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Icemen Pick-Up Pace

December 27, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: Having completed the Christmas holiday week and the first five games of their extended 6-game road excursion, the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League are currently occupying 8th place in the CHL Turner Conference standings through 28-games on a composite record of 28(10-14-4) totaling 24-points. Under the direction of General Manager/Coach Rich Kromm, the IceMen recently capped their past week with a record of 3(1-1-1) gaining 3-more points in the standings and remaining very much within striking distance in the fiercely-competitive, hotly-contested Turner Conference banner chase and race. Through the first 5-games of their ostensibly infinite 6-game road travels, the IceMen have composed a mark of 5(1-3-1), having demonstrated some real improvement and promise in the latter two episodes. In those latter two chapters written, they have earned 3 of a possible 4-points on a mark of 2(1-0-1). Evansville's pro hockey work force will commence the final week of the 2010 calendar year having crept to within 2-points of sixth place Quad City 26(13-13-0)26 and Wichita 26(12-12-2)26 while trailing fifth place positioned Dayton 25(14-10-1)29 by 5-points. This week, the men of Evansville ice confront yet another daunting assignment consisting of 4-games in 5-nights with three more of those in the enemy's domain. Tuesday night, it's the first of two foreign affairs this week in Dayton against the Gems. After a 19-day absence and 6-consecutive games abroad, the IceMen, at long last, return to the amiable climes and environs of their own home zone and the Swonder Ice Estate where they will lock horns with Mississippi. After a brief flirtation for the IceMen aggregation nation at home, it's right back on the road, again, when they spend New Year's Eve in Dayton and New Year's Night in Bloomington.

PROMOS PRESENT: This Thursday night when the IceMen return home to Swonder Ice Arena to tangle truculently with inter-conference foe Mississippi, the IceMen organization will spice-up and punch-up the ringing in of the New Year by donning special New Year's Eve Jerseys which will be auctioned immediately following the game.

"ICEMEN LIVE" LIVES ON!: Following a brief one-week hiatus due to travel conflicts and the Christmas holiday, the IceMen's weekly two-hour Monday night radio show returns this week. "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli will welcome special guests, goaltender Matt Lundin and team captain Jeff Nelson for "IceMen Live," Monday night, December 27th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, live from Show-Me's East and the flagship radio home for the IceMen, WEOA-AM 1400 and on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com.

THE ICEMEN KIOSK CONTINUES: Although Christmas is over, the IceMen special kiosk located near the food court of Evansville's Eastland Mall remains open and available for business through January 31st. The IceMen kiosk is fully stocked with all of the latest lines of IceMen super deluxe merchandise.

THE RECORD REVIEW: Having completed the initial 5-games of their seemingly never-ending 6-game foreign ice mission, the IceMen are 5(1-3-1) through that first quintet of outings. For the season, their record presently stands at 28(10-14-4) for 24-points. They have collected 3 of a possible 4-points in their last pair of pilgrimages abroad at 2(1-0-1). When they throttled the Mallards in the Quad Cities the past Wednesday night, 4-2, it halted Evansville's finest on ice season long 5-game losing streak and 6(0-5-1) winless spell from hell. It also was the IceMen's first victory since a December 3rd 3-2 verdict over Dayton on home ice. In their last 8(1-5-2); last 13(2-8-3); last 15(3-9-3); last 17(4-10-3). Coach Kromm's kinetic contingent's longest win streak of the season has been 3-in a row. The IceMen's best zenith has been 2-games surpassing the .500 plateau which is a feat they have attained on three separate occasions. The monthly accounting at this juncture of the campaign; October 6(2-3-1); November 12(6-6-0); December 10(2-5-3).

HOME AT LAST BUT FAST: When the IceMen return home to Swonder Ice Arena this Thursday night to guest Mississippi, it will mark their first home appearance in 19-days since a December 11th 4-2 setback inflicted by Rapid City. However, the IceMen appearance might well be deemed of the cameo variety as immediately following that game, they return to foreign ice warfare with a 4-game expedition exercise this next time around. For the season, Evansville is 14(6-6-2) at the Swonder site, having been winless in their last trio of tries; 3(0-2-1). The last home success was derived from Dayton back on December 3rd and a 3-2 triumph. The last 7 at home; 7(1-5-1); last 9 home; 9(2-6-1). The longest win streak at home has been 3-consecutively; 3(3-0-0); longest unsullied skein has been the first 5-home games of the season; 5(4-0-1). The longest losing spell at home has been 3-in succession; 3(0-3-0).

BUS BOYS AHOY!: Becoming regular mainstays and fixtures on the bus-riding, whistle-stopping tour of the CHL hamlets and other assorted and various exotic burgs, the IceMen have posted an overall foreign ice log of 14(4-8-2) for 10-total points. They are presently pronouncing a 5(1-3-1) record through the first 5-games of the journey, accruing 3 of a possible 4-points in the latter two adventures. When they subdued the Mallards in Moline the past Wednesday night, 4-2, the Icemen icers snapped a 3-game road losing skein which matched their longest of the season as well as applying the brakes to a 5-game winless skid; 5(0-4-1). It was "The Kromminator's" club's first road triumph since back on Thanksgiving Night, November 25th when they aced Dayton, 1-0. The longest road win streak has been 2-in a row.

CONFERENCE COMPILATION: The IceMen manifest within their own Turner Conference competition stands at 21(7-10-4) having compiled a mark of 6(1-4-1) in the last half-dozen dates. The lone win in that stretch was gained against Quad City. Their 7-conference conquests in those contests have been achieved accordingly; 3-wins over both Dayton and Quad City and a singleton at the expense of Fort Wayne. When endeavoring outside conference territory, the IceMen are 7(3-4-0) against the Berry Conference, having won the first three cross-over clashes before bowing in the last 4-bouts with 3 of those undoings incurred against Mississippi.

MORE PUCK LUCK: In a true touch of irony, when the IceMen were humbled in a somewhat sobering scenario 12/21 at Missouri, 11-4, their 4-goal output actually represented some semblance of a major breakthrough that was way overdue for the hometown team. It marked the first time since back on November 19th when they outlasted Dayton on home ice, 6-4, that Evansville's ammo arsenal armada had connected on more than 3-GF in a single game. It certainly was not considered an artillery aberration for the IceMen squad as the following night they duplicated their re-discovered offensive form with another 4-goal output in the 4-2 decision over Quad City. However, in their last 15-games, the IceMen have generated only 31-GF for a GFA of 2.07. Defensively, the IceMen are back on the beam with their collective high beams. Since surrendering an inordinate and exorbitant 11-GA at Missouri, in the subsequent two outings, they have permitted only 4-GA for a GAA of a microscopic 1.92.

TOP PERCH PROUD: Velvety-smooth center Nicklas Lindberg continues to lead the way for the local squadron while ranking #10 in the CHL league-wide. Lindberg is 28(10-24-34). His linemate Brian Bicek has also ascended into the top league elite 25 with 28(12-15-27). Lindberg's 24-assists rank #5 in the CHL while his 11-PPA rank as 4th best in the loop. The IceMen have been the recipients of the second most minor penalties in the league with 204. Thus, they have the CHL's top 3-accused offenders: 1- Mario Larocque (30); 2- Nicklas Lindberg (25); 3- Jordan Little (24). Mario Larocque is tied for 7th in scoring among defensemen with 28(7-11-18). Larocque's 101-SOG rank runner-up among the league defense.

THE SWEET SWEDE: Sleek, slick, silk, satin center Nicklas Lindberg continues to enjoy a banner season for the debuting AA/CHL Evansville enterprise. The past 3-games' work week, he crafted a masterful 6-points on 2-goals, 4-assists including 1-PPG. For the season, he is the IceMen's premiere, pre-eminent point purveyor with 34-points in 28-games on 10-goals, 24-assists with 4-PPG and 4-FG.

NEW LINE LIONIZED: With Nicklas Lindberg at center, GM/Coach Rich Kromm assembled a new forward line in the third period of last Tuesday night's 11-4 debacle in Missouri. The results have been instant and immediate. Lindberg's linemates have been Brian Bicek and recent Colorado Eagles acquisition Braden Desmet. In the past 3-games, this triumvirate has accounted for 7 of the team's last 9-goals with Lindberg 3(2-4-6); Bicek 3(2-4-6) and Desmet 3(2-1-3).

DAMIAN DAZZLES DUCKS: Returning to his more normal and natural position of center, 10-year pro Damian Surma was bedazzling the past Wednesday night in Quad City where he fired a pair of lightning bolt shots, earning the game's #1 Star in his team's 4-2 triumph over the "Quack Attack." For Surma, the 2-goal performance raised his season total to 11 with 8 of those strikes stoked against the Ducks. Moreover, he has now delivered all 3 of his team-high GWG as well as his team-best 3-multiple goal games against Quad City.

GOAL GATE GUARDIAN: Second year pro Matt Lundin is coming off of two strong, stellar performances in successive fashion for the IceMen. In his last 2-starts, he is 2(1-0-1), having grudgingly surrendered only 4-GA for a GAA of a microscopic and minuscule 1.92 and a SPCT of a brilliant .954. The former Mercyhurst College Team MVP has rebuked 62 of the last 65-shots he has faced.

JORDAN THE WARDEN: Veteran defenseman Jordan Little continues to ply his trade in a quiet but most effective fashion. One of the IceMen's true team leaders, the 7-year pro has always been known as a defensive minded rampart on the blue line. This year, however, he has injected a potion of punch to his overall prowess. Through 28-games, he has collected 11-points on 1-PPG and 10-assists with 5 of those points produced on the IceMen power play. Little stays the steady course with a +2 rating.

SPECIAL TEAMS TUNE-UP: The IceMen power play is presently rated #9 in the CHL at 24-141 for a proficiency rating of 17.0%. The extra man band has been mercurial lately, going 1 for the last 15; 6.7% and 5 for the last 50; 10.0% conversion ratio. Meanwhile the penalty-killing class continues to excel. The IceMen PK is ranked circuit sixth, operating at a superb 84.6% with the opposition 28-182. The IceMen have been shorthanded more frequently than any other team in the league and have been shorthanded 41-more times than they themselves have enjoyed power play time thus far this season. The opposition is 1 for the last 13; 7.7%. Evansville's 7-SHG tie for third most in the league.

MILESTONES MAKERS: Defenseman Mario Larocque reached the 300-points plateau in his prominent career when he assisted on Nicklas Lindberg's PPG Sunday at Bloomington. Another defenseman, Jordan Little (288) is 12-games shy of pro career 300. On Wednesday night in the Quad Cities, Jeff Nelson played his 1,150th pro career game. Nelson (1,092) is 8-points shy of 1,100 pro career points. Damian Surma (491) is 9-games away from the pro career 500.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": In 28-games this season, the IceMen have been limited to a single goal in 9 of those contests, constituting virtually one-third of their schedule. When the IceMen game Sunday at Bloomington was protracted to the OTSO, it marked the club's first such endeavor beyond OT this year. The IceMen have yet to earn a victory in the CHL extra session this season. They are 3(0-3) in OT and 1(0-1) in the OTSO. The IceMen penalty-killing unit on home ice ranks a lofty third best in the league, operating at 87.8% efficiency; 79-90. When the IceMen score 4 or more goals, their record stands at 8(7-1-0).

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28TH THE ICEMEN AT DAYTON 6:00 PM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31ST THE ICEMEN AT DAYTON 6:30 PM

The IceMen and the Gems will meet for the seventh and eighth times this season with the IceMen topping the series at 6(3-2-1). At Hara Arena, they are all even at 3(1-1-1) having earned 3 of a possible 4-points in the latter two missions there. Evansville prevailed on Thanksgiving Night, 1-0 on a Nicklas Lindberg second period goal and rookie David Wilson's first-ever career shutout with 39-saves. In their last appearance in Dayton back on December 2nd, the IceMen earned one precious point in the standings in a 4-3 OT ultimate outcome.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30TH MISSISSIPPI AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

The RiverKings of the Berry Conference will be making their second sojourn to the southernmost part of Indiana for the IceMen's first home appearance in 19-days and their last home appearance in the current calendar year of 2010. After prevailing in the initial two clashes, the IceMen have succumbed in the latter 3-in a row, including a 3-1 defeat absorbed back on November 20th at home. Evansville is 5(2-3-0) against Mississippi and 1(0-1-0) at home.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1ST THE ICEMEN AT BLOOMINGTON 7:00 PM

The IceMen make their second of three appearances in Bloomington in the span of 11-days with Evansville winless in three previous confrontations against the PrairieThunder; 3(0-1-2). However, in the latter two games, the IceMen have garnered single points by way of the regulation and /or overtime tie.

THE ICEMEN "PUMP IT UP" ON WEOA-AM 1400: The New IceMen Cometh this season with all of the game broadcasts, home and away, play-by-play, all the way on "The Pump," WEOA-AM 1400 in Evansville, the exclusive radio home for the IceMen. The two-hour Monday night radio show, "IceMen Live," comes your way every Monday night from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, live from Show-Me's East, also on WEOA-AM 1400 and on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli has all of the action all season long. The IceMen can also be watched live on CHL-TV.

THE ICEMEN DAILY UPDATE REPORTS: Tune in every day even when there is not a game as Terry Ficorelli brings you up to date with "The IceMen Hockey Update," Monday through Friday at 4:20 pm on WEOA-AM 1400 and at 1400amweoa.com. There are also IceMen daily reports throughout the day on the Townsquare Media family of stations; WGBF-FM 103.1 at 4:45 pm; WKDQ-FM 99.5; WJLT-FM "Superhits 105.3" and WDKS-FM "Kiss 106" all at 4:50 pm.

THE ICEMEN TICKET INFORMATION: IceMen tickets for all home games are on sale through the IceMen offices or by phone at (812) 435-8971. Also IceMen tickets may be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster Centers in Evansville; downtown at The Centre Box Office; Schnuck's West Side or at the Roberts Stadium Box Office; by phone (812) 476-1383.



Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2010


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