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Port Huron To Host Bloomington To Close Out Regular Season

April 14, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Icehawks bring the 2009-10 IHL regular season to a close with a pair of home games against the Bloomington PrairieThunder this weekend. The Icehawks set a new team record, winning their 45th game of the season last week.

Though Port Huron has already clinched the third seed in the 2010 Turner Cup Playoffs, they may have a chance to play spoiler to Bloomington, who needs one more win to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot.

The Icehawks are 8-2-0-0 against the PrairieThunder overall, and 3-1-0-0 on home ice as they prepare for the 11th and 12th matchup of the season. With a weekend sweep, the Icehawks would reach double-digit wins against three different opponents this season. Port Huron earned their tenth wins against the Flint Generals and the Dayton Gems during last week's action.

Icehawks goalie Adam Russo has been waived so that he may play for the Italian national team in the upcoming World Championships. Russo played for team Italy during February's Euro Ice Hockey Challenge, earning two wins and stopping all 64 shots he faced in just over 120 minutes of action. At the time he left the Icehawks, Russo was the team leader in wins (23), saves (1122) and minutes played (2430).

Port Huron earned six of a possible eight points last week when they played four games in six days. The Icehawks took two of three against the Flint Generals before winning a nail biter against Dayton with less than six seconds to play in overtime Sunday.

Instant Impact: Newcomer Paul Cianfrini's first professional goal came late in overtime to beat the Gems Sunday. The rookie defenseman joined the Icehawks early last week after his Erie Otters were eliminated in the first round of the OHL Playoffs. Cianfrini appeared in all four games with Port Huron last week, tallying a goal, two assists and a +3 plus-minus rating.

Roster Moves: With the playoffs approaching, Port Huron has also waived defenseman Ian Turner as they continue to finalize their playoff roster. Turner appeared in 59 games with the Icehawks this season, tallying 20 points on 4 goals and 16 assists and earning a +8 plus-minus rating.

Chasing History: With two games remaining this season, a pair of Icehawks are within striking distance of team records. Mickael Bedard is four goals shy of Tab Lardner's record of 39 goals, set in the 2007-08 season. Bedard has eight multi-goal games this season, including a pair of hat tricks. Nick Lindberg is five assists shy of reaching his own record of 52, a record he shares with Jamie Carroll, set last season. Lindberg has eight multi-assist games this year, including three games of three assists or more.

Iron Men: While Icehawks skaters have missed over 300 man-games due to injury this season, four players have appeared in all 74 games so far. Mickael Bedard, Nick Lindberg, Kerry Bowman and Jamie Lovell have not missed a single game this season. Josh Aspenlind appeared in all 76 games in the Icehawks' inaugural season, the only player to accomplish the feat thus far. Lindberg has missed just one of 150 games in his two seasons in Port Huron.

Now For Sale: The Icehawks put round one 2010 Turner Cup Playoffs and 2010-11 season tickets on sale this week. Visit the box office at McMorran Arena at 701 McMorran Blvd. in downtown Port Huron or call the Icehawks office at 810-966-3800 for more information.

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