Short-handed Icehawks Loose Season Finale, Await Playoffs

February 28, 2010
By: John Keuvelaar

The Tri City Icehawks entered Friday's game shorthanded as five players continued to serve their game suspensions from the Motor City brawl. With both teams having first round home ice locked up, Tri City and Chicago had little to play for except staying healthy and eligible. The teams saved the best for last as they turned on the jets in the third period for more of what we would expect from these two teams. But three Chicago power play goals proved too much for Tri City as the Icehawks fell to Chicago, 4-3.

The game also held a special meaning for the Icehawks. Showing their support for Breast Cancer Awareness, the Icehawks donned pink jerseys. They were also joined by members of the Saginaw Spirit in assisting the hosting of a Travel Mites scrimmage between periods with the Spirit players staying to sign autographs after the event. In all, the night was more a celebration of life while enjoying a hockey game.

The first period was more of a defensive game. Tri City seemed to employ the old "rope a dope" as they often dropped back in the zone as if killing a penalty and racked up many icings. Chicago fired at the net looking for deflections but the Icehawk defense tied up Chicago letting netminder Austin Willenborg see clearly as he stopped all 12 Chicago shots as the two teams skated to a 0-0 score.



Dean Potila put the Icehawks on the board converting a 2 on 1 play from a nice feed by Eric Tien. Chicago kept the pressure on and soon was rewarded as Brian Reimel took a pass from Daniel Doyle to beat Willenborg and knotting the score at 1.

Chicago continued their aggressive play attacking the net more. Late in the period, the Icehawks were whistled for too many men on the ice. Chicago took advantage of having the extra skater on the ice. During a scramble in front of the net, Matthew Soukup found the puck on the back side of the goaltender and put Chicago up 2-1.

Play picked up in the third period as Tri City got off the ropes and came out skating. Chicago matched the pace for some fast skating exciting hockey.

Tri City started the period off by killing a penalty. The penalty kill gave the Icehawks momentum as Mitchell Wood and Ben Kitts attacked the net. Tyler Kennedy grabbed a rebound finding a wide open net for the tying score.

Tri City had trouble staying out of the penalty box in the third period. Chicago made the Icehawks pay for this. Daniel Doyle made Tri City pay as he jumped on an open puck in front of the net, going down low to get it and firing high. James Bohne put Chicago up by two moments later. On another power play, Bohne took a pass from Daniel in the corner and skated out front for a point blank wrist shot giving Chicago a 4-2 edge.

It wasn't much longer before Chicago was back on the power play. This time it backfired when Adam Pieczynski took the puck in front of his net and cleared it the length of the ice. He fired it on net and the blistering shot found a hole in the Chicago goaltender for the score making it 4-3 Chicago. With time running out, the Icehawks pulled the goalie but to no avail as Chicago came away with a 4-3 win.

As the regular season ends this weekend, Tri City will play at home starting Friday at 7:30 pm. It won't be known until Sunday whether the Icehawks will be playing Central Wisconsin or Illinois in a best of three series. Either way, the Icehawks are sure to be ready and look forward to an exciting series. Come root on the Icehawks.