PrairieThunder faces three-game weekend
Published on March 6, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
The Bloomington PrairieThunder (18-38-4) will attempt to get back on the winning track this week when it plays back-to-back road games at Kalamazoo (36-19-5 before Wednesday's game) and Fort Wayne (38-19-3 before Wednesday's game) before returning home to face Elmira (25-35-1 before Wednesday's game) on Sunday. The PrairieThunder, which lost three straight last week, plays at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Kalamazoo and at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Fort Wayne. Bloomington returns to U.S. Cellular Coliseum for a 3:05 p.m. contest Sunday against Elmira.
The PrairieThunder trails Elmira by 11 points in its quest to earn the eighth and final playoff spot in United Hockey League postseason play. Port Huron holds the No. 7 spot with 52 points followed by Elmira 51 points, Chicago 49 and Bloomington. Sunday's match against Elmira is the final meeting of the season for the PrairieThunder.
The PrairieThunder has 16 games remaining (8 at home and 8 on the road). The games are against the following opponents: Kalamazoo (3 - 2 away, 1 at home); Fort Wayne 2 - 1 away, 1 at home); Elmira (1 at home); Flint (2 at home); Chicago (2 away); Quad City (2 - 1 away, 1 at home); Rockford (2 - 1 away, 1 at home); Port Huron (1 at home); Muskegon (1 away).
About the opponents
The PrairieThunder is winless in three games against Kalamazoo, which had a five-game winning streak snapped Sunday. The Wings have won eight of their last 10 games. Bloomington is 3-5 against Fort Wayne, but has won the last two times the teams have met. The PrairieThunder is 2-3 against Elmira and is facing the Jackals for the final time this season.
Thunder 'Player of the Week'
Bloomington PrairieThunder center John Spoltore has been name the Lone Star Restaurant "Player of the Week" for his performance in the team's three games last week. Spoltore scored in each of the three games and had four points for the week. He scored a power play goal and added an assist at Elmira on Wednesday. He also had an assist at home in games against Chicago on Friday and Saturday.
Spoltore has scored at least one point in 13 of the last 17 games. Four times during that span, he has scored two points in game. He also has tallied at least one point in the last five games. For the season, Spoltore has scored five goals and added 17 assists for 22 points. He came to the PrairieThunder in a trade from Chicago on Dec. 18.
PrairieThunder rumblings
- Rookie forward Mike Zbriger and veteran center Tyler Rennette are tied for the team lead in scoring with 40 points. Zbriger had 19 of his points while he was with Flint. Zbriger was traded to the PrairieThunder in late December. He has played 28 games with the PrairieThunder and has scored five goals with 16 assists.
- Zbriger is fifth in the league among rookies in scoring with 40 points. Jon Booras is 15th with 27 points. Zbriger is tied for second in power play goals with eight.
- Zbriger is the team leader in goals with 17 and Alex Goupil is a close second with 16 goals.
- Jon Booras has scored a point six of the last seven games and 10 of the last 13, including two short-handed goals. He had a streak of six straight scoring games snapped in his last game Saturday.
- Point-wise, center John Spoltore had the best month for the PrairieThunder in February. He scored four goals and had 10 assists for 14 points. Tyler Rennette and Mike Zbriger scored 12 points and Jon Booras 10.
- Spoltore has scored at least one point in each of the last five games and 13 of the last 17. Four times he has scored two points in a game. He has a streak of five straight games with an assist.
- Newly acquired Casey Handrahan ranks 15th in the league in scoring among defenseman with 25 points. Jarad Bourassa is 16th with 24 points. Bourassa is tied for third among defenseman with six power play goals and third in total goals with 12.
- Goalie Jeff Reynaert ranks fourth in minutes played by a goalie at 2,506:28. Fort Wayne's Kevin St. Pierre is the leader at 3,029:23. Reynaert also ranks third in saves with 1,356.
- The PrairieThunder is second in the league in power plays at home with an 18.9 percentage. Conversely, the team is last in power plays on the road with a 6.7 percentage. Overall, the team ranks eighth at 13.3 percent. The PrairieThunder is last in penalty killing with an 81.2 percent
- The PrairieThunder has an 11-18-1 record at U.S. Cellular Coliseum and a 7-20-3 record on the road.
- The PrairieThunder's shootout record is 5-4, with three of the team's last five games ending in a shootout. PrairieThunder shootout results among current active players: B.J. Gaustad 4-6, Alex Goupil 2-6, Jon Booras 2-2, Greg Koehler 1-2, Tyler Rennette 1-4, Jarad Bourassa 0-2, Jon Booras 0-1, Brad Thompson 0-1, Trevor Baker 0-1, John Spoltore 0-2.
- The PrairieThunder has a 14-24 record against Western Conference teams and a 4-14-4 record against Eastern Conference teams. The PrairieThunder competes in the Western Conference of the UHL with the Fort Wayne Komets, the Quad City Mallards, the Chicago Hounds and Rockford Icehogs. Competing in the Eastern Conference are the Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals, the Flint (Mich.) Generals, the Port Huron (Mich.) Flags, the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Wings and the Muskegon (Mich.) Fury.
- The PrairieThunder posted a 1-5 record in October; 5-6 in November; 2-11-2 in December; 4-8 in January; and 6-6-2 in February; 0-2 in March.
- The PrairieThunder ranks third in the league in overall attendance, averaging 3,701 per game for 30 games. Fort Wayne is the leader at 7,606 with Rockford second at 3,954. The PrairieThunder is one of four teams that has drawn over 100,000 fans at 111,040. Fort Wayne (220,584), Rockford (114,669) and Elmira (109,551) are the others
- Each time the PrairieThunder scores four or more goals in games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum, its fans are treated to free Big Mac's the day following the game at the seven Twin Cities McDonalds. Thus far, the PrairieThunder has scored four or more goals 10 times meaning 7,908 Big Macs have been given out free.
- PrairieThunder franchise firsts: First goal - Tyler Rennette (Oct. 13 at Muskegon); First goal at U.S. Cellular Coliseum - Andre Niec (Oct. 14 vs. Fort Wayne); Largest home crowd - 5,488 (Jan. 27, 2007 vs. Chicago); First hat trick - Trevor Baker (Feb. 16, 2007 at Flint).
PrairieThunder coach
The PrairieThunder is coached by Derek Booth, the Southern Professional Hockey League Coach of the Year last season at Fayetteville (NC). The FireAntz compiled a 31-19 record last season and advanced to the league playoffs. This is Booth's third year as a head coach and he has an 81-80-9 career record including this season.
PrairieThunder leaders
- Goals scored -Mike Zbriger - 17 (five with Flint)
- Assists - Tyler Rennette - 26
- Points - Mike Zbriger - 40 (19 with Flint)
- Shots - Jarad Bourassa - 181 (25 with Rockford)
- Penalty minutes - Jarad Bourassa - 102 (17 with Rockford)
- Wins - Jeff Reynaert - 12
- Saves - Jeff Reynaert - 1,356
- Save percentage - Steffan Braunlich - .903
PrairieThunder records:
Playing at home: 11-18-1
Playing on the road: 7-20-3
PrairieThunder scores first: 13-13-2
PrairieThunder leads after 1st period: 9-3-2
Opponent leads after 1st period: 3-19-1
PrairieThunder leads after 2nd period: 11-2-1
Opponent leads after 2nd period: 1-30-1
Tied after first period: 6-16-1
Tied after second period: 6-6-2
Game goes into shootout: 5-4
One-goal games: 10-9-4
PrairieThunder has more shots on goal: 7-14-0
Goals for per game: 2.53
Goals against per game: 3.85
Shots per game: 29.82
Shots against per game: 35.87
Penalty killing record: 70-3673 (81.2 percent)
Power play opportunities: Bloomington 43-324 (13.3 percent)
Shorthanded goals: 9
Last 10 games: 3-5-2
Last 5 games: 1-2-2
Scoring by periods:
Bloomington 50 54 43 5 - 152
Opponents 70 73 84 4 - 231
Recent PrairieThunder transactions
- March 3 - Acquired goalie Kris Tebbs in trade with Elmira for rights to Dion Hyman
- March 1 - Acquired Casey Handrahan in a trade with Kalamazoo for Ryan Gillis
- Feb. 17 - Claimed Kristjan Jefkins off waivers from Elmira
PrairieThunder on injured reserve
- Goalie Steffan Braunlich on 7-day IR
- Right wing Jason Payne on 10-day IR retro to Feb. 12
Coming up next for the PrairieThunder
- March 9 - PrairieThunder at Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m.
- March 10 - PrairieThunder at Fort Wayne, 7:30 p.m.
- March 11 - Elmira at PrairieThunder, 3:05 p.m.
- March 15 - Kalamazoo at PrairieThunder, 7:05 p.m.
- March 16 - Flint at PrairieThunder, 7;05 p.m.
Upcoming PrairieThunder promotions
- Sunday (March 11) - Pantagraph/Nesquik Kids Day (Children 12 and under are eligible to receive $10 box tickets for $6 and a Kids Meal for $3). There also will be an appearance by cartoon character Dora the Explorer compliments of Insight.
- Thursday (March 15) - Thirsty Thursday ($2 beverage special)
- Friday (March 16) - St. Patrick's Day Celebration and special St. Patrick's Day jersey auction following the game. Pepsi/Insight Family Night (buy two tickets and receive $5 off by presenting Pepsi product when purchasing tickets at the box office)
International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 6, 2007
- Teams look for boost with deadline deals - IHL 2
- Nie earns UHL Rookie of the Month honors - Kalamazoo Wings
- PrairieThunder faces three-game weekend - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Cloutier's fabulous February earns league honor - Rockford IceHogs
- Mallards Host Travis Hearn Fundraiser - Quad City Mallards
- Hogs unbeaten in 15 straight games heading into judgment week - Rockford IceHogs
- Fort Wayne's J.C. Ruid and Rockford's Frederic Cloutier earn monthly honors - IHL 2
- Kalamazoo's Ryan Nie named UHL Rookie of the Month - IHL 2
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