
IceMen Score Best in Annual CHL Best of the Best Poll
March 15, 2012 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- The extraordinary second season of AA/CHL hockey for the Evansville IceMen goes on for this 2011-12 campaign. In the Central Hockey League's Annual Best of the Best Poll, the IceMen achieved the overall #1 rating by being honored at the top of 10 league-wide categories and a grand total of a league best 20-overall. The CHL's annual poll is conducted through ballots cast by all member clubs as well as participating media in each of the member clubs serving markets.
The IceMen scored the #1 rating in 10-various departments, matching the Allen Americans for the top total of first place "bests."
Individually, spearheading Evansville's #1 markings were Todd Robinson, Brian Bicek and Matt Gens. Robinson captured 3-number one ratings in the categories of Best Overall Player, Best Playmaker and Best on the Power Play while Bicek claimed the honors for Fastest Skater and Best Penalty-Killer. Meanwhile, Gens laid claim to Best Offensive Defenseman as well as Best Bodychecker.
From the overall team perspective, the IceMen attained 3-more "Best of the Best" #1 accolades. Evansville and its new home of the Ford Center were acclaimed for having the Best Locker Rooms, Best Press Box and Best Arena Concessions.
The IceMen also scored highly for second and third place "Best of the Best" rankings as well in their league-wide domination of this year's league-wide poll. Again, individually, current CHL scoring kingpin Robinson led the way with 4-more honors; this time in the #2 runner-up position. "T. Rob" achieved #2 status for Best Stickhandler, Most Valuable to his Team, Best on Face-Offs and Best Team Leader.
In addition, IceMen second-year GM/Coach Rich Kromm ranked #2 in the category of Best Coach while the IceMen also earned second place plaudits for Best Arena (Ford Center), Best Ice Surface and Best Arena Music.
Voted #3 in the top 3 of the Best of the Best Poll were rookie Bryan Gillis under the category of Best Goaltender in the OTSO and Mike Sgroi for league's Best Fighter.
In all, the IceMen equaled Allen for most first place honors with 10 as they also collected 8-more second place finishes and 2 for third place acclaim. Evansville's grand total of 20- honors in the Best of the Best Poll represented the most in the CHL.
In the 2010-11 campaign, the IceMen's maiden voyage across the CHL, the franchise earned three honors of such distinction; Hardest Shooter: #1 Mario Larocque; Fastest Skater: #2 Brian Bicek; Most Gentlemanly Player: #3 Nicklas Lindberg.
THE ICEMEN WINNERS IN 2011-12 CHL'S ANNUAL BEST OF THE BEST POLL:
BEST OVERALL PLAYER 1-TODD ROBINSON
BEST PLAYMAKER 1-TODD ROBINSON
BEST ON POWER PLAY 1-TODD ROBINSON
FASTEST SKATER 1-BRIAN BICEK
BEST PENALTY-KILLER 1-BRIAN BICEK
BEST OFFENSIVE DEFENSE 1-MATT GENS
BEST BODYCHECKER 1-MATT GENS
BEST LOCKER ROOMS 1-EVANSVILLE
BEST PRESS BOX 1-EVANSVILLE
BEST ARENA CONCESSIONS 1-EVANSVILLE
BEST COACH 2-RICH KROMM
BEST STICKHANDLER 2-TODD ROBINSON
MVP OF HIS TEAM 2-TODD ROBINSON
BEST ON FACE-OFFS 2-TODD ROBINSON
BEST TEAM LEADER 2-TODD ROBINSON
BEST ARENA 2-EVANSVILLE (THE FORD CENTER)
BEST ICE SURFACE 2-EVANSVILLE
BEST ARENA MUSIC 2-EVANSVILLE
BEST FIGHTER 3-MIKE SGROI
BEST GOALIE IN OTSO 3-BRYAN GILLIS
TOTAL HONORS: TODD ROBINSON (7)
BRIAN BICEK (2)
MATT GENS (2)
EVANSVILLE: #1 10-CATEGORIES (TIED MOST IN CHL WITH ALLEN)
#2 8-CATEGORIES (MOST CHL)
#3 2-CATEGORIES
GRAND TOTAL: 20 MOST IN CHL.
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