IceMen Weekly

Published on December 19, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: As they embark on the Christmas holiday week of the 2010-11 Central Hockey League season, the Evansville IceMen will continue their protracted foreign ice expedition across the assorted hamlets and exotic burgs that comprise the CHL. Under the auspices of General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm, the men of the Evansville pro hockey work force begin the holiday week occupying eighth place in the CHL Turner Conference standings, having garnered 21-points, the second fewest in the league. Through 25-games, the hometown icers have complied a mark of 25(9-13-3) with their 9-wins representing the second fewest in the loop. Despite their recent travail, the IceMen still remain within striking distance in their concerted bid to climb to better grandeur in both the Turner Conference and the overall CHL alliance. Evansville's finest on ice is only 3-points in arrears of seventh place Wichita 24(11-11-2)24 and 5-points behind sixth place Quad City 24(13-11-0)26 with the Mallards reincarnated, having won 3-in succession and 4 of their last 5-decisions; 5(4-1-0). The home team has maintained a considerable 10-point advantage over ninth place, three-time reigning IHL kingpin Fort Wayne 21(5-15-1)11 with the Komets in the woes and throes of a heinous 7-game losing spell from hell. This week, the men of IceMen will continue their strenuous stretch and rigorous regimen of 6-consecutive games abroad and 10 of 11 in hostile territory with a triumvirate of escapades against three Turner Conference fractious foes. Tuesday night, the IceMen rendezvous with the second place Mavericks 23(13-7-3)29 and winners of 3-in a row and 8(6-1-1) in their last 8-dates, Then, it's on to Moline, IL for the second time in less than a week for a Wednesday night encore presentation against the Quad City Mallards to conclude the club's pre-Christmas schedule. The Mallards have won 3-consecutively and are 5(4-1-0) in their last 5-outings. On the day after Christmas, the IceMen will, again, travel the long runway at very low altitude when their road show takes them next to Bloomington for a 3:00 pm matinee affair against the Prairie Thunder 21(13-7-1)27, tied for fourth place with Dayton 23(13-9-1)27. The IceMen do not return home to the amiable climes and environs of the Swonder Ice Hall until Thursday, December 30th when they entertain the Mississippi RiverKings. On that special night, the IceMen organization will spice-up and otherwise punch-up the spirit of ringing in the New Year as the team will don special New Year's Eve jerseys which will be auctioned immediately following the game.

NEXT "ICEMEN LIVE" DEC. 27TH: Due to travel conflicts and the Christmas holiday this week, "IceMen Live" will not be presented. However, the IceMen's increasingly popular Monday night two-hour radio show will return the Monday after Christmas, December 27th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, live from Show-Me's East. "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli will emcee the show performed in front of a live studio audience with all IceMen hockey fans invited to attend. The IceMen radio flagship home of WEOA-AM 1400 and the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com present the weekly program.

THE ICEMEN CHRISTMAS KIOSK: Throughout the holiday season, for all of your IceMen Christmas shopping, the IceMen organization invites everyone to shop at the IceMen's Christmas Kiosk located near the food court at Eastland Mall. The IceMen Christmas Kiosk is fully stocked with all of the latest lines of IceMen super deluxe merchandise for the Christmas gift-giving season.

RECORD REVIEW STEW: Launching their extended 6-game road trek with back-to-back setbacks in as many nights, 4-1 Friday night at Mississippi and 5-1 Saturday in the Quad Cities, the IceMen overall season record currently stands at 25(9-13-3)21 points. At 4-games below the .500 barrier, the IceMen are at their lowest ebb of the current campaign. At this hour of the season, the hometown team is mired in a 4-game losing streak; 4(0-4-0) and 5(0-4-1) winless stretch with both streaks representing their longest such streaks of such dubious distinction thus far this season. The IceMen's last on-ice success was back on December 3rd when, on home ice, they derailed Dayton, 3-2. In their last 10-games; 10(1-7-2); last 12(2-8-2); last 14(3-9-2). Their last 3-victories have all been attained against Dayton; Nov. 19th, 6-4; Nov. 25th, 1-0; December 3rd, 3-2. Coach Kromm's contingent's longest win streak has been 3-in a row; 3(3-0-0). The IceMen's highest elevation thus far this season has been 2-games transcending the .500 plateau which is a feat they have accomplished on three separate occasions. Their current 4-games below the.500 mark represents their nadir of the year. The monthly precincts reporting in: October 6(2-3-1); November 12(6-6-0); December 7(1-4-2).

HOME GROAN: Previous to embarking on their prolonged pilgrimage across the by-ways and highways of the CHL's more scenic landscapes, the IceMen climaxed an extended 4-game home stand with a rather mundane mark of 4(1-2-1). They were actually winless in the latter 3(0-2-1). Home ice advantage has suffered from some mitigating circumstances in recent vintage as the local squadron is 7(1-5-1) in the last 7-outcomes and 9(2-6-1) in the last 9-outings. The men clad in the color code of the IceMen actually broached the campaign with an impressive 5-game unblemished Swonder skein; 5(4-0-1). The last 2-home triumphs have been gained and attained with some acclaim from the Dayton Gems; Nov. 19th, 6-4 and Dec. 3rd, 3-2. For the season, the home mark stands at 14(6-6-2) with the longest win skein set at 3-consecutively; 3(3-0-0). The longest losing span at home has also been 3(0-3-0).

THE ROAD LOAD: This past Friday night when they trembled in Mississippi, 4-1, the IceMen launched a protracted 6-game alien invasion mission which will actually see the road warriors play 10 of 11-games in the inimical environment. Thus far on the holiday season odyssey, the IceMen are 2(0-2-0) being outscored, 9-2, following the enduring of their worst setback of the season sustained Saturday night in Moline where Quad City defeated them, 5-1. Evansville is presently winless in its last 4-excursions abroad; 4(0-3-1) with its last success coming back on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 25th at Dayton where they extinguished the Gems, 1-0. For the season, the IceMen foreign ice travelogue reads 11(3-7-1) with the other 2-triumphs extracted from Mississippi. The longest win skein away from home bay has been 2-in a row. The longest losing streak has been 3(0-3-0).

THE CONFERENCE CAPSULE: The IceMen record within their own Turner Conference has declined to three games below the .500 mark at 18(6-9-3) with the 6-triumphs accrued accordingly: 3-wins over Dayton; 2-triumphs over Quad City and a singleton over Fort Wayne. The IceMen have dropped 3-in a row within the conference confines; last 3(0-3-0) and are actually without a win within the Conference in the last 4(0-3-1). They are 9(2-5-2) in their last 9-starts against their own Conference. When treading outside the conference walls, the IceMen have posted a mark of 7(3-4-0) against the Berry Conference, having won the initial trio before bowing in the latter quartet with 3 of those setbacks sustained against Mississippi.

RESOLUTE BUT DESTITUTE: It certainly has not been from lack of effort, though the IceMen's lack of a knack on the goal-scoring attack continues to plague the player personnel. In laying claim to conquests only twice in their last dozen contests, the Evansville gunnery has connected on only 22-GF for a GFA of a deemed destitute 1.83. The last time the IceMen cannoneered more than 3-GF in a single game was back on November 19th, when on home ice, they derailed Dayton, 6-4. In nearly one-third of their first 25-games, the IceMen have managed a mere 1-GF in 8-games so far this year and in 3 of their last 4-performances.

HIGHER GROUND SOUND: Center Nicklas Lindberg continues atop the Evansville scoring derby while ranking 12th CHL league-wide with 25(8-20-28). His 20-assists rank circuit 6th; his 11-PPA list him as 4th best. The IceMen have been the recipients of the second most minor penalties in the league with 193. Thus they have the league's top 3-minors offenders; 1- Mario Larocque (29); 2- Nicklas Lindberg (25) 3- (tied) Jordan Little (23). Mario Larocque ranks 9th in CHL defense scoring with 25(6-10-16) with his 95-SOG tying him for the league-leadership among the blue line brigade and his 2-GWG also tying him for the top perch. Rookie left wing Jordan Lane shares the league-leadership among rookies in major penalties with 7. In the CHL Goaltending category, David Wilson's .921 SPCT ties him for #4 overall in the league. Matt Lundin ranks 5th in MIN: 1,016 and SAVES: 507.

THE "SLICK NICK" STICK: Eight year Swedish born center Nicklas Lindberg has been point prolific terrific. The past weekend, in his team's 4-1 Friday night undoing in Mississippi, he sniped the IceMen's sole goal on an early second period power play strike that staked his club to a 1-0 lead. Evansville's #25 also paces the club in PP/Points with 14 on 3-goals, 11-assists and 3-FG.

"GALVINIZED!": Another eight year pro defenseman Tom Galvin made his IceMen debut an auspicious one as he stepped into the lineup and showed little if any corrosion from not seeing any on-ice action whatsoever this season. The former four-year standout at Notre Dame was sound and solid on the blue line with his stellar defense and his on-ice instincts and awareness for offense. In fact, he assisted on Evansville's lone goal from Lindberg Friday night in Southaven.

"SUR" DAMIAN DRIVEN: Ten-year veteran center/left wing Damian Surma is in the midst of returning his act for scoring knack back on track. Saturday night in Moline, he fired a lightning bolt shot midway through the middle stanza that diminished the deficit to 2-1. It was Surma's 9th goal of the campaign and his 6th strike stoked against the Quad Citians. The IceMen standout forward has also delivered a 3-goal "hat trick" and 2-goal performance against the "Greenheads."

AMONG THE UNSUNG: Perhaps, some have been unsung for the men donning the IceMen crest on their chest thus far this season. Two players in particularly would seem to be of this ilk and stellar stripe. The two personnel who come to mind are defenseman Nick Schneider and rugged, ruffian, rock-ribbed left wing Jordan Lane. Physically, it would appear to be an unorthodox combination for the IceMen aggrega-tion nation; especially considering that Schneider is all of 5-9 and Lane, the tower of power is 6-8. What they do have in common is the top perch in premium positive plus performance for their team as both players top the team with healthy +5 ratings.

CONSISTENT AND RESISTANT: Another one of the bright beacons in the night for the IceMen ensemble cast has been the overall polish and performance of their special teams. The power plant power play is ranked a solid 10th in the CHL, operating at 17.3%; 23-133 and 3 for the last 15; 20% proficiency. Meanwhile, the penalty-killing coterie continues clicking, rated circuit 6th at 84.2% efficiency, going 144-171, being shorthanded more frequently than any other team in the CHL. Until Friday night's setback at Mississippi, the shorthand band had been brilliant, defusing and refusing 26-consecutive man advantages afforded the adversaries. Evansville's 6-SHG rank #4 in the league and they have been delivered by 6-different sharpshooters.

MILESTONES OF MAJESTY: Defenseman Jordan Little (285) is 15-games shy of pro career 300. Little's next minor penalty (599) will eclipse 600-PIM for his career. Jeff Nelson (1,148) is 2-games away from 1,150 and (1,092) 8-points shy of 1,100 points. Damian Surma (488) is 12-games away from pro career 500. Mario Larocque's (299) next point will be the 300th of his illustrious pro career.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": On home ice, the IceMen PK is ranked a lofty #3 in the league at 79-90 for a mark of 87.8%. The IceMen are the second best second team in the CHL, outscoring their opponents, 32-21. In contrast, they are worst third period team in the loop, being outscored, 33-19 overall and 7-0 during their current 4-game losing streak. The Saturday night hocus-pocus voodoo continues to stalk the IceMen. They are 10(1-7-2) on Saturday, having gone winless since home opening night October 23rd when they dispatched Quad City, 6-3.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21ST THE ICEMEN AT MISSOURI 7:00 PM

The Two Turner Conference rivals will collide twice this season with each team enjoying home ice advan-tage one time. During the pre-season, the IceMen dropped a pair of encounters at the Independence Events Center by results of 7-1 October 8th and 4-2 October 9th. The Mavericks arrive at Christmas week flourish-ing coming off a sweep of a two-game series at perennial league powerhouse Colorado. They are 8(6-1-1) in their last 8-games.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22ND THE ICEMEN AT QUAD CITY 7:00 PM

For the second time in five days, the IceMen have an assignment in Moline, IL against the resurgent Mallards who have won their initial 3-games of a 4-game home stand and are 5(4-1-0) overall in their last 5-starts. The series for the IceMen side of the ledger is balanced at 5(2-2-1), though, Evansville has bowed in its 2-games in the Quad Cities by results of 2-1 October 24th and last Saturday, 5-1, December 18th.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 26TH THE ICEMEN AT BLOOMINGTON 3:00 PM

When the IceMen and PrairieThunder tackle each other the day after Christmas, it will mark the third time in which the two rivals have tussled and rustled. The IceMen are 2(0-1-1) against the league's stingiest defensive team, having fallen in the Illinois city back on October 29th, 4-2 before gaining 1-point in the standings the second time around on December 4th in Evansville in a 3-2 OT outcome.

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, also on WEOA-AM 1400 and also on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli has all of the IceMen 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 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.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2010


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