PrairieThunder this Week
March 15, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
Jason Dale Returns to the PrairieThunder Lineup
Bloomington PrairieThunder leading scorer Jason Dale has been returned to the team from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League where he saw action in four games this past week. Dale is expected to be in the PrairieThunder lineup when the team returns to action on Wednesday night at 7:05pm against the Missouri Mavericks at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
The playoff bound PrairieThunder (34-18-6) are back in a tie for second place in the Central Hockey League's Turner Conference with Colorado following a weekend where the club won two of three, including possibly the biggest win of the season (to date), a 2-1 victory over the Berry Conference leading Allen Americans in Allen on Sunday afternoon. The PrairieThunder is tied in points with Colorado (74) but have two games in hand. Bloomington heads into the week two points behind first place Rapid City with three games in hand on the Rush. The PThunder has eight games left in the regular season and once the team clinches one of the top four spots in the upcoming playoffs, home dates for the first round can be announced.
NOTE: On original PrairieThunder 2010-11 schedules, we had a home game scheduled for Friday, March 18th. A reminder that due to the "Sugarland" Concert, that game will be played on Tuesday, March 22nd @ 7:05pm at U.S. Cellular Coliseum against Fort Wayne.
This Week's Schedule:
Monday (3/14): Team returns from Texas / Day Off
Tuesday (3/15): 10am-12 noon: Practice @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum
Wednesday (3/16): HOME GAME @ 7:05pm vs. Missouri Mavericks
Thursday (3/17): 10am-12 noon: Practice @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum
Friday (3/18): 1:30pm-3:00pm: Practice @ Pepsi Ice Center
Saturday (3/19): HOME GAME @ 7:07pm vs. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Sunday (3/20): Away Game @ Fort Wayne Komets (4:00pm Central)
This Week's Games (Home Games @ U.S. Cellular Coliseum)
Wednesday, March 16th: 7:05pm vs. Missouri Mavericks
Promotion: "Fox & Hounds Ladies Night"
All adult ladies receive a $2.00 ticket discount
Get ready for St. Patrick's Day with $2.00 green beer
Also: $2.00 hot dogs, popcorn, and soda
And check out our "Ladies Expo" in the concourse
Third and final meeting of the regular season between the two Turner Conference foes. Missouri starts the week in fourth place in the Turner Conference at 32-21-6, four points behind the PrairieThunder. Bloomington won the first two meetings of the year, both in Missouri, by scores of 2-1 in shootout (way back on October 16th) and 3-2 on November 24th. John Snowden is the PThunder's leading scorer against Missouri with three points (1 goal and 2 assists). For the season, Mike Berry and Nick Sirota are the Mavs leading scorers with 49 points each. Missouri also features former PrairieThunder defenseman Cole Ruwe on their roster.
Saturday, March 19th: 7:05pm vs. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Promotion: "PrairieThunder Puck Giveaway"
Sponsored by Frontier Communications & B104 Radio
The first 3000 fans in attendance receive a FREE official game puck
It's the second (and final) meeting of the regular season against the Mudbugs who are currently in second place in the CHL's Berry (Southern) Conference with a record of 34-24-3. The Mudbugs are two points ahead of the third place Texas Brahmas. Back on February 24th, Bloomington won the first meeting of the year, a 2-1 overtime victory. David Rutherford is the Mudbugs leading scorer with 35 goals & 31 assists for 66 points.
Sunday, March 20th: 4:05pm (Central): AT Fort Wayne Komets
WJBC-AM (1230), WJBC-FM (93.7) WJBC.com, CHL-TV
Watch the game at BlueLine Nightclub, 602 N. Main Street
Ninth meeting (of ten) between the PrairieThunder and the Komets. Bloomington has won five of the first eight; most recently 6-2 on March 4thin Bloomington. Following Sunday's game, the two teams will meet once more in the regular season on Tuesday, March 22nd in Bloomington. Jason Dale leads all PThunder scorers against the Komets with nine points (3 goals & 6 assists). Tab Lardner is Fort Wayne's leading scorer against Bloomington with four goals & four assists.
PrairieThunder Playoff Ticket Packages & 2011-12 Season Tickets Now on Sale!
Playoff ticket packages for the upcoming Central Hockey League Playoffs (which begin at the end of the month) and 2011-12 PrairieThunder Season Tickets are now on sale. Call the PrairieThunder office during the week at 309-585-0507 for additional information or stop by the PrairieThunder information table during PrairieThunder home games. The CHL playoffs consist of four rounds. If Bloomington has home ice advantage in every round, the team could play a maximum of fourteen additional home playoff games.
PrairieThunder in the Community
The PrairieThunder will be at the following locations this week:
Tuesday, March 15th: PrairieThunder Mascot "Chip" will appear at Washington Elementary
School from 7pm to 9pm.
Thursday, March 17th: PrairieThunder Players will be appearing at Olympia High School in
Stanford, Illinois.
PrairieThunder Notes
Bloomington is 18-8-2 at home this season.....Jason Dale returns still leading the team in points (48) and assists (32).....Brett Holmberg is the team leader in goals scored with 21. His career high is 24 set during the 2008-09 season.....Garrett Klotz leads the team in plus / minus at +17 and leads the team in penalty minutes with 129 in 41 games.....Brett Holmberg is second in plus / minus at +16.....With his victory on Saturday night in Odessa, goaltender Marco Emond now has 24 wins on the season. His career high was 33 with the Elmira Jackals in the old UHL in 2002-03. He had 28 victories in the CHL with the Colorado Eagles in 2006-07.....Sunday's victory over the Allen Americans was goalie Brad Phillips tenth of the year.
PrairieThunder Tickets
Bloomington PrairieThunder single game tickets are on sale at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum Box Office. Tickets are on sale at the Coliseum Box Office Monday through Friday from 11am to 5:30pm and on weekends when there are events in the Coliseum. PrairieThunder single game tickets are also available by going to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum website: http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/events/all/ and click on Tickets & Seating. And for Prairie Thunder season tickets and group sales information, please call the PrairieThunder at 309-585-0507 or go to our website: www.prairiethunderhockey.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2011
- Eagles Power Past Rush in Fight for First Place - Colorado Eagles
- Sundogs Come Back for 5-4, Overtime Win Over Jacks - Odessa Jackalopes
- Sundogs Earn 5-4 Overtime Win, Move into Tie for Fifth Place - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings Jersey Auctions Make More Than Fashion Statement - Mississippi RiverKings
- Huculak a Finalist for CHL Man of the Year - Allen Americans
- Jakaitis Nominated for Man of the Year Award - Dayton Gems
- Gelinas Captures Weekly Award - Wichita Thunder
- Wichita's Marc-Antoine Gelinas Named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week - CHL
- Parties and Games to Wrap up Regular Season - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Rush Weekly - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Weekly - Kansas City Mavericks
- PrairieThunder this Week - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Bucks Start Road Trip Wednesday - Laredo Bucks
- CHL Man of the Year Finalists Announced - CHL
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