- Rockford's J.C. Ruid and Elmira's Greg Hewitt earn weekly honors - IHL 2
- Generals battle but fall twice - Flint Generals
- Ruid's six points earn him Player of the Week - Rockford IceHogs
- RiverDogs get Cummings in trade - Richmond RiverDogs
- Komet's 53rd home opener this Saturday - Fort Wayne Komets
- RiverDogs weekly - Richmond RiverDogs
- IceHogs Weekly Report - Rockford IceHogs
- Mallards Weekly - Quad City Mallards
- Meet the team at the Olympic Tavern on Wednesday - Rockford IceHogs
- 2004-05 debut of Hogtalk tonight - Rockford IceHogs
- Jackal bites - Elmira Jackals
- Beacons weekly - Port Huron Flags
- Trashers era begins with win over Adirondack - Danbury Trashers
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