Ice's first game ever this Saturday in Chicago
Published on September 22, 2004 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, IN-- The Indiana Ice plays its first-ever game in the United States Hockey League when the team travels to the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, IL this Saturday night for a 7:00 p.m. face-off with the Chicago Steel.
The Ice is coming off a 1-1-1 showing last weekend at the Buc Bowl, the USHL's annual preseason tournament held every year in Des Moines, IA. Mike Beck led the team in scoring at the tourney with three points (G, 2A), while Nick Deutz also tallied two goals. The goaltending tandem of B.J. O'Brien and Jake Maida were strong between the pipes as the duo combined for a 2.33 goals-against-average and a .933 save percentage.
"We're really excited about opening our inaugural season," said Ice Head Coach Red Gendron. "We've been training on and off the ice for over a month including exhibition games and our players are hungry to do it for real."
The opening day roster includes five holdovers from the Danville Wings in forwards Tomas Klempa, Todd McIlrath and Travis Winter and defensemen Mike Beck and A.J. Panchenko. The roster also includes two 2004 NHL Draft Picks in forwards Brian Gifford (3rd round, Pittsburgh) and Sergei Kukushkin (7th round, Dallas).
Red Gendron makes his head coaching debut with the Ice this weekend as well. He was a former Assistant Coach with the New Jersey Devils and has three Stanley Cup rings from the 1995, 2000 and 2003 championships.
After this weekends' regular season opener, the Ice has road games next weekend against Sioux Falls and Sioux City. The team's home opener is Saturday, October 9th against the Waterloo Black Hawks at 7:00 p.m. from the Pepsi Coliseum.
Fans can purchase tickets for the team's home opener and all Pepsi Coliseum games at all Ticketmaster locations including select Marsh Supermarkets, Karma Records, select L.S. Ayres and the Pepsi Coliseum and Conseco Fieldhouse box offices, or by calling 239-5151 or online at ticketmaster.com. For all the latest Ice information, please visit www.indianaice.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2004
- Ice's first game ever this Saturday in Chicago - Indiana Ice
- Stampede reduce roster to 23 - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm garners top spot in preseason poll - Tri-City Storm
- Storm finalizes roster - Tri-City Storm
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