PrairieThunder looks to extend win streak
Published on December 3, 2008 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Fresh off back-to-back victories over the top two teams in the International Hockey League, the Bloomington PrairieThunder (7-9-0-0) have its sights set on extending the winning ways.
Bloomington faces three games in four days, beginning Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. home contest against Port Huron at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. That will be followed by road games at Fort Wayne on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and at Flint on Sunday at 3 p.m.
The PrairieThunder currently sits in fifth place with 14 points. Port Huron is tied for second with a 10-9-0-0 record and 20 points, while defending champion Fort Wayne is third with 19 points and a 9-6-1-0 mark. Flint trails Bloomington by two points in the standings with a 5-13-1-1 record.
Bloomington has a 5-5 record at home and is 0-2 against Port Huron this season, including a loss at home. The IceHawks are 5-5 away from home.
The PrairieThunder is 2-4 on the road with one of those victories coming in Flint. Bloomington is 2-1 against the Generals overall. Fort Wayne owns a 2-1 advantage over the PrairieThunder, including a 1-0 record at home.
The PrairieThunder is currently riding its second two-game win streak of the season, thanks to limiting opponents to one goal in the two games.
Bloomington goaltender Scott Fankhouser has stopped the last 52 shots he's faced. Fankhouser was named the league's Goaltender of the Week after stopping 57 of 58 shots in two games last week.
The PrairieThunder defense, led by veterans Shaun Fisher, Sam Miller, Travis Granbois and A.J. Bozoian, has tightened in recent games and not allowed a power play goal in the opponent's last 12 attempts.
Forward Jon Booras leads the PrairieThunder in scoring with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists). He has two game-winning goals, including the last game in a 1-0 decision over Kalamazoo, and leads the league with six power play goals.
Booras, the league's current Player of the Week honoree, has scored at least one point in five of the last six games and has scored a point in 12 of the team's 16 contests.
Other top offensive performers, of late, include Brett Holmberg, John Nail and Corey Rutt.
Holmberg led the team with 12 points in 11 games during the month of November. The second-year player had four goals and eight assists. He has 17 points for the season after scoring 31 in 76 games a year ago and has scored at least one point in 11 of the teams' 16 games.
Nail, who missed eight games with broken finger, has returned to the lineup and scored four points in three straight games. He also has posted a plus-3 rating. Nail has scored at least one point in five of the eight games he has played.
Rutt, who joined the team after the season had started, scored five of his six points last month and has had at least one point in four of the last five games. He has scored a point in six of the nine games he has played since joining the team.
Fans attending Thursday's game will be able to purchase two hot dogs, two soft drinks and one popcorn for $10, a savings of more than half off the regular price.
Thursday's game also marks the beginning of "Holiday Spirit with the PrairieThunder" where fans will have the opportunity to take ornaments decorated with PrairieThunder player's pictures off Christmas trees throughout the concourse.
The ornaments will have items (paper products, baby food and supplies, etc.) listed on the reverse side of the player's picture that fans can purchase and return to U.S. Cellular Coliseum at games on Dec. 12 and 13 that will be donated to the Salvation Army and Home Sweet Home Ministries
U.S. Cellular Coliseum also is a drop-off point for the annual McLean County Toys for Tots campaign. Fans are encouraged to bring canned food goods to donate at the Dec. 12 and 13 games for a chance to win an autographed PrairieThunder hockey stick and team picture.
Fans also can bring stuffed animals to the Dec. 13 game and participate in the annual Teddy Toss. After the PrairieThunder scores its first goal that night, fans can throw the stuffed animals on the ice.
Tickets for all PrairieThunder games can be purchased at the Coliseum box office or by calling 309-454-550 or at www.prairiethunder hockey.com
International Hockey League 2 Stories from December 3, 2008
- PrairieThunder signs Neal - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- K-Wings Sign Blair Manning - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings Unveil Two-Year Season Ticket Holder Contests - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings to Practice in Battle Creek - Kalamazoo Wings
- Icehawks will be Out in the Community This Holiday Season - Port Huron Icehawks
- Parsons continues assualt on record - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- PrairieThunder looks to extend win streak - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Generals add goaltender Bill Zaniboni - Flint Generals
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