Mallards Strike Early to Down Blaze

Published on March 1, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington Blaze News Release


BLOOMINGTON - The Bloomington Blaze, presented by Mid-Illini Credit Union, fell behind early and never recovered in a 5-1 loss to the Quad City Mallards on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The Mallards struck first with 17:02 when Justin Chwedoruk put in a rebound goal from the left circle. Quad City made it 2-0 with 11:21 left in the opening period when Obi Aduba wristed a goal from the right circle. The Mallards' top scorer, Brandon Marino, made it 3-0 after converting a centering pass in the slot with 4:38 remaining in the first period. Zane Kalemba took over in the Blaze net for Brian Mahoney-Wilson to start the second period.

After a scoreless third period, the Mallards made it 4-0 when Jared Brown took a pass in the slot and whistled it past Kalemba 8:23 into the third period. The Blaze answered just 36 seconds later on Vladimir Nikiforov's 17th goal of the season from the slot, assisted by Jason Dale and Doug Krantz to cut the Mallards lead to 4-1. Brandon Marino converted a wraparound with 3:10 left for his second goal of the game to increase the Mallard advantage to 5-1.

The Blaze outshot the Mallards 38-35. Each team was scoreless on five power play chances. Mahoney-Wilson sustained the loss, while David McKee earned the win in net with 37 saves.

Before the game, the Blaze signed forward Brent Clarke, who played his first two professional seasons (2007-09) in Bloomington and was released earlier this week by the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. The Blaze have also signed forward Lee McClure, who made his debut on Wednesday in Fort Wayne, and placed forward Chris Chambers on team suspension and forward Brodie Sheahan on season-ending injured reserve.

The Blaze come right back to U.S. Cellular Coliseum on Friday night for a 7:05 p.m. face-off against the Tulsa Oilers. The first 1,500 fans receive a Scorch mascot bobblehead courtesy of Country Financial. It's also a Pepsi Date Night, when fans who bring a Pepsi product to the Coliseum box office when buying a reserved seat ticket receive a second ticket free, and combo meals are priced two for one.

The Blaze take Saturday off before concluding their seven-game-in-ten-day swing at Evansville on Sunday at 5 p.m. More information on Blaze hockey can be found at www.bloomingtonblaze.com, Facebook, Twitter (BLMBlaze) or by calling 309-434-2980. All Blaze games can be found live on WJBC.com and inside U.S. Cellular Coliseum on 93.7 FM.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2012


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