IceMen Weekly

Published on March 20, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release


ICEMEN MATTERS: The Evansville IceMen are set to embark on the final week of their fledgling season in the AA Central Hockey League this upcoming week. Under the auspices of General Manager/ Coach Rich Kromm, the IceMen will face three games in three nights against Turner Conference rivals, the Bloomington PrairieThunder. The past week, the IceMen assembled a 3(1-1-1) record in 3-games in 3-nights. Thursday night, St. Patrick's night, despite an all-out, spirited effort and performance, the IceMen bowed to the Gems in Dayton, 2-1. However, the following night, on home ice, Evansville's icers gained some redemption in a thrilling 3-1 victory verdict over the same Gems club. Concluding a 2-game homestand in as many nights, the men of the Evansville pro hockey work force garnered another point in the standings through a 5-4 OTSO ultimate outcome against visiting archrival Fort Wayne. The IceMen contingent will commence the final week of the season occupying 9th place in the CHL Turner Conference alliance with a record of 63(19-32-12) totaling 50-points. They broach the final weekend with a sojourn to Bloomington where they will be hosted by the playoff bound PrairieThunder on Friday night. Then it's a return to the homestead and Swonder Ice Arena where an encore will be staged between the two clubs on Saturday night. This Saturday night will be the IceMen home finale for this season. It will be Fan Appreciation Night and Awards Night. The 66th and final game is on the slate for Sunday back in the Illinois hamlet.

2011-12 ICEMEN SEASON TICKETS: Season ticket deposits are now being accepted for the exciting 2011-12 IceMen CHL pro hockey season as the IceMen prepare to move into the new state-of-the-art downtown Evansville arena for next season. To reserve your season seats now, contact the IceMen direct at (812) 435-8971 or by e-mail at icemen.operations@yahoo.com.

IT'S ANOTHER ICEMEN LIVE: It's yet another fun-filled, informative and entertaining edition of the popular Monday night radio show, "IceMen Live," this Monday night from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm live from Show-Me's East on the IceMen exclusive radio flagship home of WEOA-AM 1400 and the world-wide internet at 1400amweoa.com. This week, "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli welcomes special guests, #10-Brian Bicek and #54-Jordan Lane.

AWARDS NIGHT/FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT: This Saturday night when the IceMen cap their 2010-11 CHL home schedule against the Bloomington PrairieThunder at Swonder Ice Arena, it has been designated as "Fan Appreciation Night" and "Awards Night." The IceMen organization will honor and salute their loyal, avid and rabid fans with a gaggle of gifts and plethora of prizes. In addition, before the game, the IceMen will conduct their First Annual Awards Night as they honor special individual perform-ances and achievements from their player personnel in 2010-11.

THE RECORD REVIEW: Entering the final week of the season, the IceMen have compiled a composite record of 63(19-32-12) for 50-points. Thus far, in the second half, through 30-games, the Ice Men log reads 30(9-14-7) for 25-points. Recent records charted; last 4-games; 4(1-1-2); last 6-games; 6(1-3-2); last 12-games; 12(3-4-5). Evansville has garnered standings points in 8 of its last dozen dates. Seven of the last 16 and 8 of the last 19-games have been protracted to CHL extra time. In those last 8-OT/OTSO decisions, the IceMen record stands at 8(1-7). The longest win streak of the season has been 3-in a row; the longest losing spell has been 5-consecutively; the longest overall winless streak has been 7(0-5-2). The monthly accounting reports: October 6(2-3-1); November 12(6-6-0); December 13(2-7-3); January 11(5-6-0); Feb-ruary 12(2-7-3); March 9(2-3-4).

HOME PLACE PACE: The past weekend, the IceMen, once again, earned points in both of their Swon-der on-ice appearances. Friday night, they dispatched Dayton, 3-1 before earning one additional point in a 5-4 ultimate OTSO outcome against archrival Fort Wayne. For the season, the IceMen home log reads 29(10-13-6) 26-points. The IceMen are actually unblemished in regulation time in their last 5-home starts at 5(2-0-3) collecting 7 of a possible 10-points in the standings. Their present 5-games' home ice undefeated streak matches their longest of the season which transpired in the initial 5-home dates of the season; 5(4-0-1). The IceMen are unsullied at home in the month of March. In their last 10- outings at home, their record is 10(4-2-4) for 12-points. Evansville's second half home record is 14(4-6-4) for 12-points. The longest win streak at home has been 3-in a row. The longest losing streak at home has been 6 and the longest winless spell at home 7(0-6-1).

ROADWAY WARFARE: The past week saw the IceMen sojourn for a singleton abroad where they were nipped by Dayton despite a strong, stout, stellar effort and performance, 2-1. With the setback, Evansville's latest losing streak on the road has reached 3-in a row which equals for the fourth time this season their longest in this particular category. Last 4 on foreign ice; 4(0-3-1). The IceMen icers are winless on the road thus far in March. Their last triumph in enemy territory was back on February 26th in Fort Wayne where they stunned the Komets, 5-3. The second half road record stands at 16(5-8-3) for 13-points. The longest win streak away this season has been 3-in succession.

CONFERENCE COMPILATION: Posting a 3(1-1-1) mark the past week with all games opposing fellow fractious foes from the Turner Conference, the IceMen updated mark within their own conference territory is 50(16-23-11) for 43-points. Their best records are against archenemy Fort Wayne 11(5-4-2) and Dayton 15(5-4-6). The IceMen have completed their season's slate against the Berry Conference delegation, posting a record of 13(3-9-1).

GF / GA ARRAY: The IceMen commence the final week of the regular season ranked 18th in the CHL in GF with 174 for a GFA of 2.76. In their last 6-games, they have registered 13-GF for a GFA of 2.17. On the road, the IceMen have managed to score only 5-GF during a current winless spell of 4-games for a GFA of 1.25. For the month of March, 22-GF in 9-games for a GFA of 2.44. In the GA/defense department, the IceMen rank 17th in the loop with a GAA of 3.75. For March, they have surrendered 28-GA in 9-games for a GAA of a shrinking and vastly improving 3.11.

REAPING REWARDS: Center Nicklas Lindberg is 17th in CHL scoring with 62(15-52-67) with his 52-assists ranked 6th overall in the CHL. Brian Bicek's 5-SHG tie for the league-lead; Lindberg's 5-SHA also tie him for the league leadership in that department. Mario Larocque's 16-goals rank runner-up in the CHL among all defensemen while his 4-GWG tie him for the top spot and his 225-SOG list him #2 as well. Overall, Larocque is 8th in CHL defense scoring. Left wing Erik Boisvert is ranked 4th in CHL rookie scoring with 61(16-20-36). His 16-goals are third most in the league, his 7-PPG tie him for rookie runner-up in that category. Boisvert's 2/5 ; .400 proficiency in the OTSO ties him for the top spot among rookies. Nicklas Lindberg is ranked circuit second in OTSO goal scoring proficiency; 4/7 .571. His 4-OTSO goals tie him for the league-lead.

THE POCKET ROCKET REVELS: The IceMen swift center Brian Bicek is enjoying his best season thus far in his three-year pro career. The former WMU standout has fashioned both a club and career-high 26-goals thus far this season, registering 2-goals in 2-games the past weekend home stand as well as delivering his team's lone OTSO goal in Saturday night's 5-4 OTSO result against Fort Wayne. In his last 12-games, 12(6-5-11); the last 27(12-16-28). "Ice-Bice-Baby" was hailed the #2 Star on Friday night, in his club's 3-1 victory verdict over Dayton.

ERIK THE ELECTRIC: First year left wing Erik Boisvert enjoyed a sound and solid weekend for the hometown team. The past Saturday night, the former Sacred Heart U. standout was named the game's #1 Star delivering 2-points including the GTG/PPG at the 1:46 mark of the second period on an IceMen power play strike. His PP thrust fused an IceMen 4-goal powder keg in 4:30 that expunged a 1-0 deficit and vaulted the "Men of Ice" into a 4-1 lead over Fort Wayne.

"THE ROCK" RIDES AGAIN: Veteran defenseman Mario Larocque continues to consistently add scoring points to his IceMen prolific portfolio. In fact, in his team's thrilling 3-1 triumph Friday night at home against Dayton, he connected on the TBG/GWG/PPG with a two-man advantage with 6:35 remaining in regulation time to fracture a 1-1 deadlock and catapult the IceMen into the victory circle. "The Rock's" shot seemed to split the night's air as he was acclaimed the game's #1 Star for his extraordinary scoring exploits. In his last 16-games; 16(7-9-16).

FIERCE PIERCE PERFORMANCE: Four-year pro left wing Matt Pierce has been an exceptional acquisition by the IceMen. The SPHL emigrant collected 3-points in 3-games for the IceMen the past week. Included in his output was his team's sole goal in a 2-1 setback inflicted by the Gems in Dayton on Thursday night. On Saturday night, he acted the role of playmaker extraordinaire, recording 2-assists during Evansville's fastest 4-goals of the season in the second period in the 5-4 OTSO outcome against Fort Wayne. Since his acquisition by Evansville, Pierce is 24(9-7-16).

AN ADAM ATOM: First year defenseman Adam Knopp continues to show that he belongs in the CHL and with the IceMen club. Elevated to Evansville last month from his SPHL hockey port in Huntsville, the erstwhile Mount Royal College rampart celebrated his first-ever pro goal the past Saturday night when he climaxed the IceMen's 4-goal second period cymbal-crashing crescendo in 4:30 with a Knopp shot from the top of the slot. It was also his first scoring point with Evansville.

SPECIAL TEAMS TRIGGER: Though listed at 17th in the CHL, the IceMen power play has been percolating in recent activity. They are 2 for the last 7; 28.6% proficiency and 3 for the last 12; 25%. Meanwhile, the penalty killing unit has been royally supreme. Ranked 10th in the CHL, the IceMen shorthand band is 24 for the last 27; 88.9%; 39 for the last44; 88.6% and 48 for the last 54; 88.9%. The IceMen are tied for second in the league in SHG with 14.

HALLOWED HALLS OF HISTORY: On the past Thursday night at Dayton, Jamie Lovell played in his 400th pro career game. Jeff Nelson (748) is 2-assists from pro career 750. Dating back to last season, Brian Bicek has played 139-consecutive games. Jeff Christian (1,288) is 12-points away from pro career 1,300.

FEW FUN FAST FACTS FROM "FIC": 30 of the IceMen 63-games this season have been decided by a scant single goal; the IceMen are 30(8-10-12) in that category. The IceMen have played 15-extra time games this season with a record overall of 15(3-12); they are 8(1-7) in OT and 7(2-5) in the OTSO. The IceMen 4-goal blitz in 4:30 in the second period of their 5-4 OTSO affair against Fort Wayne, represented their fastest 4-goals in a single game this season. In that same game, the 2-teams combined for 7-goals in a span of 8:51 of the second period with the Icemen scoring the first 4 before the Komets riposted with 3 of their own in 2:25. Goaltender Matt Lundin has accounted for all 10 of the IceMen home victories this season. Jeff Christian has now registered points in 11 of his first 12 IceMen games; 12(6-10-16). Brian Bicek and Mark Cody are the last 2 left standing in playing all 63-games this season.

THE ICEMEN GAME CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK:

FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH THE ICEMEN AT BLOOMINGTON 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 26TH BLOOMINGTON AT THE ICEMEN 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 27TH THE ICEMEN AT BLOOMINGTON 5:00 PM

The IceMen complete their 66-games' regular season schedule with a 3-games series in 3-days against the Bloomington PrairieThunder. Evansville is winless against the Thunder this season in 6-previous clashes at 6(0-4-2). They are 4(0-3-1) in the Illinois city and 2(0-1-1) at home. Bloomington has attained a playoff berth for the first time in the franchise 5-year history.

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 1400amweoa.com. "The Voice of the IceMen," Terry Ficorelli has all 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 Ticketmaster Centers in Evansville; downtown at The Centre Box Office; Schnuck's West Side or at the Roberts Stadium Box Office; or by phoned (812) 476-1383.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2011


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