IceMen Weekly

February 21, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: The IceMen completed their most ambitious and challenging expanse of the season consisting of 8-games in 10-days, registering a record of 8(1-5-2) in that span. Under the guidance of General Manager/Coach Rich Kromm, Evansville's rank and file roster confronts the final 15-games of the 2010-11 Central Hockey League season making one last huge push for a coveted, hallowed playoff berth in the franchise maiden voyage campaign as a bona fide, certified AA/CHL member club. All 15 of the remaining IceMen games are on the docket against former IHL member clubs with 7 of those to be played at home at Swonder Ice Arena with 8-more dates devoted to the travelogue and the CHL by-ways and highways. Through 51-games, the IceMen have compiled a record of 51(16-28-7) totaling 39-points and 9th place positioning in the Turner Conference standings. Evansville may be in a position to determine its own fate and ultimate destiny concerning the post-season as 10 of those remaining 15-outings are against either 7th place Fort Wayne 49(24-20-5)53-points or 8th place Dayton 48(23-21-4)50-points. The IceMen will tackle both the Komets and the Gems each 5-more times including a couple of clashes this week to cap the February schedule. Facing 3-games in 3-nights, the IceMen will sojourn to Dayton on Friday night before junketing to Fort Wayne for a Saturday night bout. Evansville will conclude the rigorous weekend back home on Sunday evening hosting Quad City on "All Faiths Night."

ICEMEN LIVE RETURNS!: After a one week hiatus due to travel conflicts, the IceMen Monday night radio show returns this week. "IceMen Live" is on-the-air Monday night, February 21st from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm live from Show-Me's East on flagship radio station WEOA-AM 1400 and on the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. This week, "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli welcomes special guests left wing Braden Desmet and defenseman Jamie Lovell to the show.

RECORD RATING: Playing 5-games in 6-nights the past week, the IceMen were winless at 5(0-4-1). For the season, they stand at 51(16-28-7) for 39-points. They were 8(1-5-2) in playing 8-games in 10-days. Overall, the IceMen are winless in their last 6-starts; 6(0-5-1) matching for the third time their longest winless spell of the current campaign. Their last triumph was back on February 12th when on home ice they disposed of Quad City, 5-1. The IceMen are 9(1-6-2) in their last 9-starts and 18(6-10-2) through the initial 18-games of the second half of the season. Their longest win streak of the season has been 3-in a row while their longest losing streak has been clocked at 5-consecutively. Presently, they have dropped 4-in succession. The monthly returns are in: October 6(2-3-1); November 12(6-6-0); December 13(2-7-4); January 11(5-6-0); February 9(1-6-2).

HOMESTEAD STANDING: For the current campaign, the IceMen have compiled a record of 23(8-12-3) for 19-points. In the second half of the season, their record is 8(2-5-1). Following an impressive 3-game undefeated streak at Swonder of 3(2-0-1), Evansville's pro hockey work force has been humbled in its last 2-Swonder starts; last 2(0-2-0); being defeated Saturday night against Bloomington, 5-1 and Sunday night by Missouri, 8-0. The longest win streak at home this season has been 3-in a row with the longest losing streak at the homestead being 6-consecutively and longest winless span at home base being 7(0-6-1). Evansville actually broached this season with a mighty 5-game unblemished skein on the home front at 5(4-0-1).

AWAY-A-LOT: Recently capping yet another strenuous road stretch of 4-games in 4-different far away cities in 5-nights, the IceMen saw their winless spell abroad reach 5(0-4-1) equaling for the third time their longest of the season in this category. For the season, the road log reads 28(8-16-4) for 20-total points. Their last victory in alien territory was back on January 22nd in Rapid City where they bushwhacked the defending champions and Turner Conference front-runners, the Rush, 4-2. In the second half of the season, the IceMen road record is right on the .500 barrier at 9(4-4-1). The longest road win streak has been 3-in a row while the longest losing skein has been 3-consecutively as well.

CONFERENCE COMPENDIUM: Evansville's record within its own Turner Conference stands at 38(13-19-6) for 32-points. Eleven of those 13-triumphs have been gained against 3 of the 4 teams which they will clash against for the balance of the regular season schedule, having attained .500 or above records against those 3-teams; Dayton 10(4-3-3); Quad City 9(4-4-1); Fort Wayne 6(3-3-0); Bloomington 6(0-4-2). The IceMen have concluded their inter-conference slate against the Berry Conference, posting a record of 13(3-9-1). They prevailed in the initial trio at 3(3-0-0) before going winless in the last 10-offerings at 10(0-9-1). Evansville's last success outside the conference alignment was back on 11/11/10 on home ice where they dismantled Arizona, 8-1.

THE GF/GA CHALLENGING: The IceMen rank 18th in the CHL in GF offense, having registered 141-GF in 51-games for a GFA of 2.76. In 18 of their 51-games, they have scored less than 2-GF, being shutout for the first 2-times thus far this season on the last 2-consecutive Sundays; 2-0 at Fort Wayne on 2/13 and 8-0 this past Sunday night on home ice against Missouri. The IceMen rank 17th in GA defense, having allotted 192-GA in 51-games for a GAA of 3.76. During their 2-game home stand the past weekend, the IceMen surrendered 13-consecutive GA to Bloomington and Missouri following their lone goal of the home weekend at 15:01 of the first period Saturday night against Bloomington with Erik Boisvert making the connection.

THE GUNNERY GALAXY: Center Nicklas Lindberg ranks #15 in CHL league-wide scoring with 51(13-42-55). His 42-assists rank circuit 7th. Brian Bicek is tied for 2nd in SHG with 4. Left Wing Erik Boisvert is 4th in CHL Rookie Scoring with 49(15-15-30). Boisvert's 15-goals rank rookie runner-up in that depart-ment. Braden Desmet is 11th with 45(5-15-20). In Defense Scoring, Mario Larocque is 10th 49(13-20-33) with his 13-goals tying him for the top spot in the loop. Larocque's 187-SOG list him #2 among defense-men in the CHL. His 48-minor penalties pace the league; Jordan Little ranks 3rd with 46. Jordan Lane's 127-PIM top all league rookies as do his 13-majors. In the goaltending department, Matt Lundin ranks 5th in MIN: 1,986:19 and SAVES: 976.

"THE ROCK" RIFLING: Veteran defenseman Mario Larocque has been enjoying a revitalization and rejuvenation since the birth of his new son Maxim. The 13-year pro recently completed an impressive and imposing 3-games' goal-scoring scourge in which he collected 6-points on 3-goals, 3-assists. His late, dramatic third period game-tying strike stoked last Tuesday night in Mississippi with just 1:45 remaining in the third period culminated a brilliant IceMen come-from-behind rally which erased a 3-1 deficit and earned Evansville one precious point in the standings through the regulation tie. In his last 4-games, "The Rock" is 4(3-3-6).

ELECTRIC ERIK: Flashy left wing Erik Boisvert appears to be settling in more comfortably and more confidently in his new "digs" in Evansville. The shifty and speedy rookie also recently completed a 3-game goal-scoring streak for his new employer. In that span he was 3(3-2-5), delivering the lone goal, the game's FG, in Saturday night's setback inflicted by Bloomington after firing a pair of lightning bolt shots in consecutive games at Bossier-Shreveport and Tulsa on Wednesday and Friday nights respectively. Both Boisvert blasts were brewed early in the third stanza with both goals coming during 4-on-4 situations.

POINT-SHOT PINPOINT: Newly-acquired veteran defenseman Jamie Lovell has been uncanny with his pinpoint goal-scoring shooting accuracy since his arrival to the "Big E." In fact, in his first 4-games, he sniped 4-strikes with 2 of them propelled on the power play in combination with one 2-goal polished performance and 1-SHG. Before his procurement from Bloomington, the 6-year standout had produced 3-goals with 1 of those on the power play in 41-games with the PrairieThunder.

CONSISTENT PERSISTENT: High-tech, high-octane center Nicklas Lindberg has remained remarkably consistent and point persistent all season long with the hometown team. Ranked #15 in CHL league-wide scoring, the Swedish star has artfully authored 14-points in the last 14-games on 1-goal, 13-assists. The Evansville playmaker extraordinaire has crafted 42-assists this season; 14-more than team runner-up Brian Bicek's 28-arrangements. "Slick Nick The Quick" has also engineered a team-high 17-PPA.

SPECIALLY SPEAKING: The IceMen power play is presently rated tied for 16th in the CHL with Dayton. Evansville's extra man band is operating at 15.2% proficiency at 39-257. Currently the power play is 0 for the last 16 and 5 for the last 37 for a conversion ratio of 13.5%. In the penalty-killing category, the IceMen rank 14th at 81.4% efficiency; 58-312. They have been shorthanded the most times in the league. The opposition is 4 for the last 12; 33.3% and 5 for the last 36; 13.9%. The IceMen have registered 11-SHG which rank tied for 3rd best in the league. In turn, they have yielded 10-SHGA, tied for 3rd most.

MAKING MEMORIES: Defenseman Jamie Lovell (390) is 10-games from pro career 400 while his next point 390(46-103-149) will be the 150th of his career. Jeff Nelson (742) is 8-assists away from #750. Dating back to last season, Brian Bicek has now played 127-consecutive games. Bicek (191) is 9-games shy of 200. Nick Schneider played in his 100th pro career game Sunday at home against Missouri.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": The IceMen are 16(9-2-5) when they achieve the lead after the first period. They are 19(12-3-4) when entering the third period with the lead. Only 3-IceMen players have played every game so far this season; Brian Bicek, Mark Cody and Nicklas Lindberg. The IceMen's best period has been their second period at home, outscoring the visitors, 26-22. In the third period at home, they have been outscored 40-19 and overall 76-48. In his last 15-games, Brian Bicek is 15(6-11-17); last 25(11-16-27).

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH THE ICEMEN AT DAYTON 6:30 PM

The first of 5-more meetings to be waged for the current 8th and 9th place teams of the Turner Conference alignment. On the Evansville side of the ledger, the series stands at 10(4-3-3). At Hara Arena, in 5-chapters written, Evansville is 5(1-2-2) with the lone victory coming on Thanksgiving night, November 25th to the tune of a 1-0 shutout.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH THE ICEMEN AT FORT WAYNE 6:30 PM

For the seventh time this season, the two Indiana pro hockey archenemies will lock antlers in a clenching, wrenching tango with the series balanced at 6(3-3-0). This, too, is the first of 5-more sessions to be staged between the IceMen and the perennial powerhouse Komets. Evansville has extracted 2-triumphs from Memorial Coliseum this year, though the club was zeroed in its last appearance there back on February 13th, 2-0.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH QUAD CITY AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

The lone home appearance for the IceMen in the final week of February for the final game of this month. The series is even on the Evansville side at 9(4-4-1) with 3 of those victories coming on home ice including their last overall win back on February 12th when the home team dismissed the "Greenheads," 5-1. The IceMen are 6(3-2-1) on home ice this year against the Mallards.

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 to 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 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; WGBF-AM 1280 at 4:35 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 C entre Box Office; Schnuck's West Side or at the Roberts Stadium Box Office; by phone (812) 476-1383.



Central Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2011


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