Rookies lead Rockford to 2-0 series lead
April 23, 2006 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill.- With nine rookies suited up, the Rockford IceHogs almost had no choice but to have its first year players step up. Well they did again on Sunday as the Hogs topped the Fort Wayne Komets 4-1 in front of 3,078 at the Rockford MetroCentre to take a 2-0 lead in the First Round of the Colonial Cup Playoffs. The series now moves to Fort Wayne for Games Three and Four.
After a scoreless first period, Rockford goaltender Michel Robinson removed himself from the game early in the second after he tried to play through an injury caused by a slash from Fort Wayne winger Andrew Luciuk. He was replaced by rookie goalie Scott Dickie and the Hogs responded by scoring three tallies in the second period in front of him.
For the second straight game, rookie winger Chaz Johnson netted a pair of goals. He began the scoring after center Preston Mizzi created a turnover in the Komets zone, setting up Johnson for the game's first goal at 6:41 of the second. Johnson later fired in his second of the game, fourth of the postseason, at 11:29 of the middle frame, beating Fort Wayne goalie Kevin St. Pierre. Rookie winger Robin Big Snake netted the IceHogs third goal of the frame from rookie center Yannick Tifu and Johnson at 12:43.
In the third period, the Komets attempted a comeback. Luciuk deflected in his first goal of the postseason past Dickie, cutting the Rockford lead down to 3-1 at 12:00. The IceHogs responded once again, however, with a marker from winger Rob Voltera, his second of the playoffs, at 13:05 of the third to seal the Hogs win.
Dickie was given credit for the Hogs win in his debut and he made 24 saves. Robinson left the game with 10 blocked shots. St. Pierre suffered his second playoff loss of the series, making 28 saves on 32 Rockford shots. The Hogs went 0-for-7 on the power play, but held the Komets to 0-for-6. The series resumes on Tuesday, April 25 in Fort Wayne at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum at 6:30 p.m.
Next Home Game: Friday, April 28 vs. Fort Wayne Komets (if necessary). The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Game Five of the Hogs Komets series returns to Rockford if the Komets win either Games Three or Four in Fort Wayne. For tickets call (815) 968-5222.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 23, 2006
- Rookies lead Rockford to 2-0 series lead - Rockford IceHogs
- Machanics fall down 0-3 in series - Motor City Mechanics
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Kalamazoo takes 2-0 series lead - Motor City Mechanics
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