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Mike Kinnie Hat Trick Boosts Port Huron To 5-4 Win

October 17, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI ¨C Port Huron Icehawks newcomer Mike Kinnie made a memorable debut on Saturday and scored three times to lead the Icehawks to a 5-4 victory over the Fort Wayne Komets in their season opener at McMorran Arena.

Kinnie, who also had a hat trick in last Sunday¡¯s preseason game versus the Toledo Walleye, led scoring on the Icehawks first line, which combined for eight points. His linemates Tab Lardner and Kris Vernarsky each had a pair of assists, while Lardner also had a goal. Defenseman Daniel Tetrault and Jamie Lovell also had good offensive games. Tetrault netted a goal and two assists and Lovell dished out a pair of goals. ¡¡ The Icehawks special teams played a key role in the win, with three of their five goals coming on the power play. The Icehawks did not take long to bring the crowd to their feet, as Kinnie took advantage of the first power play opportunity of the game and scored at 2:48 to give his team the early advantage. He was assisted by Lovell and Tetrault.

The Icehawks made it a two goal game when Tetrault beat goalie Nick Boucher at 10:11 in the second period. Just over two minutes later, Fort Wayne got on the board when a P.C. Drouin shot deflected off an Icehawks defender and landed on the stick of Matt Syrocyznski, who tapped it in. Konstantin Shafranov also assisted on the play.

The Komets scored twice early in the third period to take a 3-2 lead, but Port Huron¡¯s offense was not finished yet and ignited for three consecutive goals, including goals just 12 seconds apart from Lardner and Kinnie at 5:56 and 6:08 and Kinnie¡¯s third goal of the night, this time on the power play, at 8:17. Fort Wayne's Brad MacMillan made it a one goal game with a tally at 14:01, but the Icehawks held on for the win.

The game was a physical one that included three fights. Port Huron¡¯s Mike Bray tangled with Blair Stayzer and Icehawks forward Jason Kostadine dropped the gloves with Danko Mironovic, both before the end of the first period, and Tetrault fought Kaleigh Schrock in the second stanza.

The Icehawks outshot the Komets 32-26 in the win. Port Huron goalie Larry Sterling earned the win with 22 saves on 26 shots, while Boucher made 27 stops on 32 shots.

The Icehawks return to action next weekend with a trio of games. They host the Flint Generals on Friday at 7:30 p.m. There will be a magnet schedule giveaway for the first 500 fans. The Icehawks travel to Flint on Saturday to wrap up the home and home series, then head to Muskegon on Sunday to take on the Lumberjacks.

Single game tickets for all Icehawks home games are on sale now at the McMorran Arena Box Office, any Ticket Master location or by phone. For more information, call 810-966-3800.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 17, 2009


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