PrairieThunder to get familiar with Port Huron
February 18, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - It's been 11 games, dating back to last season, since the Bloomington PrairieThunder has defeated Port Huron in International Hockey League action.
Bloomington will certainly have a great opportunity to snap the streak over its next seven games. That's because the PrairieThunder faces the Icehawks in six of those games.
The teams begin the six-game series Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at McMorran Arena. Then, it's on the bus to Bloomington for a 7:05 p.m. matchup Thursday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The game was originally scheduled for Friday, but moved to Thursday to accommodate a 3 Doors Down concert date for Central Illinois Arena Management officials.
Fans holding tickets for Friday's game should use them Thursday.
The PrairieThunder, which has lost six straight at Port Huron and in Bloomington over the last two seasons, meets the IceHswks again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The teams then resume the six-game series with games in Port Huron on Feb. 27, 28 and March 6.
Bloomington is winless in three games at McMorran Arena this year and has an 8-13-0-2 overall road record. The team is winless in four games at U.S. Cellular Coliseum against the IceHawks this year and is 14-10-1-1 at home overall.
Port Huron has a 14-9-2-0 record at home and a 15-7-2-1 road record. The IceHawks led the IHL with 63 points (29-16-4-1). Muskegon is second with 62 followed by Kalamazoo with 61 and Fort Wayne with 60.
The PrairieThunder, having won nine of its last 12 games including nine in a row at home, lurks 12 points out of the final playoff berth with 48 points (22-23-1-3). Bloomington is looking to get back to the .500 mark for the first time since the eighth game of the season on Nov. 8 when it was 4-4.
Bloomington has ripped off a 10-2-0-3 record since its last meeting against Port Huron on Jan. 15.
Rookie Bill Bagron enters Wednesday's game on a four-game goal scoring streak for Bloomington. He has six points in the last four games.
Teammates Travis Granbois has scored at least one point in the last seven games, while center Jon Booras has scored in four straight and defenseman Shaun Fisher in five of the last six games.
Booras has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists), while Granbois has nine (2 g, 7 a) and Fisher six (1 g, 5 a) during their respective sprees.
Booras leads the team with 21 multi-point games in 49. Brent Holmberg is next with 12. Booras has scored at least one point in 36 games, followed by Holmberg with 31, Marty Standish and Granbois with 24; Fisher 22; Jan Jas 16 and Henry Kuster with 14.
After becoming the team's No. 1 line 18 games ago, the combination of Booras, Jas and Kuster has scored 78 points (31 goals, 47 assists). Booras and Jas have scored at least one point in 16 of the 18 games, while Kuster has found the net 14 times.
The PrairieThunder also has a 12-3-0-3 record since the No. 1 line joined forces.
Second-year center Brent Clarke, who missed 18 games with a fractured jaw, has already surpassed his rookie-year point total of 12 in 73 games with the PrairieThunder last season. He has16 points in 29 games this year.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 18, 2009
- Mior Makes 25 Saves To Blank PrairieThunder 1-0 At McMorran Arena - Port Huron Icehawks
- Port Huron tops Bloomington, 1-0 - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- PrairieThunder to get familiar with Port Huron - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- Generals Trade Rymsha for Zehr - Flint Generals
- Generals Make Trade with 'Jacks - Flint Generals
- Van Y School Fundraising Efforts Are Underway - Flint Generals
- Icehawks Trade With Flint Generals - Port Huron Icehawks
- Lumberjacks Complete Major Trade With Flint - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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