Sunday, September 27, 2009

Hogs Blank Wolves 4-0 in Charity Exhibition Game 9/23/09


Last Wednesday night the Rockford IceHogs hosted the Chicago Wolves at Carlson Ice Arena for a pre-season Charity Benefit exhibition game. Proceeds from ticket sales went to the Jr IceHogs Program and Sydney Ives, a young local girl suffering from a Brain Tumor. Final score 4-0, with the IceHogs taking home the victory. The event was a success, raising a total of $2,200. Proceeds were split evenly and the checks presented at the game held on 9/26/09 in Rockford.

With a total of 43 players on the Training Camp Roster, the IceHogs were not lacking for finding bodies to fill the game roster. Twenty-three IceHogs players watched the game from the other side of the glass, many familar faces were seen amoungst them...MacArthur, Klinkhammer, Bickell, Davis, and Bertram to name just a few. Seeing these boys makes it all seem more real, that indeed it was hockey time in Rockford, to the many fans who filled the stands. Several Wolve's fans were also noted to be in attendence, nice to see them make the trip.

The game started out a bit wild and wooly, as it seemed the players spent more time chasing after the puck rather than trying to follow any kind of game plan. Once the nerves and jitters settled down, actual forthought and passing could be detected. Glass rattling checks were ofter heard throughout the game. The fans were treated to fights in both the 1st and 2nd periods. The first pair to match up was IceHogs Adam Huxley and Wolves Derek Parker. The pair seemed to start slowly, dancing across the ice for what seemed like several minutes before the first blow was thrown. Huxley ended up with the Win. In the 2nd frame, Derek Parker had his card punched for a second dance that night, this time by IceHogs player Ryan Flynn. Parker was handed the win, while Flinn retired to the locker room for stitches.

The Man from Brittan, David Phillips, scored the first goal for the Hogs, late in the 2nd frame. He caught an empty net and jettisoned the puck from the neutral zone, with assists going to Brock Wilson and Matt McIlavane. The Hogs went onto score an additional 3 more goals during the 3rd frame, with credit going to Daniel Michalsky and Jason Lepine. Lepine it appears, had a very good night, tallying 2 goals and 1 assist. Joe Palmer was in net for the IceHogs while the duty for the Wolves was shared by Kevin Armstrong and Kris Mayotte.

Coach Bill Peters watched the game from the stands, so that he could make his final notes and decisions on the players. Assistant Coach Ted Dent took control of the bench for the game while being assisted by the Toledo Walleye's Head Coach, Nick Vitucci.

On Thursday, the IceHogs announced that they had released 17 players from Camp. Players released were: A.Huzley, T.Lange, M.MacIlvane, D.Michalsky, D.Patrosso, E.Rankin, C.Robertson, B.Schell, R.Smyth, J.Tender, J.Zimmel, J.Legualt, J.Lepine, M.Maslonka, J.Milan, S.Olesky and B.Wilson. Also announced was that the Blackhawks recalled forwards Bryan Bickell and Rob Klinkhammer back to Chicago. The release of players and the recall now brings the team roster down to 24 players. On Friday, forward Evan Brophy was recalled to Chicago, joining the team just in time for their Pre-Season adventure to Finland.









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