 |
| Power
Play |
2nd
- 18.9 |
| Penalty
Killing |
6th
- 78.7 |
| FORWARDS |
| MICHEL
BEAUSOLEIL |
36-46-82
(+14) |
| JASON
CIRONE |
21-42-63
(+12) |
| JORDAN
FOX |
26-34-60
(-12) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| NICK
TUZZOLINO |
10-34-44
(+2) |
| BROCK
WILSON |
3-29-32
(+9) |
| MARTIN
ONDREJ |
4-21-25
(+8) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ERIC
MARVIN |
21-20-5-7
(0 SO)
3.51 GA
.885 PCT |
|
| CHAD
ALBAN |
9-3-0-2
(1 SO)
2.48 GA
.927 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Flint
vs Port Huron |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
18 |
FLINT
2 - PORT HURON 4 |
SEED
3 |
2 |
APR.
19 |
FLINT
5 - PORT HURON
4 |
SEED
2 |
34-28-5-9
(82) |
3 |
APR.
21 |
PORT
HURON 2 - FLINT
1 (OT) |
41-29-2-4
(88) |
| |
4 |
APR.
23 |
PORT
HURON 5 - FLINT
2 |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
25 |
FLINT
3 - PORT HURON 4 (OT) |
|
| |
6 |
APR.
26 |
PORT
HURON at FLINT |
|
| |
7 |
APR.
27 |
FLINT
at PORT HURON |
|
| *
If Necessary |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW
|
| by
Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
When
IHL management talks about geographic location as one
of their strengths, the I-69 straightaway between Port
Huron and Flint is a prime example.
The roughly 60-mile distance between the two clubs will
enable each team to draw fans from the other team's city
for this best-of-seven series.
The short distance is not the only item fueling passions
in this series. Port Huron’s Jeff Zehr is a former General
and Flint’s Greg Bullock used to captain a Port Huron
club. Not only do the fans not care for each other there
is a certain amount of bad blood between the players and
the organizations at play.
Port Huron is being given a slight advantage going into
the series. They posted a 9-6 record against the Generals
during the regular season and their rink is 15 feet shorter
than the rink in Flint is, but that advantage might be
minimized by the fact the two clubs played against each
other so many times already this year.
Flint is going to be alright in this series, especially
if Chad Alban gets hot in goal. The Icehawks could not
beat Alban during regulation during the regular season,
if the veteran netminder can carry that type of play into
the postseason he could be a series-changer.
Forwards
Each team's top players produced against their first round
opponent during the regular season. Flint’s Michel Beausoleil
(36-46-82) had 18 points against Port Huron as did Greg
Bullock (48 games, 16-35-51). Jason Cirone (21-42-63),
Jordan Fox (16 points vs. Port Huron), John DiPace and
Josef Fojtik are expected to produce offensively for associate
coach Peter South in this round. Jared Dumba, Jaroslav
Cesky, Jonathan Duchesneau, Justin DePretis, Peter Ferraro
and newcomer Chris Kovalcik will man forward roles with
Kovalcik and Dumba able to skate on the blue line should
the need arise.
Zehr picked up 33 goals (20 points vs. Flint) this year
and has been known to raise his game due to occasion.
Should Zehr do that in this series he could make a huge
difference. Kris Vernarsky (20 points vs. Flint), Tab
Lardner (39-42-81, 21 points vs. Flint) and Jamie Carroll
(30-40-70) will be going concerns for the Generals during
this series. Port Huron coach Stan Drulia also has several
pesky role players in his lineup. Don Margettie can get
under the skin of his opponents with the best of them,
Brent Hughes can score in bunches and Rich Hanson, Jerry
Tucker, Josh Aspenlind, Kerry Bowman and Steve Hildenbrand
will round out the group.
Defensemen
Solid and steady are the buzzwords for the ‘Hawks on the
blueline with experienced players such as Chris Bogas,
B.J. Adams, Jamie Lovell and Mark DeSantis each playing
important roles on the team. Robert Cowan Jr., Joe Markusen,
Derek Merlini and Jeremy Leroux are all available to assist
the other defensemen during this series.
Flint has a mixture of experienced players and newcomers
to the pro game in their lineup. Nick Tuzzolino, Brock
Wilson, Martin Ondrej, Ryan Jorde, Kris Mallette, Kyle
Deck and Josh Peterson Jr. form South’s backline for the
series. Jorde and Mallette each bring a vet’s perspective
to the group while Tuzzolino provides offensive punch.
Goaltending
Eric Marvin (21-20-12, 3.51 GAA) saw most of the action
in goal for the Generals this year, but the belief is
he will be supplanted by Alban (9-3-2, 2.48 GAA) in the
playoffs. Further fueling the fire is the fact Marvin
gave up on average over four goals per game to the Icehawks
in head-to-head play while Alban whittled an average of
a goal and a half less per game from Marvin’s performance.
Port Huron has two goaltenders they can use without worry
in the postseason. Larry Sterling (24-13-2, 2.51 GAA)
is a very capable goaltender with a good career ahead
of him. Marty Magers (14-11-3, 2.89 GAA) is also a good
netminder, but if Sterling is playing well Magers might
just be along for the ride.
What to expect
IHL fans should get ready for a hard-hitting, tough series
that has a potential to go a long way, if not all the
way to seven games. A lot will depend on Flint’s Alban
and Port Huron’s Zehr as both of them have the pure talent
to shift the series to their club’s advantage if they
can get hot.
Port Huron has the more experienced coach in Drulia and
he has won a professional championship before. Should
the Icehawks need settling or a voice of experience Drulia
has the precedence of winning in his resume for the team
to draw upon.
|
|
| Game
1 |
Flint
2 - Port Huron 4 |
| by
Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Port
Huron Leads Series 1-0 |
Port
Huron, MI - A first minute fight, 26 shots on
goal in one period, a see-saw game that saw three lead
changes, playoff hockey intensity; you think?
In the series preview it was pointed out there wasn’t
much love between these two teams. Port Huron’s Jeff Zehr
(who seems to inspire vitriol from Flint) and Flint’s
Kris Mallette fought just 51 seconds into the contest
after Zehr interfered with Flint netminder Chad Alban
as they went about proving the prediction correct.
Zehr would take his anger out against Mallette later in
the game with an elbow which was totally out of the framework
of the rules and was assessed five minutes and a game
misconduct for the infraction. Flint’s Jordan Fox took
exception to the hit and immediately fought Zehr, who
would wind the evening up with 29 penalty minutes to his
credit.
In between the pushing and the shoving there was an exciting
hockey game played. Flint took two early leads and had
the game in control until Port Huron scored three unanswered
scores to win.
Josef Fojtik put Flint up with the game’s only first period
goal. Don Margettie evened the scoring in the second,
only to see John DiPace’s power play goal put the Generals
back up top.
Jamie Lovell evened the game up for the Icehawks when
he was given the time and space necessary to beat Alban
high. Port Huron responded to the shorthanded situation
they were given due to Zehr’s actions with the game-winning
goal when Kris Vernarsky slid in a rebound of a Tab Lardner
shot. Port Huron’s first three goals were registered during
the second period when they fired 26 shots on Alban.
Rookie Robert Cowan finished the scoring when he pushed
the puck past Alban to convert a play by Brent Hughes.
Flint tried to fight their way back into the contest with
15 shots on goal, but Icehawks netminder Larry Sterling
held every one of those final period shots back and wound
up the night with 39 stops. Alban played well in defeat
with 44 saves and should be back in goal tonight.
The Icehawks might find themselves shorthanded if the
IHL hands down supplementary action against Zehr. The
Icehawks may also find themselves without the services
of Steve Hildenbrand who left with an undisclosed injury
during the game.
|
|
| Game
2 |
Flint
5 - Port Huron 4 |
|
by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 1-1 |
Port
Huron, MI - Something strange happened to the
Port Huron Icehawks rally just before it reached fruition,
it failed just when it appeared to be staged for the remarkable
to happen.
Flint's John DiPace destroyed the Icehawks karma when he blistered a slap shot past Larry Sterling with less than 18 seconds remaining in the game. Jaroslav Cesky had just been sent off the ice for interference to set up a power play for Port Huron who had rallied to tie the game from a 4-1 deficit. But it would be the Generals who profited from the crime when DiPace broke down the wing, used a teammate as a decoy and scored the game-winner.
In reality the outcome was what it should have been as the Icehawks struggled defensively. In addition to the shorthanded goal Port Huron giveaways led directly to scores by Justin DePretis and Cesky. Icehawks coach Stan Drulia would also have enjoyed a little more help on the first goal of the game when two different Flint players had cracks at a rebound before the second one, Greg Bullock, knocked it home just 29 seconds into the game.
Kris Vernarsky pulled Port Huron even when his shot from the point went by an unsuspecting Chad Alban, but Flint would go on a run picking up goals from DePretis, Michel Beausoleil and Cesky to open a 4-1 lead.
The Icehawks made a run at Flint starting with a Jeremy Leroux goal when Alban was left alone to make two stops before Leroux banged it in to start the rally. Jeremy Tucker and Josh Aspenlind scored to even the game and make it appear they were on their way to victory, but that was before DiPace changed the course of the series with his score.
Port Huron skated without the services of Steve Hildenbrand who missed the game due to injury and Jeff Zehr who was suspended due to his hit on Kris Mallette in Game 1.
|
|
| Game
3 |
Port
Huron 2 - Flint 1 (OT) |
|
by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Port
Huron Leads Series 2-1 |
Flint,
MI - Port Huron's Jamie Carroll bashed in a one-timer
from the crease past Chad Alban as the Icehawks retrieved
home ice in the series. Flint's Alban stopped 32 of 33
shots before Carroll defeated him with 3:02 expired in
overtime.
The series between the two clubs is getting nastier and
hard-feelings are growing. Port Huron's Jeff Zehr was
suspended for a game due to a hit on Flint's Kris Mallette
in Game One and Flint's Jared Dumba missed the third game
due to suspension because of a spear which connected in
Game Two.
Port Huron is especially frustrated because they believe
Flint exaggerated Mallette's condition. According to the
Icehawks the Generals said Mallette might miss the series
due to injury after Zehr's check, but Mallette played
in the very next game. Such is playoff hockey.
With the subplots growing in this series the two clubs
faced off to see who would take a two game to one lead.
The action on the ice was not as intense as all the off-ice
maneuvering, as both clubs played a tight, physical, defensive
style game often associated with playoff hockey when stakes
are high.
Mallette figured prominently in the game's first goal
when he turned the puck over to Port Huron's Tab Lardner
who led the Icehawks in scoring during the regular season.
Lardner made no mistake and put his club up when he defeated
Alban from in close. The goal, which was scored in the
first period would stand for a long time.
Flint finally pulled even when Peter Ferraro scored in
the third period to force the overtime period when he
rapped in a shot after plays from Greg Bullock and Michel
Beausoleil. No one can say Ferraro lacks timing as the
goal was Ferraro's first professional playoff score of
his playing career. It would also be the only puck to
get past Port Huron netminder Larry Sterling on the evening.
Sterling and Alban both played well as their clubs tried
to take care of matters in their own zone before breaking
out. The style led to an even game until Carroll finished
the matter off.
Game notes
Port Huron’s Brent Hughes is having a tough series. He
took a spear from Jared Dumba in Game Two which led to
Dumba’s suspension. Then with the game just over a minute
into overtime he was boarded by Michel Beausoleil. Beausoleil
was assessed a penalty on the play and Carroll scored
shortly afterwards. As of press time there was no word
on supplemental discipline to Beausoleil.
A bench minor was called against Flint early in the game
for not having the starting netminder denoted on the lineup
card.
The two teams will play Game 4 on Wednesday night in Flint.
|
|
| Game
4 |
Port
Huron 5 - Flint 2 |
|
by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Port
Huron Leads Series 3-1 |
Flint,
MI
- It was the perfect road game; keep your hosts close,
get solid goaltending and score late in the game. Port
Huron mastered the plan and took their second in a row
in Flint with a solid 5-2 no-questions-asked win over
the Flint Generals. Meanwhile the Generals are trying
to scramble for a win and keep a full team on the ice
navigating around suspension and injury to key players.
Flint played without two offensive cogs last night and
it showed. Justin DePretis broke a thumb in Game 3 while
Michel Beausoleil was the latest player suspended for
a hit on the Icehawks Brent Hughes. With those two missing
the team was without their leading scorer (Beausoleil)
in the regular season and a key addition from the MAHL
(DePretis) who had 17 goals for the Generals in less than
half a season. While Jared Dumba did return for the Generals
they were quickly down again when Martin Ondrej went down
with an injury in the scoreless first period.
Former Port Huron captain Greg Bullock broke the scoring
dam early in the second period when his slapshot blazed
past Icehawks netminder Larry Sterling with just 49 seconds
gone in the middle period. Port Huron took their first
leader of the game when Don Margettie re-directed Hughes'
shot and Jamie Lovell cashed in on some hard-work from
Jeremy Tucker and Margettie on the end boards when his
shot from the slot beat Flint's Chad Alban.
Flint would get on the board for the final time when Jaroslev
Cesky used a Port Huron defender as a bumper. It would
be their last shot of the evening past Sterling who was
solid with a 29 save effort.
From there on it was all Icehawks. Mark DeSantis' hard
shot would be the eventual game-winner before the end
of the second period. The third period was also all Port
Huron as they collected scores from Tab Lardner and Tucker
to close out the scoring.
Port Huron will host Game 5 in their building, should
they win the game they will be the first club cleared
for the Turner Cup finals.
|
|
| Game
5 |
Flint
3 - Port Huron 4 (OT) |
|
by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Port
Huron Wins Series 3-1 |
Port
Huron, MI - They say if at first you don't succeed,
try again. The ancient axiom suited Port Huron rookie
Josh Aspenlind when he scored on his second great chance
of overtime to send his Icehawks to the Turner Cup Finals.
Actually Aspenlind's goal wasn't as pretty as his first
try was. Flint netminder Chad Alban stoned him midway
through the overtime period with a pad save. However they
don't award wins for style in the playoffs and Aspenlind
kept at it. The rookie persevered and the series-winning
goal came off a feed from Kris Vernarsky when Aspenlind
flipped the puck over Alban at the 17:42 mark while falling
to the ice. Don Margettie picked up the second assist
on the goal.
Flint staged a furious rally just to tie the game and
send it into overtime. Port Huron had built a 3-1 lead
behind the strong netminding of Larry Sterling and two
power play goals. But the Generals showed some life when
John DiPace scored his second goal of the night when the
puck took a hard bank off the end boards and came to DiPace
who fired it into an open net. Josef Fojtik sent the game
into overtime when he scored with just 24 seconds remaining
in regulation when he converted passes from DiPace and
Greg Bullock and fired a well-placed parry.
Port Huron took the lead on power play goals by Jeff Zehr
and Margettie while Vernarsky added an even-strength tally.
Flint owned their goal when DiPace scored his first to
tie the game at one after Zehr scored.
Sterling had another strong effort as the stopped 44 shots
on the night while Alban turned in a 36-save effort of
his own.
The Icehawks await the winner of the Fort Wayne-Muskegon
series which the favored Komets lead 3-2. Should the Fury
rally the Icehawks will own home ice, they will defer
to Fort Wayne should the Komets hold serve in that series.
The finals will be the first for a Port Huron club since
1978.
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| Power
Play |
4th
- 17.6 |
| Penalty
Killing |
2nd
- 85.0 |
| FORWARDS |
| TAB
LARDNER |
39-42-81
(+20) |
| JAMIE
CARROLL |
30-40-70
(+6) |
| JEFF
ZEHR |
33-33-66
(-4) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| JAMIE
LOVELL |
8-23-31
(+5) |
| JOE
MARKUSEN |
11-17-28
(+1) |
| MARK
DeSANTIS |
6-22-28
(-8) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| LARRY
STERLING |
24-13-2-1
(1 SO)
2.51 GA
.912 PCT |
|
| MARTY
MAGERS |
14-11-0-3
(1 SO)
2.89 GA
.904 PCT |
|
|
|
