PrairieThunder's Parsons Earns IHL Weekly Honors
Published on March 31, 2008 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
Bloomington PrairieThunder right-winger Don Parsons was named the International Hockey League's Forward of the Week for a fourth time this season, it was announced Monday.
The award was based on Parsons' performance in games during the week of March 24 through March 30 when he scored five goals and had three assists for eight points in four games. He also scored the game-winning goal 2:47 into overtime at Flint on Sunday.
IHL officials also announced several scoring changes in the PrairieThunder's 7-6 overtime victory at Flint on Sunday.
One change resulted in Parsons being credited with a fourth goal to break a PrairieThunder franchise record for number of goals scored in a game. Parsons ended Sunday's game with four goals and two assists for six points, also a team record.
The four-goal, six-point effort by Parsons matched the previous league-high by Flint's Mike Kinnie earlier in the year.
Parsons now has 35 goals and 37 assists for 72 points to rank fifth in the league. He has 658 career goals and needs only 20 to surpass Kevin Kerr as the all-time leader in goals scored in the modern hockey era.
Other scoring changes in Sunday's game resulted in Leo Thomas scoring four points on one goal and three assists and Casey Handrahan gaining an assist.
The PrairieThunder (28-35-3-4) returns to action Wednesday with a 6 p.m. contest at Port Huron (36-29-2-3) before returning home for a 7:05 p.m. contest against league-leading Fort Wayne (50-12-5-2) on Friday at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Bloomington then gets back on the bust for a 6:30 p.m. contest on Saturday at Flint (30-25-4-9) before returning home for a 3:05 p.m. game against Kalamazoo (31-31-3-5). All games will be broadcast on WTRX (93.7 FM). The PrairieThunder trails Kalamazoo on Muskegon by eight points (with a maximum 12 points available) for the fourth and final playoff berth. The PrairieThunder has played its four of its last five games on the road, compiling a 2-2 record.
Bloomington's six remaining games find the PrairieThunder at Port Huron, Flint and Muskegon once with homes against Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo and Muskegon.
The series
The PrairieThunder is 5-7-0-2 against Port Huron with a 2-4 mark on the IceHawks' home ice. Bloomington is 5-9-0-1 against Fort Wayne; 6-8-0-0 versus Flint and 5-6-2-1 opposite Kalamazoo.
PrairieThunder rumblings
Don Parsons leads the PrairieThunder in scoring with 35 goals and 37 assists for 72 points to rank fifth in the league. He needs only 20 goals to surpass former Flint coach Kevin Kerr as the all-time goal scoring leader in modern-day minor league hockey.
Parsons had a franchise record four goals and six points in the Flint game. He leads all active players in goals scored (658) and points (1,265). He ranks 17th overall in points scored. He is second among active players in assists (610) and third in games played (949). The leader among active players is Guy Dupuis of Fort Wayne.
Leo Thomas has scored at least one point in 17 of the last 24 games.
Jon Booras, the team's second leading scorer, snapped a 12-game goal-scoring drought when he found the net Sunday against Flint.
Rookie Neil Clark scored only 2 points in his first nine games since joining the PrairieThunder 17 games ago. He has since scored seven points in the last eight games.
The PrairieThunder set a franchise record when it scored five goals in one period (the third) against Flint.
Rookie Loic Lacasse has 17 wins, which breaks the franchise record of 12 set by Jeff Reynaert last season. Fellow net-mender Derek Dolson is one win away from tying Reynaert's mark.
Bloomington has a 17-1-2-2 record when allowing 2 or fewer goals in a game and an 12-2-1-1 record when leading after the first period and a 16-2-0-1 mark when leading after the second period. The team is 21-5-1-1 when scoring first. The PrairieThunder has a 15-16-2-2 record at home this season.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 31, 2008
- Three Port Huron Icehawks Receive IHL Weekly Honors - Port Huron Icehawks
- Icehawks Six Points From Clinching IHL Playoff Berth - Port Huron Icehawks
- PrairieThunder's Parsons Earns IHL Weekly Honors - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- IHL Weekly Honors For Week Twenty-Four - IHL 2
- Komets Streak To IHL Record 24 Straight Home Wins - Fort Wayne Komets
- Three Players Have Tricky Weekend - IHL 2
- Former UHL MVP Jeff Nelson Joins Fury For Playoff Push - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fury Finish Week, 1-3-0-0, Hold On To Fourth - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Flint Generals announce roster moves - Alban is activated among others - Flint Generals
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