Rockford closes out regular season taking three of four points
April 17, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
The 2005-06 regular season came to a close on Saturday, and the Rockford IceHogs completed its most successful campaign in its seven-season history. Rockford will now get set to face off against the Western Division rival Fort Wayne Komets in the First Round of the Colonial Cup Playoffs. Games One and Two are slated for this Friday and Sunday at the MetroCentre.
Friday, April 14: Flint Generals 6 vs Rockford IceHogs 5 (SO)
Saturday, April 15: Muskegon Fury 2 vs. Rockford IceHogs 4
Transactions
-Center Preston Mizzi was loaned to the Chicago Wolves (AHL) on Saturday, April 15.
-Goaltender Andrew Joy was added as the IceHogs Emergency Back Up goalie on Saturday, April 15.
-Defenseman Tom Zabkowicz was activated from Team Suspension on Saturday, April 15.
-Goaltender Michel Robinson was placed on one-game League Suspension on Saturday, April 15.
-Goaltender Ronnie Vogel was placed on the 7-Day Injured Reserve on Friday, April 14.
-Winger Robin Big Snake was loaned to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) on Thursday, April 13.
Bacon Bits:
The IceHogs finished the 2005-06 regular season with the most wins (48), goals (292), PIM's (2,582), standings points (105), winning percentage (.691) and home wins (27) in club history.
For the first time in club history, Rockford led the UHL in PIM's and rookie winger Robin Big Snake was the UHL league leader with 423 PIM's, marking the second straight season in which an IceHogs skater led the "U" in PIM's.
Center Preston Mizzi set a club record with 38 goals and eight multi-goal games.
Coming into this season, Rockford had six 70-point scorers in a season. In '05-06, the IceHogs had four different 70-point scorers (Jason Notermann, Preston Mizzi, Greg Barber and Yannick Tifu).
The IceHogs set a club record and led the UHL with a penalty kill rate of 87.0% and a 90.3% penalty kill at home.
Rookie defenseman Matt Gens finished his first pro season with an IceHogs record plus/minus rating of +31.
Big Snake became the 14th IceHogs player to get loaned to the American Hockey League when he went to Milwaukee last week. That total is the most in the UHL.
For the first time in club history the IceHogs overall attendance reached second highest in the UHL. Rockford set a club record with an average of 3,961 and had a record 150,548 attend IceHogs home games this season.
The IceHogs scored three short-handed goals during its final two games, including two on Friday with only three players on the ice.
Defenseman Steve Pelletier has played in a club-record 156 straight games for Rockford.
Hot Hog Week 26:
For the second straight week, winger Greg Barber was nominated for the IceHogs Player of the Week. Barber, who was named the IceHogs co-MVP along with Preston Mizzi for the 2005-06 season, netted three goals and an assist during Rockford's two-game week.
Upcoming Games:
Friday, April 21 vs. Fort Wayne Komets. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Game One of the Colonial Cup Playoffs' First Round: The IceHogs open up the 2006 Colonial Cup Playoffs at the Rockford MetroCentre on Friday with home-ice advantage for the first time ever. The first 1,000 fans to the game will receive the final IceHogs Poster in a series of seven from Medicine Man, Johnson Press, Jim Orlando Photography, Pepsi, Rockford Register Star and 23WIFR.
Sunday, April 23 vs. Fort Wayne Komets. Game time is 5:05 p.m. Game Two of the Colonial Cup Playoffs' First Round: The IceHogs and Komets tangle in the crucial Game Two of the opening round of the 2006 Colonial Cup postseason. Rockford will look to head to Fort Wayne on a winning note as Games Three and Four will be in Fort Wayne next week.
The IceHogs Broadcasting Network:
Rockford IceHogs fans can catch all IceHogs Regular and Post Season games on Rockford's Voice, WNTA-AM 1330. Fans can also watch and listen to the Hogs on the World Wide Web with the B2 Networks! Log on to the IceHogs Web site (icehogs.com) and click on the "click here to watch the game live" icon, and for just $6, you can catch all of the IceHogs action on your computer. New to the network this season is ESPN Radio "The Jock" 1380 AM. The Jock will broadcast 20 Hogs games during the regular season. Check your local listings. Also, fans with Insight Cable television can tune in to Channel 57 for all the IceHogs hockey action this season. The broadcast begins with the Pregame Show 20 minutes before the puck drops. Make sure to give your opinion during the 10th Inning Bar and Grill Post-Game Call-In Show following each home game at (815) 874-8255.
Internet Inconvenience:
The Rockford IceHogs would like to extend an apology to all the Hogs fans who have tried to listen or view the broadcast on icehogs.com through the B2 Networks when the team is in Fort Wayne. The Komets have chosen not to adhere to league rules and do not have B2 Network access in the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum at this time. IceHogs fans can catch all the Hogs games, home and away via broadcast and video through the B2 Network on icehogs.com all season, with the exception of the games played in Fort Wayne. The UHL is currently addressing the situation in Fort Wayne and we will let you know if anything changes. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have created.
Playoff Tickets Available:
The 2006 Colonial Cup Playoffs is almost here and you can lock up your seats as tickets are on sale now at the MetroCentre Box Office. Call (815) 968-5222, log on to centreevents.com or stop down to the Box Office located in downtown Rockford for tickets. Tickets start at $9 and an arena surcharge will apply to all tickets.
HogTalk Returns Tonight At Shooter's North:
Miller Lite HogTalk returns this week to Shooter's North located at 7742 Forest Hills Road in Loves Park from 6:30-7:30 p.m. WXRX's Jim Stone and Double T host the weekly show and this week they will be joined by IceHogs skaters Steve Pelletier and Yannick Tifu. IceHogs Head Coach Steve Martinson will be on hand to talk about the week that was and the week ahead. Come sign up for prizes, meet some IceHogs players and chat Hogs hockey at Shooter's North!
First Round Colonial Cup Playoffs
Friday, April 21 vs. Fort Wayne, 7:30 p.m. (Game One)
Sunday, April 23 vs. Fort Wayne, 5:05 p.m. (Game Two)
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 17, 2006
- Kalamazoo Wings capture Tarry Cup - IHL 2
- Komet's Kurk UHL Goaltender of the Week - Fort Wayne Komets
- Kalamazoo Wings week in review - Kalamazoo Wings
- Tarry Cup champions set destination Colonial Cup Friday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Hogs announce first round playoff schedule - Rockford IceHogs
- Komets face Hogs in first round - Fort Wayne Komets
- Richmond's Oliveira and Fort Wayne's Kurk earn weekly honors - IHL 2
- Mallards Headed to Danbury to Begin Playoffs - Quad City Mallards
- Mechanics clinch first playoff berth - Motor City Mechanics
- Afr Announces New General Manager For Team and Arena - Elmira Jackals
- Generals announce press conference - Flint Generals
- Fury announce first round playoff schedule - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- First Round Playoff Dates are set - Motor City Mechanics
- Mallards and Trashers Set First Round Schedule - Quad City Mallards
- Trashers begin playoffs Friday at home - Danbury Trashers
- Trashers host Quad City Friday and Saturday - Danbury Trashers
- Rockford closes out regular season taking three of four points - Rockford IceHogs
- Frostbite Open Playoffs on Friday - Adirondack Frostbite
- Adirondack Frostbite Weekly - Adirondack Frostbite
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