PrairieThunder face hectic schedule, home cooking
December 23, 2008 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Seven games in nine days, but thankfully five at home. That's what looms on the horizon for the Bloomington PrairieThunder after a five-day layoff for Christmas.
The PrairieThunder begins the grind on Friday with an 8 p.m. International Hockey League game at Fort Wayne. That's followed by back-to-back home games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum against Flint on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 4:05 p.m.
Following a day off Monday, the PrairieThunder boards the bus for Muskegon and a 6 p.m. Tuesday tilt at L.C. Walker Arena. Then it's back home for a New Year's Eve affair against league-leading Port Huron at 6:05 p.m. followed by back-to-back 7:05 p.m. contests on Jan 2 and 3 with Muskegon at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The PrairieThunder will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak and improve on its 8-16 record (16 points). Bloomington is 1-3 against Fort Wayne this season and winless in two games at Allen County Memorial Coliseum.
Against Flint, the PrairieThunder is 2-3 overall and has lost three straight two the Generals after starting with two straight wins in the series. The teams have split two games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The PrairieThunder and Muskegon are even at two games each in the season series with each team 1-1 on their home ice. Bloomington is winless in five games with Port Huron, including three setbacks at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Thunder is 6-7 at home and 2-9 on the road.
Port Huron (16-12) and Kalamazoo (16-9) entered the Christmas break tied for the league lead with 32 points. Fort Wayne (14-9-1) is third just three points from first, while Muskegon (13-8-1) is fourth with 27 points and Flint (9-17-1) looms five tallies ahead of Bloomington in fifth.
Leaders of the pack
Forward Jon Booras leads the PrairieThunder in scoring with 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists). He has two game-winning goals and is tied for the league lead in power play goals with seven. He has scored at least one point in 17 of the team's 24 games.
Booras has scored eight points in five games straight games after suffering through a season-high three-game stretch without a point.
Booras also is the franchise leader in games played (171), goals scored (58), assists (69) and points (127).
Shaun Fisher is the team's top scorer among defensemen with 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists), while Adam Tomkow is the top scoring rookie with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists).
Parsons watch
Forward Don Parsons continues his quest for history, needing only one goal to become the all-time career leader for goals scored in professional minor league hockey. He sits with 676 goals and the record is 677 by former Flint coach Kevin Kerr.
The 39-year-old Parsons, who is second on the team in scoring with 25 points, reached the 1,300 plateau for his career in his last game. He ranks first in goals scored and points scored among active players.
Parsons, who is in his 17th season, needs to play in only 20 more games to reach the 1,000 mark. He currently ranks third among active players with 980 and is 83rd on the all-time list. He also ranks third among active players in assists with 623. That mark ranks 49th all-time.
Injury list
Center Brent Clarke is on the 45-day injury list after suffering a broken jaw when hit by a puck during the Dec. 6 game at Fort Wayne. Clarke, one of the team's fastest skaters, had scored 11 points in 17 games after scoring just 12 in 73 games a year ago as a rookie.
Clarke joined defenseman Jason Lepine on the extended injury list. Lepine is recovering from ACL surgery and expects to return in March.
Slapshots, etc.
Brett Holmberg played in his 100th consecutive game for the PrairieThunder on Dec. 20 in Kalamazoo - a franchise record for consecutive games played. He has not missed a game since making the team as a rookie last year in training camp. He played in all 76 games a year ago and has been in all 24 this season.
Holmberg already has 17 assists in 24 games after racking up just 19 a year ago. He has 23 points this year, which ranks third on the team, after scoring just 31 in 76 games last season.
Don Parsons will suit up for his 100th game with the PrairieThunder in Friday's contest at Fort Wayne. The veteran has struggled lately after starting the season with 15 points (9 goals, 6 assists) and a +3 rating in the first seven games.
Over the last 17 games, Parsons has managed only 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) with a minus 13 rating. He has scored at least one point in 14 of the team's 24 games and seven times he's scored more than one point.
During his PrairieThunder career, Parsons has scored at least one point in 63 of 99 games. He has scored 106 points in two years in a Bloomington uniform.
Marty Standish has scored five points in the last six games and holds the record for the quickest goal scored to start a game (11 seconds) in franchise history.
Three times this season the PrairieThunder has scored a goal within the first 42 seconds of the game.
The PrairieThunder ranks second in the league in attendance with an average of 3,146 for 13 games. Fort Wayne is the leader at 7,900 over 12 games.
Bloomington is 4-2 when scoring first and 4-14 when allowing the first goal.
Likewise, the team is 3-0 when allowing two or fewer goals and 5-16 when allowing more than two goals.
Upcoming promotions
Dec. 27 - First round of the PrairieThunder Country Idol comptition.
The Bloomington PrairieThunder hockey team, in conjunction with the Illinois Country Music Association and B-104 FM, are staging a contest that tests the talents of six country music artists during the first intermission at Bloomington PrairieThunder hockey games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum on Dec. 27, Jan. 17 and Feb. 21 with the finals March 21.
Contestants were chosen to compete in this year's contest by their peers from the Illinois Country Music Association. They include Mike Porter, Travis Parks, Jordan Carter, Anjanel Folkens, Stephanie Foster and Missy Vail.
The first round of competition on Saturday matches Mike Porter against Anjanel Folkens. The winner advances to the finals on March 21. Contestants are limited to a four-minute performance during the first intermission.
Fans will then have the opportunity to vote for their favorite performers through the second intermission. The fan vote counts 25 percent and judges vote 75 percent in determining which performer advances in the competition.
Dec. 28 - Kids Day and post-game skate with the PrairieThunder players.
Tickets are half price for fans, whoare ages 2 through 12, and they can purchase a $3 Kids Meal, which consists of a hot dog, chips and soda.
All fans have the opportunity to skate with PrairieThunder players after the game.
Dec. 31 - Ring In the New Year with the PrairieThunder
Special start time of 6:05 p.m. Fans can enjoy watching the PrairieThunder players compete in tuxedo jerseys during the game, then have the opportunity to purchase the jerseys in a post-game jersey auction.
The Corn Palace Restaurant will remain open after the game if folks want to stay and ring in the New Year with the PrairieThunder.
Jan. 2 - Family Four pack and Pepsi Date Night
Family four packs include four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips and four soft drinks for $56. Also, any fan bringing a Pepsi product can to the box office when purchasing a ticket will be able to get a second ticket free.
Jan. 3 - Junior PrairieThunder Hockey Night
A chance for all participants in Junior PrairieThunder hockey leagues to enjoy the game.
Holiday box office hours
The U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas, but will open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Friday. It will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
The box office will be open at 10 a.m. on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Jan. 2 and 3 for PrairieThunder fans. Tickets also can be purchased by calling 309-454-5500; on-line at www.prairiethunderhockey.com
International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 23, 2008
- Lumberjacks Re-Scheduled Game Is Now $5 Sunday This Sunday, December 28th - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- PrairieThunder face hectic schedule, home cooking - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- IHL Game #70 Rescheduled - IHL 2
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