IceMen Weekly

January 2, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: Having played a scant single home game in one month, since December 3rd, the Evansville IceMen of the Central Hockey League continue to experience the growing pains that are part and parcel of an infant franchise in its maiden voyage season. Under the doctrine according to General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm, the men of Evansville pro hockey excitement and entertainment finally saw their first home action since 12/3 on the past Thursday night, December 30th when they trembled to foreign ice invading Mississippi, 4-1. It was Evansville's local icers first home appearance in 19-days since a December 3rd 3-2 trumping triumph over Dayton. Currently in the seemingly incessant midst of playing 10 of 11-games abroad, the IceMen conclude the odyssey with a pair of road expeditions this week as they wrap-up a current 4-game road trek this time around. This Wednesday night, they will seek redemption in Bloomington where they will make their second consecutive foreign ice engagement and their third sojourn to the Illinois hamlet in the past 11-days. Then, it's on to Fort Wayne for the battle of the "brag flag" of Indiana pro hockey this coming Friday. Evansville's squadron returns home for only their second Swonder Ice Arena outing in over one month this Saturday night when the Quad City Mallards come calling.

FLASHING THE BADGE: When the IceMen tackle the Mallards of the Quad Cities this Saturday night at 7:30 pm at Swonder Ice Arena, they will salute our many law enforcement officials of the greater Evans-ville area. On this night, all law enforcement personnel will receive a special $2.50 discount on any seat in the house at Swonder.

RECORD-BREAKING HISTORY MAKING: Upon returning home following an extended 19-days absence, the road warriors of the IceMen pro hockey rank and file were warmly and enthusiastically greeted by the largest-ever crowd to watch and witness an Evansville pro hockey game in the cozy confines of Swonder. A standing room only sellout crowd of 1,621 were crammed and otherwise shoe-horned into the "Ice House" with several hundred more being turned away. The record-breaking, history-making crowd was a leather-lunged legion in full throat exhorting and exuding their beloved hometown team.

"ICEMEN LIVE" IS ALIVE: It's another fun-filled, entertaining edition of Evansville IceMen hockey fans very own weekly two-hour radio show "IceMen Live" this Monday night, January 3rd from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm from Show-Me's East on the IceMen's exclusive radio flagship home of WEOA-AM 1400 and on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. This week, "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli's special guests will be right wing Bo Cheesman and defenseman Nick Schneider.

THE KIOSK CLICKING: The IceMen organization's special Kiosk is still present and prominent near the food court of Eastland Mall in Evansville. The latest lines of merchandise to arrive are the much sought after IceMen replica jerseys now available for your wearing wardrobe when attending IceMen games at Swonder. The IceMen Kiosk will remain in Eastland Mall until January 31st.

CHECK CHECKERED RECORD: Facing yet another rigorous holiday week of 4-games in 5-nights, the IceMen compiled a 4(0-3-1) mark being outscored, 20-9. One game shy of reaching the midway point in their 66-games' schedule, the IceMen, after 32-games, have assembled a mark of 32(10-17-5) totaling 25-points and a current 8th place standing in the Turner Conference race. Evansville's latest winless spell has reached 5-in a row; last 5(0-3-2), having actually dropped 3-consecutively; last 3(0-3-0). In their last 12-games; 12(1-8-3); last 17(2-11-4); last 19(3-12-4); last 21(4-13-4). The last victory was back on December 22nd in the Quad Cities, 4-2. The longest win streak of the season has been 3-in a row; 3(3-0-0). The IceMen's highest elevation has been 2-games exceeding the .500 plateau, accomplishing that feat on three separate occasions. The longest losing streak has been 5-in a row and the longest winless streak has been 6(0-5-1). The monthly accounting: October 6(2-3-1); November 12(6-6-0); December 13(2-7-4); January 1(0-1-1).

HOME PHANTOM ANTHEM: The IceMen have seen home ice just once in the past month since a December 3rd 3-2 trumping triumph over conference foe Dayton. That one Swonder cameo occurred the past Thursday night, 12/30 when the "home team" trembled to Mississippi, 4-1. With the setback, Evans-ville slipped under the .500 barrier for the initial time this season at 15(6-7-2). Presently, for the second time this season, the IceMen are mired in a 3-game losing streak on the homestead; last 3(0-3-0) and are actually winless in the last 4(0-3-1); at home last 8(1-6-1); last 10(2-7-1). The IceMen actually launched the campaign with a 5-game unsullied skein at Swonder 5(4-0-1). The longest win streak this season at home has been 3(3-0-0).

ROADKILL FILL: Bus-bedding has remained in a permanent state due to the IceMen's current road rate. Returning home for a single game following a demanding 6-game travelogue, the club is now in the middle of a 4-game league wide bus tour. Thus far this season, the road record stands at 17(4-10-3) with a 3-game losing streak and 4-game winless span; 4(0-3-1) extant at this stage of the season. They completed the aforementioned 6-game mission at 6(1-3-2), going unblemished in the latter trio of trips; 3(1-0-2). Through the initial 2- decisions on this latest exercise, they are 2(0-2-0) being outscored, 5-12. The longest road win streak of the season has been 2-consecutively and the longest overall unsullied skein abroad has been 3(2-0-1).

CONFERENCE COMPENDIUM: In their last 9-offerings against fellow fractious foes from the Turner Conference, the IceMen have compiled a record of 9(1-6-2). For the total season, their in-conference composite stands at 24(7-12-5). Their 7-conquests have been collected accordingly; 3-wins over Dayton, 3-wins over Quad City and a single success at the expense of Fort Wayne. Outside the conference walls, the IceMen mark is at 8(3-5-0) opposing the Berry Conference collection. However, after capturing the first 3-contests, they have fallen in 5-in a row.

SCORING SNORING: In 4-games the past week, the IceMen engineered 9-GF for a GFA of 2.25 with their optimum offense of the week supplied in Dayton New Year's Eve in an 8-4 humbling experience. Only Bloomington and Fort Wayne have registered fewer goals than have the IceMen icers. In the last 17-games, Evansville has generated 40-GF for a GFA of 2.35. In over one-third of their 32-games, 11-times the IceMen have been limited to a scant single GF. When they do score 4 or more this season, the IceMen have composed a kinetic, harmonic mark of 9(7-2-0).

CENTER STAGE STUDS: Sharp-shark center Nicklas Lindberg's luminous, lustrous, laureate season continues clad in the coded colors of IceMen mavens. "Slick Nick" has majestically marched into 7th place in the CHL scoring brigade with 40-points in 32-games on 12-goals, 28-assists. Lindberg's 28-assists and 12-PPA each rank circuit 6th best. Mario Larocque 32(7-14-21) ranks 8th in CHL defense scoring with his 7-goals listed 5th highest and his 116-SOG #1 in the CHL among the blue line brigade trade. Larocque also leads the league in minor penalties with 35 while fellow teammate defenseman Jordan Little is runner-up with 33. Nicklas Lindberg is 5th with 26. Braden Desmet has climbed into the top 10 in CHL Rookie scoring with 26(3-11-14) with Chris Campanale close behind 26(5-5-10). Jordan Lane leads all rookies in major penalties with 8.

POINTS POLISHING PIVOT: The IceMen snappy, snazzy center Nicklas Lindberg has been the embodiment of consistency and point producing proficiency all season long. For the second time this season, the Swedish import has masterfully maestroed a magnificent 7-games' point streak, consisting of 12-points on 4-goals, 8-assists. The 8-year pro has tied Jeff Nelson for the team's top total in PPG with 5; his 5-FG also top the team. Lindberg's two 7-game point scoring scourges represent the best for the IceMen in that department so far this season.

"POCKET ROCKET" ALL-STAR: Swift center/left wing Brian Bicek will serve as the IceMen's lone representative for the CHL Annual All-Star Game, January 12th at Rapid City, South Dakota. "Ice-Bice-Baby" ranks runner-up in IceMen team scoring with 30-points in 32-games on 12-goals, 18-assists with 4-PPPG and a team-high 2-SHG. In his last 7-games, "The Pocket Rocket" seems to be peaking as the league classic looms as he has dynamically delivered 9-points in the last 7-games; 7(2-7-9).

DAMIAN DRILLING DRIVES: Center Damian Surma seems to be playing his best hockey of the current campaign for the hometown team. Surma's scoring stylings have netted PPG in each of his team's last 2-games spanning the last 2-nights. Until then, he had not fashioned the luxury style goal all season long. Having connected on cannons in 3 of the last 4-games, he has assumed the position as Evansville's most feared, revered, premiere cannonneer with 14-goals.

CHRIS BLISS IN WRIST: American International College rookie right wing Chris Campanale has returned to the lineup bent on sharp improvement following a 6-game absence due to an injury. The former Yellow Jackets team captain announced his second coming in crisp clarion timely tones the past Thursday night when he streamlined the game's FG on his first shift in the first period at the :23 mark to seize an immediate 1-0 lead for the "good guys" in the white jerseys. His strike represented the fastest goal at the start of a period this season for "The Kromminator's Crew." Then, the very next night in Dayton, he stashed his second goal in as many nights and his 5th of the season.

UNEVEN STRENGTH STUDY: The IceMen power play may be extricating itself from hockey hiber-nation, having connected on a trifecta of thrusts over the past 2-games in 2-nights. Up until then, the power play had been somewhat sterile and antiseptic, going 0-16; 1-27; 5-62. In the last 2-games, it has been 3-13 for a percentile proficiency of 23.1%. For the season, the power play is rated 14th in the CHL at 27-166 for a proficiency mark of 16.3%. The penalty-killing cast is currently ranked as 8th best at 174-209 for an efficiency rating of 83.3%. In dropping 3-games in 3-nights the past week, the PK was touched for 7-PPGA in 22-advantages afforded the adversary for a rating of a sub-standard 68.2%. Evansville has been shorthanded a league-high 209-times thus far this season which is 20-more times than any other team in the league. Moreover, they have enjoyed 43-fewer power play advantages (166) than have the opposition. This represents the widest disparity in the league at this juncture of the season.

THE MILESTONES MINUTE: Damian Surma (495) is 5-games shy of pro career 500. Jordan Little (292) is 8-games away from pro career 300. Jeff Nelson (1,092) is 8-points away from 1,100 in his illustrious pro career. Tom Galvin (421) is 4-games from 425 as a pro.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The IceMen's best plus players are Nick Schneider (+5) and Jordan Lane (+5). The IceMen are second in the CHL in minor penalties with 231. Saturday remains the bane of the club with a record of 11(1-8-2) and 4(0-4-0) on the road. Mississippi's 22-SOG the past Thursday night on the IceMen's home ice equaled the least shots on goal the team has yielded in a single game this year. Their 38-SOG New Year's Eve at Dayton matched the second most SOG in one game so far this season. In his last 7-games Braden Desmet is 7(2-4-6). The IceMen along with Missouri are the only 2-teams without an extra time win this season. Evansville's record is 5(0-5); 0-4 in OT and 0-1 in the OTSO.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5TH THE ICEMEN AT BLOOMINGTON 7:00 PM

For the second consecutive road trip and the third in 11-days, the IceMen make an alien ice appearance in Bloomington. Evansville is winless against the PrairieThunder thus far this season with a mark of 4(0-2-2) overall and 3(0-2-1) in the Illinois city. Bloomington's #1 defense in the CHL has limited the IceMen to a menial 6-GF in those 4-games and just 4-GF in the first 3-games played there.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7TH THE ICEMEN AT FORT WAYNE 7:00 PM

Finally, the 10th and last of 10 of 11-games on the road arrives for the IceMen with this contest. It's another titanic tussle for the pro hockey supremacy, superiority and sovereignty of the state of Indiana. The two acerbic and acrimonious rivals will be colliding for the fourth time this season and the second time in Fort Wayne where the IceMen are 1(0-1-0) this year and 3(1-1-1) overall against the Komets overall.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8TH QUAD CITY AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

For the seventh time this season the two in-conference rivals will clash with the IceMen side of the ledger reading 6(3-2-1) overall and 3(2-0-1) on home ice. The Mallards are making their first appearance at Swonder since November 5th when they provided the opposition in Evansville's first three home games to start the season. The last time the two teams tussled was back on Dec. 22nd when the IceMen traveled to Moline and marooned the Mallards, 4-2.

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 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; or by phone (812) 476-1383.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 2, 2011


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