IHL Prepares to Open Season Friday
October 13, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2) News Release
ROCHESTER, MI- The International Hockey League (IHL) is preparing for the 2009-10 season, which begins this Friday, October 16th with the Fort Wayne Komets visiting the Dayton Gems as the Gems prepare for their first season in the new IHL. The Muskegon Lumberjacks will travel to Flint the same night to face-off against the Generals as Flint begins their 40th season of professional hockey, while Muskegon will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. Also making a splash in the IHL is the Quad City Mallards, who open their inaugural season on the road when they travel to Flint on Saturday, October 17th.
The 2009-10 schedule consists of 266 games with each team playing a total of 76 games (38 home, 38 road). There will be a total of 59 weekday games with 78% of the league contests being scheduled to be played on the weekend.
The 2009 exhibition schedule will conclude this Wednesday when the Evansville IceMen of the All American Hockey League (AAHL) travel to Dayton to face-off against the Gems. The Gems had their first preseason win against the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, winning the game 4-2. It was the first hockey game at Hara Arena in Dayton in 13 years.
The Port Huron Icehawks traveled to Toledo this past Sunday to play their final preseason game versus the Walleye. Port Huron got on the board late in the first and never looked back, scoring three more goals in the second and chipping in one in the third to beat the Walleye by a final score of 5-2. Forward Mike Kinnie netted three goals in the contest for the Icehawks.
Final rosters are due to the league office by Thursday, October 15th at 5 p.m. (EST). The seven member clubs will have a maximum of 20 players on their active roster with a total of 19 dressing for the games (17 skaters, 2 goaltenders). Clubs must dress at least four (4) rookies and a maximum of eight (8) veterans during any game.
2009-10 Home Openers
Bloomington PrairieThunder Saturday, October 24th, 2009 vs. Dayton
Dayton Gems Friday, October 16th, 2009 vs. Fort Wayne
Flint Generals Friday, October 16th, 2009 vs. Muskegon
Fort Wayne Komets Friday, October 23rd, 2009 vs. Bloomington
Muskegon Lumberjacks Saturday, October 17th, 2009 vs. Bloomington
Port Huron Icehawks Saturday, October 17th, 2009 vs. Fort Wayne
Quad City Mallards Saturday, October 24th, 2009 vs. Fort Wayne
International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 13, 2009
- K-Wings Release Swanson - IHL 2
- Kitts to Serve as Mallards' Head Equipment Manager - Quad City Mallards
- Icehawks Add Local Defenseman To Roster - Port Huron Icehawks
- IHL Prepares to Open Season Friday - IHL 2
- Generals Add Veteran Defenseman In Henry - Flint Generals
- Bullet Points 50th Year Opening Night - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- 2009-2010 PrairieThunder Roster Set - Bloomington PrairieThunder
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