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IceMen Weekly

February 28, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: Playing 3-games in 3-nights the past week, the IceMen posted a 3(1-1-1) record totaling 3-points in their last possible push for a coveted post-season CHL post-season playoff berth. Under the auspices of General Manager/Coach Rich Kromm, the IceMen completed their 12-games' schedule for the month of February with a mark of 12(2-7-3) collecting 7-points in the standings. For the season, after 54-games, Evansville's pro hockey work force has assembled a season's record of 54(17-29-8) totaling 42-points and a ninth place positioning in the Central Hockey League's Turner Conference standings. The men of Evansville pro hockey renown will embark on their March 12-games' slate commencing this week when they confront another rigorous regimen consisting of 4-games in 5-days to culminate another strenuous stretch of 7-games in 10-days. In the final month of the 66-games' regular season docket, the IceMen will play 6-more games away from home bay and 6-more at home at Swonder Ice Arena. They launch the month of March 12-points in arrears of 8th place Dayton for the coveted final playoff berth in the confer-ence. "The Kromminator" crew is 13-points back of 7th place Fort Wayne. The Gems have posted a record of 52(25-23-4) for 54-points; the Komets are 52(25-22-5) 55-points. The IceMen still may be in the position to control their own playoff fate and ultimate 2010-11 virgin AA/CHL campaign as 8 of those remaining dozen dates list either Dayton or Fort Wayne as their opponent. The hometown team will tackle each erstwhile IHL team 4-more times, including 3-assignments against the Fort Wayners this week alone with the other contest to be waged against the Daytonites. Evansville's pro hockey sextet will sojourn to Fort Wayne Wednesday for its second of three consecutive road clashes with the K's before returning home this weekend for a Friday night, Saturday home combination on the Swonder Ice Arena marquee. The Gems are in town Friday night, the Komets come calling on Saturday night on the first-ever "Beach Night" bonanza extravaganza before the IceMen take their show back on the road for another encore engagement at Fort Wayne for the state of Indiana pro hockey "brag flag" for superiority, supremacy and sovereignty.

"ICEMEN LIVE" STARTS NOW: It's another fun-filled, informative and entertaining edition of the growingly popular Monday night radio show, "IceMen Live" this Monday night from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Show-Me's East and on the IceMen's exclusive radio flagship home of WEOA-AM 1400 am and the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. This week, we go French-Canadian as "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli welcomes special guests Mario Larocque and Erik Boisvert to the weekly Monday night show.

BEACH NIGHT DELIGHT: For the first time-ever, the IceMen present "Beach Night" this Saturday night at Swonder Ice Arena when the Icemen tangle with principal archrival Fort Wayne at Swonder Ice Arena. Contestants wearing their best bathing ensembles and attire will compete for a cache of prizes and gaggle of gifts on this special night. Requisition this one under the "can't miss" category. It is guaranteed to be electric and exciting.

THE DOZEN DATE RATE: There are 12-games remaining for the IceMen to make their move to qualify for the league post-season playoffs. Through 54-games, the "Kromm contingent" has generated a record of 54(17-29-8) for 42-points. Thus far in the season's second-half, they are 21(7-11-3) for 17-points. When they stunned the Komets in Fort Wayne the past Saturday night with 3-late third period goals 2:10 apart, beginning with just 3:17 remaining in the third period, trailing, 3-2, the IceMen halted their longest winless skein of the season at 7(0-5-2). It was Evansville's first triumph since February 12th when, at home, they skewered Quad City, 5-1. The IceMen are 9(1-6-2) in their last 9-starts; last 12(2-7-3). The home team completed their February agenda with a mark of 12(2-7-3) equaling December for the fewest wins in a single month for the season. The longest win streak of the season has been 3-consecutively; the longest losing span has been 5-in succession. The monthly logs: October 6(2-3-1); November 12(6-6-0); December 13(2-7-4); January 11(5-6-0); February 12(2-7-3).

HOME HIATUS: The IceMen have not been able to relocate their homestead strength which they evinced so dominantly and prominently at the outset of the current campaign. For the season, their record stands at 24(8-13-3), having laid claim to only 1-win at Swonder for February; 5(1-3-1); a 5-1 trumping and thumping of Quad City on February 12th. After a 3-games' unblemished skein at home in which the Evansville pro hockey rank and file offered a stellar mark of 3(2-0-1), the IceMen have suddenly lost 3-in a row at Swonder, being outscored, 15-2. Since launching their home schedule with a season's best 5-games' unblemished streak at 5(4-0-1), the men of the IceMen code of colors have fashioned a mark of 19(4-13-2) in their last 19-appearances. The longest win streak at home has been 3-consecutively; the longest winless spell has been 7(0-6-1); longest home losing streak has been 6.

SAVOR FOREIGN FLAVOR: The past weekend, the IceMen continued to play some of their best hockey on foreign ice. Impressively earning 3 of a possible 4-points in a 2-games jaunt to both Dayton and Fort Wayne through a 2(1-0-1) mark, the IceMen have improved their road record to 30(9-16-5) as, once again, they have garnered more road wins (9) than home wins (8). In fact, thus far, in the second half of the season, the IceMen have carded a commendable road record at 12(5-5-2). When they stun-gunned the Komets in Fort Wayne the past Saturday night, 5-3, the IceMen halted a season-long 6-game winless skid abroad; 6(0-4-2). It was their first successful invasion into hostile territory since back on January 22nd at Rapid City where they thunderstruck the Rush, 4-2. The longest road win streak has been 3-in a row while the longest losing spell has been 3-consecutively as well.

THE TURNER TABLE: By compiling a log of 3(1-1-1) the past week against Turner Conference rivals, the IceMen have negotiated a season's ledger of 41(14-20-7). Their best record is against archenemy Fort Wayne at 7(4-3-0) with a trio of those triumphs extracted from the Komets lair of Memorial Coliseum. They are 11(4-3-4) against Dayton; 10(4-5-1) against Quad City; winless against Bloomington 6(0-4-2). Against Berry Conference foes this season, the IceMen actually premiered propitiously and auspiciously with a 3-game winning streak. However, they were winless in the last 10-chapters written at 10(0-9-1). Their last victory outside their own conference was way back on 11/11/10 when, on home ice, they disemboweled Arizona, 8-1.

THE LONELY ONE: After shredding their two home standing opponents on the road to the tune of 10-total goals in just 2-games on Friday and Saturday nights at Dayton and Fort Wayne respectively, the IceMen returned home Sunday to find their goal-scoring reservoir run dry in a 2-1 setback inflicted by Quad City. It marked the 19th time in 54-games that the IceMen have managed to score less than 2-goals in a single game. In 17 of those affairs, Evansville has scored a scant singleton. For the season, they have connected on 152-GF for GFA of 2.82 which ranks them 17th in the CHL in goal-scoring cannoneering.

TOP CHART ART: Center Nicklas Lindberg continues to enjoy a banner season for the home town team thus far this season. The Swedish import begins the new week and month ranked 15th in CHL league-wide scoring artistry with 54(14-45-59). His 45-assists rank 5th best in the CHL and his 18-PPA rank #5. Brian Bicek is listed 24th in the CHL with 54(22-30-52). Bicek's 4-SHG tie him for the league's runner-up laurels. For the defense, Mario Larocque's 14-goals tie him for the most in the league among the blue line brigade. Overall, Larocque ranks 9th in the league among the defense scoring aces with 52(14-22-36). His 196-SOG rank circuit second while his 3-GWG top all CHL rearguards. In CHL rookie scoring, Erik Boisvert 52(15-17-32) is ranked 4th and Braden Desmet 48(5-16-21) is 10th. Boisvert's 15-goals and 6-PPG both rank rookie runner-up in those two categories while his 12-PP/points tie him for the league-leadership among this year's freshmen class.

THE JEFF JUGGERNAUT: Obtained through waivers the past week from Mississippi, 40-year-old 21-year veteran left wing Jeff Christian enjoyed an extraordinary opening weekend debut with his new IceMen team. The former CHL scoring champion and MVP has attained a 3-games point streak in his initial 3-games on 3(3-3-6). Included in his output, 1-FG, 1-TB/PPG and 1-EN/UG/SHG. The New Jersey Devils #2 pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft enjoyed a dynamic debut which included 2-goals and 1-assist for 3-points in Evansville's 6-5 OTSO outcome Friday night at Dayton. Saturday night in Fort Wayne, he added another goal and assist in that spine-tingling late come-from-behind 5-3 triumph. For the season; 55(17-28-45).

MARIO MAGNIFICO: Veteran defenseman Mario Larocque has been percolating proficiently and prodigiously in recent action. The 13-year pro was the late scoring hero the past Saturday night in Fort Wayne where the IceMen, in a rather improbable fashion, stun-gunned the Komets, 5-3. Stinging the K's with 3-goals in 2:10, beginning with a mere 3:17 remaining, the IceMen were spurred by "The Rock." His touch-in-the-clutch goal a scant :47 after his team had knotted the contest at 3-3 proved to be the margin of difference (TBG/GWG). In his last 7(4-5-9) averaging over a point a game.

JEFF JUGGERNAUT II: The two trusty, crusty veterans on the club, the two Jeffs, namely Nelson and Christian have been assembled on the same IceMen forward line producing some early favorable returns. In his first 3-games, Christian is 3(3-3-6). Meanwhile, "Nelsonian Puck Plutonium" scored the IceMen's sole goal Sunday, the game's FG in the first period. For the season, he is 50(13-22-35) with 24-PIM, 6-PP and 2-muliple goal games.

POCKET ROCKET IN LAUNCH: High-stepping IceMen forward Brian Bicek is coming on strong as he gets "tuned-up and tuned-in"for the duration of the season bridging toward the playoffs. "Ice-Bice-Baby" delivered the late third period GTG at 16:43 of the third period in the IceMen's spellbinding, electrifying 3-goal blitz in 2:10 to overtake the K's, 5-3. Having reached the top 25 in league-wide scoring this week with 54(22-30-52), along with 5-PPG, 11-PPA and 5-PPG, the "Pocket Rocket" is 18(8-13-21) I his last 18-games.

THE KOMET CLOSER: Evansville goaltender Jeff Harvey truly sparkled the past weekend in the IceMen goal. The former U. of Saskatchewan standout halted a personal 7-game winless spell; 7(0-5-2) on Saturday night when he backstopped the IceMen to a thrilling comeback 5-3 conquest of the Komets in Fort Wayne. It was Harvey's third victory since joining the IceMen in a trade consummated with the Texas Brahmas. All 3 of his wins have been gained in Fort Wayne thus far this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS TIMELY: After enduring a rather heinous 0 for 17 famine, the IceMen power play reawakened from its slumber-number, swoon-tune and trance-dance by delivering the "trifecta" in Friday night's OTSO affair at Dayton. Specifically, the IceMen were 3-6 against the Gems. The 3-PPG equaled the club's second best output in a s ingle game this season. The power play is rated 17th; 42-271; 15.5% proficiency. In the penalty-killing category, Evansville ranks 13th, operating at 81.3% efficiency. The opposition is 3 for the last 13 and 5for the last 32. The IceMen have sniped 12-SHG which ranks as third most in the CHL.

MILESTONES ZONE: Defenseman Jamie Lovell (393) is 7-games away from pro career 400. Jeff Nelson (744) is 6-assists shy of #750. Dating back to last season, Brian Bicek has played in 130-consecutive games. Bicek (194) is 6-games shy of career 200. In his first game with the IceMen, Jeff Christian collected 3-points to increase his pro total to 1,275 career points.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": Their late 3-goals in 2:10 to seize the lead in Fort Wayne represent the fastest 3-goals the IceMen have scored in a single game this season. The IceMen have yet to win on Sunday; 5(0-4-1) being outscored, 16-3. The IceMen have been outshot in 13 of their 17-victories this season. In turn, they have won only 4-times this year when they outshoot the adversary. The IceMen and Dayton have gone to extra time in their last 5-consecutive meetings including the 3-in succession at Dayton. The IceMen are 5(1-4-0) against the Gems; in OT: 3(0-3); OTSO: 2(1-1). Evansville's combined record in OT and the OTSO stands at 10(2-8-0). Nicklas Lindberg's 7-PPG pace the team as do his 6-FG. The IceMen have been outscored in the third period at home, 42-19. Only 3-IceMen players have answered the bell for all 54-games; Brian Bicek, Mark Cody and Nicklas Lindberg.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND THE ICEMEN AT FORT WAYNE 6:30 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 5TH FORT WAYNE AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH THE ICEMEN AT FORT WAYNE 5:00 PM

The IceMen tangle with the Komets in a triumvirate of episodes to open the March schedule. Following their spellbinding, electrifying come back counterattack 5-3 victory verdict last Saturday at Memorial Coliseum, Evansville has achieved the lead in the 11-game season series at 7(4-3-0). The IceMen have won 3 of their last 4-excursions to Fort Wayne. In the process, they have commandeered the lead in the season series at 7(4-3-0). After this upcoming week, these two Indiana fractious foes will lock antlers only one more time for the balance of the season.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH DAYTON AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

This will be session staged #12 for the two intra-conference counterparts and the sixth of eight in Evansville. The IceMen are 11(4-3-4) against the Gems; at home: 5(3-1-1); on the road: 6(1-2-3). The 5-consecutive battles between these two teams have resulted in extra time matters. The IceMen are 5(1-4-0) against the Gems in this category.

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 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 radio 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 Ticket master 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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