PrairieThunder This Week
Published on March 16, 2010 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Fresh off earning five of a possible six points in its last three games, the Bloomington PrairieThunder returns home for the first time in 12 days Wednesday with a 7:05 p.m. International Hockey League contest against league-leading Muskegon at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The PrairieThunder (27-25-3-5) will be out to solidify its hold on the fourth and final postseason playoff berth. Bloomington sits fourth in the standings with 62 points, five ahead of Quad City. Muskegon (42-17-0-3, 87 points) has an eight-point advantage over Fort Wayne for the league lead.
Bloomington has a 1-6-1-1 mark against the Lumberjacks, including a 0-2-1-0 mark at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Lumberjacks are 16-10-03 on the road, while the PrairieThunder is 17-11-2-0 at home.
The Lumberjacks have the top two scorers in the league in Todd Robinson (19 goals, 74 assists) with 93 points and Robin Bouchard (52 g, 37 a) for 89 points.
Bouchard needs only four goals to pass former PrairieThunder player Don Parsons for the most career goals scored in minor league professional hockey. Parsons set the record in Bloomington two years at 682.
The game against Muskegon is the first of two in a row and four of the next five at home for the PrairieThunder. Bloomington plays host to Flint in a 7:05 p.m. contest Friday before heading to Quad City for a 7:05 p.m. game Friday.
Bloomington could regain the services of captain and last year's most valuable player, Jon Booras, against Muskegon. Booras, who ranks sixth in the league in scoring with 66 points, has missed the last six games with a knee injury.
The PrairieThunder will be without the services of goaltenders Andrew Martin (hip) and Kevin Armstrong (knee); centers Rick Varone (wrist) and Matt McIlvane (on call-up with the Peoria Rivermen); forward Mike Liambas (wrist) and defensemen Matthew Spiller and Cole Ruwe (concussions).
Forward John Snowden and defenseman Preston Briggs will make their PrairieThunder debut after being acquired in a trade with Dayton for forward Greg McCauley on Monday. Snowden will wear No. 22 and Briggs No. 18.
The move forced the PrairieThunder to waive forward T.J. Schneider on Tuesday to make room on the 20-man roster.
*More Thunder rumbles*
The PrairieThunder has a 22-8-0-2 record on the three teams behind it in the standings (Quad City, Flint and Dayton) and a 5-17-3-3 mark on the three teams ahead of it in the standings (Muskegon, Fort Wayne and Port Huron). Bloomington has 8 of its remaining 16 games against the three teams (Flint 4, Quad City 3 and Dayton 1) trying to catch it in the standings.
Bloomington is 21-4-2-2 when scoring the game's first goal.
The PrairieThunder is 22-0-2-2 when leading after the first period and 23-0-1-2 when leading after the second period.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 16, 2010
- Mallards Weekly Update - Quad City Mallards
- IHL Announces Schedule Changes For 2010-2011 Season - IHL 2
- PrairieThunder This Week - Bloomington PrairieThunder
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