IceMen Weekly

November 28, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: With the Thanksgiving holiday behind them as well as the first seven weeks of the 2010-11 Central Hockey League season, the Evansville IceMen, are in the thick of the battle in the form of a fiercely-competitive Turner Conference banner race and chase. Under the direction of General Manager/Coach Rich Kromm, the IceMen are currently in a dead heat with Bloomington 14(8-5-1)17 for the fifth position in the Conference alliance as, astoundingly, a mere 4-points separate second place from eighth place position in the standings. Having compiled an overall mark of 17(8-8-1) totaling 17-points, the IceMen are only 3-points back of second place Missouri 17(9-6-2)20 and 2-points behind third place Dayton 15(9-5-1)19 and defending CHL league titlist Rapid City 17(8-6-3)19. At the same time, men of the city with "The Big E," are only a single point superior to both Wichita 16(7-7-2)16 and Quad City 17(8-9-0)16 with the Mallards presently wearing the albatross from a 4-game losing skid. Not to be overlooked is three-time reigning IHL league kingpin Fort Wayne. The reincarnated Komets have captured 3-consecutive conquests and have inched to within 5-points of the Quad Citians and the Thunder. This week, the IceMen conclude their 12-game November schedule bridging into the launching of their 13-game slate for December. Confronting the daunting task of 4-games in 5-nights, the IceMen will travel to Mississippi Tuesday night then onto Dayton Thursday night to broach a two-game home-and-home series against the Gems. Dayton reciprocates and comes to Evansville and Swonder Ice Arena Friday night for the return bout before the "IceMen 6" culminate the active week with a Saturday night date against Bloomington, also on home ice.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS SATURDAY: When the IceMen guest the Bloomington PrairieThunder on Saturday night at Swonder, they will also host the annual, ever-popular "Teddy Bear Toss" night. All IceMen hockey fans of any and all ages are urged and encouraged to bring as many stuffed animals as they can carry and toss them on the ice when the IceMen score their first goal of the game. Those teddy bears and other assorted stuffed animal creatures will be collected and donated for the Christmas season throughout the area.

THE ICEMEN CHRISTMAS KIOSK: Beginning this Wednesday, December 1st, the IceMen will have a special Christmas kiosk located in Evansville's Eastland Mall. All IceMen hockey fans can do all of their IceMen hockey Christmas shopping by stopping by the Eastland Mall and visiting the IceMen Christmas season kiosk which will be fully-stocked with all of the latest lines of IceMen super deluxe merchandise.

THE "ICEMEN LIVE" MONDAY NIGHT SHOW IS HERE! IceMen hockey fans now have their own weekly Monday night two-hour radio show. "IceMen Live" premieres next Monday night, December 6th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, live from Show-Me's East located on Morgan Center Drive directly across from the Showplace Cinema Theaters. Terry Ficorelli, "The Voice of the IceMen," will emcee the IceMen show which will feature IceMen players special guests and a cast of thousands. The show will be presented in front of a live studio audience at Show-Me's East with everyone invited to attend. "IceMen Live" will be heard exclusively on the IceMen radio home of WEOA-AM 1400 and on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com.

THE ICEMEN ON THE WORLD-WIDE INTERNET: All of the IceMen game broadcasts, daily update reports and Monday night "IceMen Live" radio show can now be heard on the world-wide internet through the flagship radio home of WEOA-AM 1400 in Evansville. The IceMen on the internet can be found easily through 1400amweoa.com and clicking the "Listen Live" button.

7-WEEKS 17-GAMES: Through the first 7-weeks of the season and 17-games, the IceMen are right on the .500 barrier at 17(8-8-1) for 17-points. Presently, the IceMen have lost 2-in a row, both at home. They are 4(1-3-0) in their last 4-starts and 6(2-4-0) through their last half-dozen dates. Their longest win streak of the year has been 3-in succession; their longest winless stretch has been 3(0-2-1). Evansville's best attained mark thus far this season has been 2-games over the .500 plateau which has been accomplished on three separate occasions. For the month of November, their record stands at 11(6-5-0). The IceMen were 6(2-3-1) in October.

SWONDER SWOON: Sustaining back-to-back home defeats in as many nights the past weekend by results of 4-2 Friday night against Fort Wayne and 6-3 Saturday night against Tulsa, the IceMen losing streak on home ice has now reached 3-in a row being outscored, 13-6. In their last 5-decisions at Swonder, the IceMen have posted a record of 5(1-4-0). Their last home success was November 19th when they dispensed with Dayton, 6-4. For the season, the IceMen home mark stands at 10(5-4-1). They completed their November home slate with an 8(4-4-0) log. Overall, the IceMen last 4-defeats have all been incurred at home.

ROAD REVELING: In contrast to the home blue funk, the IceMen have been reaping a bountiful harvest abroad in recent action. They have prevailed in their last 2-excursions on the long runway at exceedingly low altitude with victories November 9th in Mississippi, 5-2 and the past Thanksgiving night in Dayton to the shutout tune of 1-0. For the season, the IceMen are an improving cast with a record of 7(3-4-0).

CONFERENCE COLLECTION: Within their own Turner Conference, the IceMen have not been able to attain the .500 level as their 12(5-6-1) record would attest. Outside their own conference boundaries, against the Berry Conference competition opposition, after winning their first trio of decisions, they have fallen in the latter two, leaving the Evansville record in this category at 5(3-2-0).

THE GOAL HOLE: Until recent action, the IceMen offense has been dazzling with some ornate goal production. However, in the last 4-games, they have generated only 7-GF for a GFA of 1.75 ever since their 6-goals barrage back on November 19th when they defeated Dayton, 6-4. Defensively, though, the IceMen have been outstanding, having allotted only 24-GA in the last 9-games for a GAA of a thrifty 2.67.

TOP OF THE CROP: Center Nicklas Lindberg 17(5-18-23) is tied for 7th in league-wide point productivity with his 18-assists listing him CHL 5th and his 9-PPA ranking runner-up. Nick Schneider's 2-SHA tie him for the #1 spot in the league. The IceMen have 4 of the top 5 in the CHL in minor penalties; 1- Mario Larocque (21); 3- Nicklas Lindberg (17); Joe Grimaldi (17); Jordan Little (17). Chris Campanale 17(3-5-8) is 10th in CHL Rookie Scoring; Jordan Lane (43) is tied for #2 in PIM and majors (5) while Lane is also #2 in SPCT 2/10; .200. In Defensemen Scoring: Mario Larocque is 7th 17(6-7-13); Joe Grimaldi is 12th 17(5-6-11). Larocque's 6-goals tie him for 2nd most; Grimaldi's 5-goals rank him 4th among the CHL backline. Larocque tops all defensemen in SOG with 67. In the CHL Goaltending category, David Wilson is 12th with a 2.71 GAA; his SPCT of .927 ranks 4th best in the loop. Matt Lundin is 5th in MIN: 655:52 and 5th in SAVES: 334.

"J. NEL NIFTY: Smooth-move center Jeff Nelson is on the beam as a lean, mean scoring machine. The 18-year consummate pro has adeptly and adroitly crafted 7-points in his last 5-games on 4-goals, 3-assists with 1-GWG and 4-PPG for the season. His 4-PPG equal Brian Bicek for the top output on the club. He is second on the team in PP/Pts with (4-4-8). Evansville's "Train #9" is 17(6-9-15) as the IceMen's 5th leading scoring architect.

JOHNNY "D" DIGS IN: Eight year veteran right wing John DiPace endured and his persistence and perseverance finally paid off in some significant dividends. "Johnny D" took and shook the slumber from his lumber, connecting on the GTG in the first period the past Saturday night in the IceMen 6-3 setback suffered against Tulsa. For the night he was (1-1-2) with his goal-strike representing his first for the month of November halting a 10-game scoring famine. For the season, he is 17(3-8-11) with 1-PPG, 1-SHG and 1-FG.

ZERO TOLERANCE: First-year goaltender David Wilson enjoyed the best moment of his brief pro career the past Thanksgiving night in Dayton. In only his fifth pro start and his fourth one on the road, the U. of Maine product fashioned a brilliant 39-saves shutout masterpiece in spearheading his club to a thrilling 1-0 victory verdict over the Gems. Wilson was hailed and heralded the game's #1 Star with those 39-saves matching the most that he has made in a single game so far this season.

THE MARK OF CODY: One of nine players imported from Muskegon to Evansville, Mark Cody has prominently demonstrated his value to his new Evansville team through his excellent versatility. Having been deployed and employed as both a defenseman and left wing, he has relished the role remarkably. The past two games in two nights on home ice the past weekend, Cody collected a couple of points to the cause as he scored his second goal of the season Friday night against Fort Wayne before delivering the primary playmaking assist on his team's second goal Saturday night from Lee Zalasky against Tulsa. For the season; 17(2-4-6) with 38-PIM and +2 rating.

SPECIAL TEAMS TUNE-UP: The IceMen power play begins the new week rated circuit seventh, operating at 19.8% going 18-91. The extra man band has been somewhat inconsistent lately going 2 for the last 23 for a proficiency rating of 8.7%. On home ice the power play is percolating with a 5th place rating of 21.4%; 12-56. Away from home bay, it has been challenged at 6-36; 16.7% and a 14th ranking. The penalty-killing outfit is circuit sixth; 100-119 for an 84.1% efficiency mark. The IceMen have been shorthanded the most frequently of all teams in the CHL. Their 4-SHG tie them for third most in the loop.

FAME FROM THE GAME: Jeff Nelson (1,088) is 12-points away from pro career 1,100 and 3-goals shy of 360. He has now played 1,140 career games. Damian Surma's assist Saturday night represented the 325th point of his pro career. Surma's next goal will be career #150. This past Saturday night's game against Tulsa was Mark Cody's 100th career pro game. Mario Larocque (296) is 4-points shy of pro career 300.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": Saturday travail continues to stalk the IceMen thus far this season. They are 7(1-5-1) on Saturday nights and 5(1-3-1) at home. The IceMen are winless in their last 4 Saturday home dates; 4(0-3-1) with their last and lone Saturday win coming back on their home opening night, October 23rd when they dispatched Quad City, 6-3. In their 8-victories this season, the IceMen have been outshot in 7 of those wins. The IceMen are 6(1-4-1) when they outshoot the opposition. In his last 5-games, rookie Chris Campanale is averaging a point a game; 5(2-3-5). Through their first 17-games this season, the IceMen have dressed a full lineup of 18-players for only one game.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH THE ICEMEN AT MISSISSIPPI 7:00 PM

For the fourth time thus far this season, the two inter-conference foes will tangle with this game being the third to be hosted by the RiverKings in Southaven. The IceMen top the series 3(2-1-0) with home ice advantage representing no advantage whatsoever. Evansville is 2(2-0-0) in Mississippi with both triumphs earned by identical outcomes of 5-2 with the last success spirited away from Southaven back on November 9th. Mississippi prevailed over the IceMen in Evansville in the last clash on November 20th, 3-1.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2ND THE ICEMEN AT DAYTON 6:00 PM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3RD DAYTON AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

The series is tied at 4(2-2-0) with both teams 2(1-1-0) at home and away. In the last act Thanksgiving night at Hara Arena, the IceMen extracted a hard-earned 1-0 shutout triumph behind 39-saves from goaltender David Wilson and timely goal-scoring from Nicklas Lindberg.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4TH BLOOMINGTON AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

For only the second time this season the two Turner Conference foes will collide with the PrairieThunder making their first-ever sojourn to Evansville. Bloomington leads the series at this juncture, 1(1-0-0) by virtue of a 4-2 triumph over the IceMen back on October 29th in the Illinois hamlet. Bloomington has been excelling on the road this season as its 7(5-2-0) record would reflect.

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 Monday night radio show "IceMen Live" is also on WEOA-AM 1400 every Monday night from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. The "Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli has all of the IceMen action all season long. The IceMen game broadcasts and Monday night "IceMen Live" radio show can also be heard on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. 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. There are also IceMen daily reports throughout the day on the Townsquare Media family of radio 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 November 28, 2010


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