PrairieThunder Play Twice this Weekend
February 11, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Bloomington PrairieThunder looks to get back to its winning ways this weekend with two home games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. Bloomington meets Quad City in a 7:05 p.m. contest Friday before facing Fort Wayne in a 4:05 p.m. test Sunday.
The two-games-in-three-days competition turns into four-games-in-six days for the PrairieThunder when a 9:30 a.m. game at Flint on Tuesday and a 6:30 p.m. contest at Fort Wayne on Wednesday are thrown into the mix. (Yes, the Flint game is in the morning as part of special School Day promotion.)
"This is definitely a key time in the season for us," said PrairieThunder coach Jarrod Skalde, whose team is winless in its last three games for a 20-19-2-5 record. Bloomington has 47 points and sits in fourth place in the International Hockey League standings.
Quad City, which won for the first time in seven games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in the last meeting between the teams Jan. 31, has won five straight to hike its record to 17-20-4-4 for 42 points. The Mallards have climbed into a tie for fifth place with Dayton and trail the PrairieThunder by five points in the race for the final post-season playoff berth.
Bloomington will be looking to avenge Wednesday's 6-2 loss to Fort Wayne in the Sunday matinee contest. The PrairieThunder is 2-2 against the Komets at home. Fort Wayne leads Bloomington by nine points in the standings for third place.
The PrairieThunder's Jon Booras and Craig Macdonald enter weekend play tied for third in the league in scoring with 55 points. Macdonald is tied for first in the league in power play goals with 10; second in game-winning goals with six; and third in goals scored with 26. Booras is second in overall assists with 38 and power play assists with 16.
Meanwhile, Bloomington's Jason Lepine has climbed into a tie for second in overall scoring among defensemen with 31 points on six goals and a league-leading 25 assists. Lepine also tops the league in power play assists with 13, while teammate Matthew Spiller is third among defensemen with five power play goals.
*Promotions:*
The PrairieThunder will wear specialty "Land of Lincoln" jerseys during Friday's game to honor the 201st birthday of President Abraham Lincoln. The jerseys, with a big penny on the front, will be auctioned off after the game.
It's also Stress Free Night, sponsored by CEFCU, and fans are encouraged to wear relaxing clothing such as pajamas to enjoy the game in. Miniature hockey puck key rings will be given to fans entering U.S. Cellular Coliseum prior to the game.
Fans also can take advantage of the Family Friday Four-Pack ticket plan where $44 gets four tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns and four sodas.
Sunday is Bloomington Meats Kids Day where tickets for youth 12-and-under are half-price ($4) and kid's meals (hot dog, chips, soda and PrairieThunder gift) are $3. The hot dogs are compliments of Bloomington Meats and the chips courtesy of Kitchen Cooked potato chips.
Fans also will have an opportunity to make a Valentine for a loved one or favorite player on the concourse before and during the game. And after the game, fans can enjoy a 30-minute skate with PrairieThunder players.
*Radio: * All road games can be heard on WTRX (93.7 FM) and home games can be heard on wjbc.com. Greg Halbleib has the call.
*Tickets: *Tickets for all PrairieThunder games are available at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum box office, calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or 309-585-0507, ext. 304.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 11, 2010
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