Sports stats



Iowa prepares for Friday and Saturday home games

January 17, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release


Wed., Jan. 18 @ Grand Rapids Griffins - Grand Rapids, MI

STARS vs. Grand Rapids: Season Series Tied, 1-1

Broadcasts: Jason Shaver on AM 940; B2 Video on iowastarshockey.com

The Stars and Griffins battle for the third time this season and second at Van Andel Arena. Iowa is 0-1 in Michigan, with the loss coming back on October 28th--- Grand Rapids currently sits in first place in the Western Conference's North Division with 59 points and a record of 28-11-1-2--- The Griffins are 8-1-1-0 in their last 10 games, including four straight wins--- Grand Rapids is 15- 2-1-2 on home ice, outscoring opponents, 90-64--- Forward Jiri Hudler paces the team and is third in the AHL with 51 points, including 21 goals. Eric Manlow (42 points) is ranked 11th and Valtteri Filppula (41 points) is 15th among AHL point-getters--- They have the most efficient power-play in the AHL, scoring a goal on 62 of their 287 man advantages, 21.6%. On the other side of the coin, their penalty-kill ranks near the bottom (22nd), allowing 58 goals in 305 mandown situations, 81%.

FRI., JAN. 20 vs. CHICAGO WOLVES - WELLS FARGO ARENA

STARS vs. Chicago: Stars Lead Season Series, 5-0

Broadcasts: Jason Shaver on AM 940; B2 Video on iowastarshockey.com

The Stars welcome Chicago back to Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, January 20th on 4 for $40 night! Junior Lessard will be presented with his AHL Award for earning the Player of the Week--- The Stars have defeated the Wolves in all five games they have played this season, outscoring them, 18-7--- At print time, Chicago is eight points behind Iowa, with 36 points and a record of 14-16- 2-6. Chicago is 4-4-0-2 in their last 10 games--- The Wolves are the second-most penalized team in the West Division with 1036. Iowa has 838 PIM'S--- The Wolves' NHL affiliate, the Atlanta Thrashers reassigned forwards Ramzi Abid and Karl Stewart to Chicago on Sunday--- They host Omaha on Wednesday.

SAT., JAN. 21 vs. MANCHESTER MONARCHS - WELLS FARGO ARENA

STARS vs. Manchester: First Meeting of the Season

Broadcasts: Jason Shaver on AM 940; B2 Video on iowastarshockey.com

TV - Mediacom Connections 22

SHOOTER BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT! The first 5,000 fans will receive a Shooter Bobblehead. Also, join local area mascots in celebrating SHOOTER'S FIRST BIRTHDAY--- The Monarchs will be making their only regular season appearance at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night. Manchester is eighth overall in the AHL with 53 points. Through 40 games, they are 24-11-1-4--- The Monarchs have played a League-high 17 Overtime/Shootout games. They have 12 wins, 1 loss and 4 Shootout losses. 29 of their 53 points have come via an overtime or shootout win--- Brad Smyth is ranked third in the AHL with a ‘plus 17' rating, while Jeff Tambellini is 10th with a ‘plus 14'--- Tambellini is second amongst AHL rookies with 38 points, including 18 goals--- Goalie Adam Hauser sits 16th among AHL goalies with a 2.80 Goals Against Average--- The Monarchs won 4-3 over Providence on Sunday and play in Hartford on Wednesday and in Omaha on Friday before playing Iowa on Saturday--- Yesterday afternoon, goalie Jason LaBarbera was recalled by LA. He appeared in three games with the Monarchs, posting a record of 1-1-1, a 3.25 GAA and a .907%, after being assigned to Manchester on Jan. 11th on a conditioning assignment.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Des Moines & Neighboring Communities

STARS PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES:

- Fri., Jan. 20th - SAVE $44 with the STAR 102.5 FM 4 for $40 NIGHT! Purchase four $21 tickets for just $40! This offer can only be redeemed at the Wells Fargo Box Office and is only available for the $21 price level. Junior Lessard will also be presented with his AHL Player of the Week Award in a pre-game ceremony.

- Sat., Jan. 21st - SHOOTER BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT! The first 5,000 fans will receive a bobblehead of Shooter, the Iowa Stars mascot. It's also Shooter's Birthday! He'll be joined by several area mascots throughout the game. - Sat., Jan. 21st - Iowa Home & Patio Show from 11-1 - Shooter will be appearing at the Iowa State Fairgrounds - Mon., Jan. 23rd - Character Counts at West Elementary School in Polk City - Time and Player to be announced.

STAR DUST:

- Right Wing Junior Lessard had his 10-point, five-game point-streak snapped on Saturday.

- The Stars reached the 20-win plateau with a 3-2 win in Houston on January 13th.

- Iowa is 8-2-1 at home when they score first.

- Iowa has allowed just two power-play goals in their last 18 man-down situations.

LOOKING BACK AT WEEK 15: 2 WINS, 2 LOSSES

3-0 WIN - TUE., JAN. 10 VS CLEVELAND BARONS - WELLS FARGO ARENA ATT: 4,231

Teams Goals/Period Goaltenders Saves/Shots Power Plays PIM's

IOWA 0 2 1 - 3 Dan Ellis 30/30 0-4 13

Cleveland 0 0 0 - 0 N. Schaefer 29/31 0-4 13

GOALS: IOWA: (2) Junior Lessard, Eriksson Cleveland: -NONE

NOTES: The Iowa Stars and the Cleveland Barons met Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena, with the Stars posting a 3-0 shutout victory. The whitewash was Iowa's third such victory of the season. After a scoreless first period, Junior Lessard registered his 11th goal of the season at 13:05 of the second period. It was the seventh straight Iowa Stars goal that Lessard factored in, scoring four goals and three assists. Stars goaltender Dan Ellis made 30 saves en route to his first shutout of the season. The Stars now have three team shutouts, with Mike Smith laying claim to the other two.

6-1 Loss - Thu., Jan 12 @ Houston Aeros - Houston, TX ATT: 3,822

Teams Goals/Period Goaltenders Saves/Shots Power Plays PIM's

IOWA 1 0 0 - 1 Smith/Ellis 17/21, 5/7 0-5 16

Houston 1 3 2 - 6 Harding/Kotyk 7/8, 16/16 2-6 14

GOALS: IOWA: Loui Eriksson Houston: (2) Westrum, Law, Murphy, Voloshenko, Foy

NOTES: The third meeting of the season, and the third in Houston between these two teams, saw Houston post a 6-1 victory. Rookie left winger Loui Eriksson extended his point-streak to four games with his 10th goal of the season. Eriksson became the third Stars player (Lessard, Petersen) to reach double-digits in goals. The Swedish-born forward has registered goals in three straight games, has six points in four-straight, 4(3/3/6) and 10 points in his last nine games: 9(4/6/10). Right wing Junior Lessard picked-up an assist on the Stars lone goal. That assist gave him nine points in his last four games: 4(5/4/9).

3-2 WIN - Fri., Jan. 13 @ Houston Aeros - Houston, TX ATT: 6,061

Teams Goals/Period Goaltenders Saves/Shots Power Plays PIM's

IOWA 2 0 1 - 3 Dan Ellis 24/26 0-7 16

Houston 0 0 2 - 2 S. Kotyk 32/35 0-6 16

GOALS: IOWA: Krys Barch, Junior Lessard, Patrick Traverse Houston: Law, Murphy

NOTES: Iowa returned home to Wells Fargo Arena 3-2 winners over the AHL's second-place team. For the 20th time this season, the Iowa Stars posted the maiden-marker in the contest. Winger Junior Lessard continued his recent offensive tear, scoring his team-leading 13th goal of the season. Despite, being man-down four times in the second, Iowa's defense was the story of the period, holding Houston to just four shots in the period, including none on the power-play. Iowa held Houston to just four shots in six total man-down situations. Goaltender Dan Ellis had his bid for his second consecutive fullgame shutout squashed at 9:09 of the third period when the AHL's leading scorer Kirby Law recorded his league-leading 25th goal of the season. Ellis finished with 24 saves.

2-1 Loss - SAT., JAN. 14 VS CLEVELAND BARONS - WELLS FARGO ARENA ATT: 6,131

Teams Goals/Period Goaltenders Saves/Shots Power Plays PIM's

IOWA 1 0 0 - 1 Mike Smith 20/22 1-5 4

Cleveland 0 1 1 - 2 N. Schaefer 28/29 0-2 10

GOALS: IOWA: David Oliver Cleveland: Hennessy, Bernier

NOTES: The Iowa Stars and the Cleveland Barons met for the final time during the regular season Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. A goal in the last :15 seconds of the third period, gave the Barons a 2-1 victory over Iowa. Right Winger David Oliver registered the lone Stars goal at 9:05 of the first period. Saturday's game was Oliver's first game back after missing 10 games with an injury. Junior Lessard had his five-game point-streak snapped.

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Iowa Chops Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central