Former Indiana Ice player Nic Dowd signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Dowd recently completed his career at St. Cloud State University, where he played 155 games, totaling 52 goals and 69 assists over four years. This season, Dowd scored the game-winner in overtime of St. Cloud's first-round NCAA tournament victory. He led the NCHC in power play goals (10), was second in total goals (22) and ninth in points (40). He is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey's top player (although former Dubuque Fighting Saint John Gaudreau will likely be the recipient).
Dowd played with the Ice in 2009-10, totaling 16 goals and 23 assists in 46 games. He was drafted by the Kings in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL draft.
Kings release
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Another former Ice player, Adam Erne, signed an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. He reported to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, to begin playing on a tryout contract as his season with QMJHL Quebec has finished.
Erne played for the Ice in 2010-11, tallying 10 goals and 18 points in 45 games as one of the youngest players in the USHL. He has since played three seasons for Quebec in the QMJHL. with three 20-goal seasons. He was drafted by the Lightning with the 33rd overall pick in the 2013 draft.
Erne inks ELC
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Ice weekly preview: Final week of the season
The Indiana Ice have 3 games the final week of the regular season.
Last week: The Ice split two games in Dubuque, beating the Fighting Saints 5-4 on Friday, before falling 3-2 on Saturday.
What's ahead
Wednesday vs. Dubuque (7:05 p.m., Pan Am Pavilion)
Previous meetings (Ice 2-1-0): Ice 5-3 (10/26 at Indy); Ice 5-4 (3/28 at Dubuque); Saints 3-2 (3/29 at Dubuque).
Scouting the Saints: Dubuque has balanced scoring, but three 20-goal socrers in Karson Kuhlman (23-18-41), Seamus Malone (21-22-43) and Max McHugh (21-12-33). Defenseman Alexx Privitera is 11-32-43. Dubuque has always been solid in its own end, and goaltenders Kevin Reich and Benjamin Johansson both have .900+ save percentages.
What's important: The Ice need a win to keep pace with Waterloo in the Anderson Cup race. They trail by two points and this is their game in hand on the Black Hawks. Dubuque will be either the second or third seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs against Cedar Rapids, but will be playing for home ice advantage in that series.
Friday vs. Green Bay (7:05 p.m., Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Previous meetings (Ice 2-0-1): Gamblers 4-3 OT (12/5 at Indy); Ice 5-2 (3/14 at Green Bay); Ice 2-0 (3//15 at Green Bay).
Scouting the Gamblers: Green Bay has been a model franchise for some time. Their top scorer is forward Nick Schmaltz (17-44-61). Matthew Weis (20-33-53) is the lone 20-goal scorer, although Ryan Lough (19) and Kevin Irwin (18) are close. Goaltenders Jared Rutlege (2.78 GAA, .906%) and Cam Hackett (2.59 GAA, .908%) are solid in net. The Ice recently swept a weekend tilt in Green Bay, outscoring the Gamblers 7-2 at home.
What's important: Green Bay is currently on the outside looking in for the playoffs and will be desperate. The Ice need to keep pace with Waterloo in the Anderson Cup race. If Green Bay makes the playoffs, it would be against the Ice.
Saturday at Chicago (8:05 p.m., The Edge Ice Arena)
Previous meetings (Ice 3-0-0): Ice 4-1 (11/9 at Indy); Ice 4-1 (11/30 at Chicago); Ice 4-1 (3/1 at Indy).
Scouting the Steel: Coached by former Ice assistant Scott McConnell, the Steel are in the thick of the playoff race. Look for C.J. Smith (27-16-43) and Robby Jackson (27-13-40) to do the bulk of their scoring. The Ice have won all three meetings by 4-1 scores. Chris Nell (.910%, 3.10 GAA) and Cale Morris (.909%, 2.98 GAA) share net duties.
What's important: Chicago, like Green Bay, is on the outside looking in for the playoffs and will be desperate for points. It's the regular season finale for both teams, which could meet in the postseason.
Beyond this week
The Clark Cup playoffs begin with home games April 11-12 at Pan Am Pavilion against an opponent to be determined.
Official team weekly release
Last week: The Ice split two games in Dubuque, beating the Fighting Saints 5-4 on Friday, before falling 3-2 on Saturday.
What's ahead
Wednesday vs. Dubuque (7:05 p.m., Pan Am Pavilion)
Previous meetings (Ice 2-1-0): Ice 5-3 (10/26 at Indy); Ice 5-4 (3/28 at Dubuque); Saints 3-2 (3/29 at Dubuque).
Scouting the Saints: Dubuque has balanced scoring, but three 20-goal socrers in Karson Kuhlman (23-18-41), Seamus Malone (21-22-43) and Max McHugh (21-12-33). Defenseman Alexx Privitera is 11-32-43. Dubuque has always been solid in its own end, and goaltenders Kevin Reich and Benjamin Johansson both have .900+ save percentages.
What's important: The Ice need a win to keep pace with Waterloo in the Anderson Cup race. They trail by two points and this is their game in hand on the Black Hawks. Dubuque will be either the second or third seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs against Cedar Rapids, but will be playing for home ice advantage in that series.
Friday vs. Green Bay (7:05 p.m., Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Previous meetings (Ice 2-0-1): Gamblers 4-3 OT (12/5 at Indy); Ice 5-2 (3/14 at Green Bay); Ice 2-0 (3//15 at Green Bay).
Scouting the Gamblers: Green Bay has been a model franchise for some time. Their top scorer is forward Nick Schmaltz (17-44-61). Matthew Weis (20-33-53) is the lone 20-goal scorer, although Ryan Lough (19) and Kevin Irwin (18) are close. Goaltenders Jared Rutlege (2.78 GAA, .906%) and Cam Hackett (2.59 GAA, .908%) are solid in net. The Ice recently swept a weekend tilt in Green Bay, outscoring the Gamblers 7-2 at home.
What's important: Green Bay is currently on the outside looking in for the playoffs and will be desperate. The Ice need to keep pace with Waterloo in the Anderson Cup race. If Green Bay makes the playoffs, it would be against the Ice.
Saturday at Chicago (8:05 p.m., The Edge Ice Arena)
Previous meetings (Ice 3-0-0): Ice 4-1 (11/9 at Indy); Ice 4-1 (11/30 at Chicago); Ice 4-1 (3/1 at Indy).
Scouting the Steel: Coached by former Ice assistant Scott McConnell, the Steel are in the thick of the playoff race. Look for C.J. Smith (27-16-43) and Robby Jackson (27-13-40) to do the bulk of their scoring. The Ice have won all three meetings by 4-1 scores. Chris Nell (.910%, 3.10 GAA) and Cale Morris (.909%, 2.98 GAA) share net duties.
What's important: Chicago, like Green Bay, is on the outside looking in for the playoffs and will be desperate for points. It's the regular season finale for both teams, which could meet in the postseason.
Beyond this week
The Clark Cup playoffs begin with home games April 11-12 at Pan Am Pavilion against an opponent to be determined.
Official team weekly release
SPLITSVILLE: Indy’s
bid for the Anderson Cup got a bit more interesting as the team split
road contests with the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday and Saturday.
Sam Kurker potted a pair of goals while Dwyer Tschantz, Joe Sullivan
and Matt Roy added tallies as the Ice topped the Saints 5-4 on Friday.
Hayden Stewart logged his 13th consecutive win of the season against his
former team in the 27-save effort. Indy looked
to have the game well in hand with a 2-0 lead midway through the third
period on Saturday until a quick three-goal rally propelled host Dubuque
over Indy 3-2. Brian Pinho scored the first goal of the contest before
Kurker notched his third goal in two contests
during the second period. Jason Pawloski faced 27 shots on net,
registering 24 saves in the match.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: With
three tilts remaining and a game in hand, Indy sits two points behind
the Waterloo Black Hawks in the chase for their first-ever Anderson
Cup championship, awarded to the team with the most standings points at
the end of the regular season. If both teams have an equal amount of
points at the conclusion of the regular season, Indy and Waterloo would
share the title.
WE’RE THE TOPS: Friday’s
win at Dubuque was more special than what was on the score sheet as the
team eclipsed a pair of franchise records in the 5-4 victory. The
decision was Indy’s 40th of the season, passing marks for
team wins set in the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 seasons while setting a new
record with their eighth consecutive victory. The Ice could equal two
additional franchise bars by sweeping this
week’s homestand (most home wins-22, most home points-48).
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME:
Seven of eight USHL teams have punched their post season dance card
with four teams vying for the last remaining Eastern Conference playoff
spot. Muskegon (63), Green Bay (62), Team USA (61) and Chicago (60)
are still fighting for the final spot with the Steel having a game
in-hand against the others. Conference leaders Indy and Waterloo are
the only teams to have clinched a seed (both number
ones) with the remaining squads battling for position.
STEWIE!!!!:
With the win Friday in Dubuque, goaltender Hayden Stewart extended his
franchise best win streak to 13 games. The second-year USHL goaltender
has yet
to lose as a member of the Ice and his numbers now include a 13-0-0
record, 1.08 GAA, four shutouts and a .954 save percentage.
SWINGMAN: Aidan
Muir’s helping hand continues to fuel the Ice as the Edmonton Oilers
prospect is riding a four-game assists streak with six helpers and a +4
plus-minus
rating during the stretch. Muir has been a consistent contributor on
the Indy offense as the first overall pick in the 2013 USHL Entry Draft
has collaborated on nine goals while chipping in one of his own for ten
points (G, 9A) in his past ten games.
PLAYER BRACKETS:
Scott Conway has 18 points (8G, 10A) in his past ten games…Jason
Pawloski is third in the league in wins (25)…Hayden Stewart is second in
the league
in GAA (2.06) and tied for second in save percentage (.922)…Dwyer
Tschantz has seven points (4G, 3A) in his past five games...Defenseman
Matt Roy has points in back-to-back contests…Brian Pinho has six goals
in his last four games.
TEAM TOURNAMENTS: Indy
leads the league in goals against per game (2.35) and is third in goals
per game (3.81)…The Ice lead the league in shots against per game
(24.95)…Indy is riding a five-game home winning streak…The Ice is third
in the league on the penalty kill at home (87.5%), on the road (85.8%)
and overall (86.5%)…Indy is 28-6-7 against the Eastern Conference.
FROZEN ALUMNI:
A pair of former Icemen will be vying for the top prize in NCAA
Division I college hockey in April as Nick Mattson (North Dakota) and
Matt Krug (Union
College) will suit up with their respective teams for a shot at the
2014 Frozen Four Championship starting Thursday, April 10 at the Wells
Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Union will face off against Boston
College in the first game while North Dakota and
Minnesota will square off in the second game of the evening. The
winners of both games will meet in the Frozen Four Championship on
Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 pm.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
This date in Indianapolis hockey history: April 2
On this date in Indianapolis hockey history
2014: Scott Conway scores the first four-goal game in Indiana Ice history, as the Ice explode for five second-period goals in a 9-1 victory over Dubuque. Conway adds an assist for a five-point game. Teammate Dwyer Tschantz also has a five-point night (G, 4A), while Jacob Pritchard has a goal and three assists.
2008: Gregory Squires tallies two goals and an assist, while John Kemp assists on three goals as the Ice beat the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets 4-3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Scott Darling stops 38 shots for the division champion Ice.
2005: The Ice's first USHL regular season ends with a 5-3 loss at Waterloo despite two assists from Jeremy Tejchma.
2000: The Ice complete their first CHL season with a 39-28-3 record and a 6-5 loss to Topeka. Yvan Corbin and Chris MacKenzie combine for a CHL-high 127 points. Corbin tallies his 62nd goal, MacKenzie his 47th.
1997: The Ice hold off a late Houston rally to beat the Aeros 4-3 in a shootout. Andy MacIntyre, Chris Snell and Brad Werenka all score in the shootout. Steve Dubinsky scores twice in the regulation - the latter being his 30th goal - with Rob Conn and Brad Werenka each assisting on two. It?s the first division title since the 1990 Turner Cup championship team.
1994: Rob Cimetta has the game-tying goal and three assists in regulation, then scores the game-winner in the shootout as the Ice beat Las Vegas 6-5 on the road. Christian Soucy comes off cold off the bench and stuffs all five Thunder attempts in the shootout. Rob Conn scores two first-period goals and adds an assist.
1993: Brad Lauer tallies three goals and an assist in a 9-3 Ice rout of Phoenix. Sean Williams adds three assists, as does Alexander Andrievski who scores his 25th goal 23 seconds in. Rob Brown has four assists. For Lauer, it's goals 44, 45 and 46 on the year. Rob Conn also scores twice.
1986: Rob Holland backstops a 7-4 Checkers win over Peoria at Market Square Arena. Earl Ingarfield scores the game-winner for the home team.
1983: The Checkers close out a successful 1982-83 regular season with an 8-2 thumping of the Birmingham South Stars. Kelly Hrudey backstops the win, and Dave Simpson scores the game-winner at the Coliseum. The Checkers finish 50-28-2
1976: The Racers clinch their first playoff spot with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Toros at Maple Leaf Gardens, backstopped by goaltender Jim Park.
1942: The Capitals put themselves on the verge of the city's first hockey championship. They beat beat Hershey 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 Calder Cup Finals series. Jack Keating scored the game-winning goal and Joe Turner stopped all but one shot for the Caps.
Happy birthday to ...
Grant Blakey: Forward who played 52 games for the Ice on the 2008-09 Clark Cup championship team. He tallied nine points in those 52 games, but had three goals and two assists in nine postseason contests on the way to the championship. He recently completed his collegiate career at Mercyhurst, where he tallied 37 goals and 69 assists in 146 games over four years. A native of Canton, Michigan, he is 25.
2014: Scott Conway scores the first four-goal game in Indiana Ice history, as the Ice explode for five second-period goals in a 9-1 victory over Dubuque. Conway adds an assist for a five-point game. Teammate Dwyer Tschantz also has a five-point night (G, 4A), while Jacob Pritchard has a goal and three assists.
2008: Gregory Squires tallies two goals and an assist, while John Kemp assists on three goals as the Ice beat the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets 4-3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Scott Darling stops 38 shots for the division champion Ice.
2005: The Ice's first USHL regular season ends with a 5-3 loss at Waterloo despite two assists from Jeremy Tejchma.
2000: The Ice complete their first CHL season with a 39-28-3 record and a 6-5 loss to Topeka. Yvan Corbin and Chris MacKenzie combine for a CHL-high 127 points. Corbin tallies his 62nd goal, MacKenzie his 47th.
1997: The Ice hold off a late Houston rally to beat the Aeros 4-3 in a shootout. Andy MacIntyre, Chris Snell and Brad Werenka all score in the shootout. Steve Dubinsky scores twice in the regulation - the latter being his 30th goal - with Rob Conn and Brad Werenka each assisting on two. It?s the first division title since the 1990 Turner Cup championship team.
1994: Rob Cimetta has the game-tying goal and three assists in regulation, then scores the game-winner in the shootout as the Ice beat Las Vegas 6-5 on the road. Christian Soucy comes off cold off the bench and stuffs all five Thunder attempts in the shootout. Rob Conn scores two first-period goals and adds an assist.
1993: Brad Lauer tallies three goals and an assist in a 9-3 Ice rout of Phoenix. Sean Williams adds three assists, as does Alexander Andrievski who scores his 25th goal 23 seconds in. Rob Brown has four assists. For Lauer, it's goals 44, 45 and 46 on the year. Rob Conn also scores twice.
1986: Rob Holland backstops a 7-4 Checkers win over Peoria at Market Square Arena. Earl Ingarfield scores the game-winner for the home team.
1983: The Checkers close out a successful 1982-83 regular season with an 8-2 thumping of the Birmingham South Stars. Kelly Hrudey backstops the win, and Dave Simpson scores the game-winner at the Coliseum. The Checkers finish 50-28-2
1976: The Racers clinch their first playoff spot with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Toros at Maple Leaf Gardens, backstopped by goaltender Jim Park.
1942: The Capitals put themselves on the verge of the city's first hockey championship. They beat beat Hershey 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 Calder Cup Finals series. Jack Keating scored the game-winning goal and Joe Turner stopped all but one shot for the Caps.
Happy birthday to ...
Grant Blakey: Forward who played 52 games for the Ice on the 2008-09 Clark Cup championship team. He tallied nine points in those 52 games, but had three goals and two assists in nine postseason contests on the way to the championship. He recently completed his collegiate career at Mercyhurst, where he tallied 37 goals and 69 assists in 146 games over four years. A native of Canton, Michigan, he is 25.
Ice: Anderson Cup/Playoff opponent watch
The Indiana Ice have clinched the USHL's Eastern Conference title, but are locked in a battle with Waterloo for the Anderson Cup -- symbolic of the USHL regular season titlist.
Waterloo currently holds a two-point lead, but the Ice have one game in hand.
Anderson Cup race
Ice: 40-10-7, 87 points
Remaining games: Wednesday vs. Dubuque (33-20-4), Friday vs. Green Bay (28-24-6), Saturday at Chicago (28-25-4).
Waterloo: 42-11-5, 89 points
Remaining games: Friday vs. Cedar Rapids (35-20-3), Saturday at Cedar Rapids (35-20-3).
Playoff chase
The Eastern Conference's playoff are 3/4 set, but it's a wild chase for that last fourth. The Ice are locked into the top spot with 87 points. Cedar Rapids (73 points) will play Dubuque (70 points) in another series, but it's yet to be determined who will have home ice advantage. Dubuque has one game in hand.
But the race to see who will have the #4 spot in the division and face the involves FOUR teams with just a few days left.
4. Muskegon (29-24-5, 63 points). Friday at Chicago; Saturday vs. Green Bay
5. Green Bay (28-24-6, 62 points). Friday at Indiana; Saturday at Muskegon
6. Team USA (28-25-5, 61 points). Friday vs. Sioux City; Saturday vs. Dubuque (note: U17s will play)
7. Chicago (28-25-4, 60 points). Wednesday vs. Youngstown; Friday vs. Muskegon; Saturday vs. Indiana
Chicago has a game in hand on all 3 teams, and that game in hand is against eighth-place Youngstown. Muskegon's one-point lead is a bit precarious, as both of its remaining games are against teams chasing it. The Ice also factor in to choosing their foe, as they face both Green Bay and Chicago this weekend. This one will go to Saturday night!
The scenarios are pretty mind-boggling. The only thing that's known is if Muskegon wins out, it clinches. Tiebreakers, by the way, are head-to-head records first. We'll crunch these numbers again after Friday's games.
In the west, Waterloo (89 points) has the top seed. Omaha (81 points) needs only one point to clinch the No. 2 seed. Sioux City (77 points) and Sioux Falls (75 points) are likely duking it out for the third and fourth seeds.
Waterloo currently holds a two-point lead, but the Ice have one game in hand.
Anderson Cup race
Ice: 40-10-7, 87 points
Remaining games: Wednesday vs. Dubuque (33-20-4), Friday vs. Green Bay (28-24-6), Saturday at Chicago (28-25-4).
Waterloo: 42-11-5, 89 points
Remaining games: Friday vs. Cedar Rapids (35-20-3), Saturday at Cedar Rapids (35-20-3).
Playoff chase
The Eastern Conference's playoff are 3/4 set, but it's a wild chase for that last fourth. The Ice are locked into the top spot with 87 points. Cedar Rapids (73 points) will play Dubuque (70 points) in another series, but it's yet to be determined who will have home ice advantage. Dubuque has one game in hand.
But the race to see who will have the #4 spot in the division and face the involves FOUR teams with just a few days left.
4. Muskegon (29-24-5, 63 points). Friday at Chicago; Saturday vs. Green Bay
5. Green Bay (28-24-6, 62 points). Friday at Indiana; Saturday at Muskegon
6. Team USA (28-25-5, 61 points). Friday vs. Sioux City; Saturday vs. Dubuque (note: U17s will play)
7. Chicago (28-25-4, 60 points). Wednesday vs. Youngstown; Friday vs. Muskegon; Saturday vs. Indiana
Chicago has a game in hand on all 3 teams, and that game in hand is against eighth-place Youngstown. Muskegon's one-point lead is a bit precarious, as both of its remaining games are against teams chasing it. The Ice also factor in to choosing their foe, as they face both Green Bay and Chicago this weekend. This one will go to Saturday night!
The scenarios are pretty mind-boggling. The only thing that's known is if Muskegon wins out, it clinches. Tiebreakers, by the way, are head-to-head records first. We'll crunch these numbers again after Friday's games.
In the west, Waterloo (89 points) has the top seed. Omaha (81 points) needs only one point to clinch the No. 2 seed. Sioux City (77 points) and Sioux Falls (75 points) are likely duking it out for the third and fourth seeds.
Indiana Ice announce first two playoff dates
The Indiana Ice have announced their first two home playoff dates.
The first two postseason games will be played Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at Pan Am Pavilion. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m. The opponent and the remainder of the first-round schedule will be determined after the regular season concludes this week. Muskegon, Chicago, Team USA and Green Bay are all in the running for the fourth and final playoff spot in the USHL's Eastern Conference. The Ice have clinched the top spot.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 4, and can be purchased either through Ticketmaster outlets or through the Indiana Ice office at 925-4423. Prices are $15 for reserved seating and $10 for standing room only.
The Ice have three games to close out the regular season this week, hosting Dubuque at Pan Am Pavilion on Wednesday, April 2, and then closing the home portion of the regular season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday, April 4 against the Green Bay Gamblers. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. On Saturday, the Ice will travel to face the Chicago Steel on the road with an 8:05 p.m. puck drop.
The first two postseason games will be played Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at Pan Am Pavilion. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m. The opponent and the remainder of the first-round schedule will be determined after the regular season concludes this week. Muskegon, Chicago, Team USA and Green Bay are all in the running for the fourth and final playoff spot in the USHL's Eastern Conference. The Ice have clinched the top spot.
Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, April 4, and can be purchased either through Ticketmaster outlets or through the Indiana Ice office at 925-4423. Prices are $15 for reserved seating and $10 for standing room only.
The Ice have three games to close out the regular season this week, hosting Dubuque at Pan Am Pavilion on Wednesday, April 2, and then closing the home portion of the regular season at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday, April 4 against the Green Bay Gamblers. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. On Saturday, the Ice will travel to face the Chicago Steel on the road with an 8:05 p.m. puck drop.
Indy Fuel announce Blackhawks affiliation
The Indy Fuel -- an expansion franchise set to begin play in the ECHL in 2014-15 -- announced today an affiliation with the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks and AHL's Rockford IceHogs.
The agreement is set to run for five seasons and will allow the Blackhawks to assign players to Indianapolis for development, and also to evaluate Fuel players.
Indy Fuel president Sean Hallett said in a statement, “We are honored to be joining the Blackhawks family, a truly first-class organization with which we share a common philosophy of the game, direction for the team and mutual commitment to our communities. Chicago already has a strong fan base in Indianapolis, and the Blackhawks are a winning organization with a strong emphasis on the development of up-and-coming young talent.”
“We are excited to begin this new partnership with the Indy Fuel,” Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard said in a statement. “The Blackhawks and the city of Indianapolis have a history of developing many players that have had successful National Hockey League careers, and we look forward to doing the same with the Fuel and our deep group of talented prospects."
The Blackhawks had shared an ECHL affiliation with the Toledo Walleye with the Detroit Red Wings, but will have an exclusive affiliation with the Fuel.
As a "AA" league, the ECHL team is the secondary affiliate of an NHL organization, with the primary affiliates in the American Hockey League. The Blackhawks' primary affiliate is the Rockford IceHogs. The number of players the Fuel will receive from Chicago varies, but ECHL teams often receive between one and five players from their NHL parent at any given time. The Blackhawks currently have one player in their system -- forward Maxim Shulanov -- on the ECHL roster. Blackhawks prospects David Gilbert, Philippe Lefebvre and Mac Carruth -- two forwards and a goaltender -- have also played in Toledo this season. The remainder of the Fuel roster will be made up of minor-league free agents and players potentially assigned from other AHL teams.
The affiliation rekindles a relationship the IHL Indianapolis Ice shared with the Blackhawks from 1989-99, when the Ice were the Blackhawks' primary affiliates. The CHL Indianapolis Ice claimed a minor/tertiary relationship with the Blackhawks in 2003-04, their final season.
“As we reignite the spirit of professional hockey in Indianapolis, there’s no better situation for us than working with the defending Stanley Cup champion, one of the ‘Original Six’ franchises,” Hallett said in the statement. “We expect the affiliation with the Blackhawks to take our fans’ excitement to another level – and because Chicago has been so successful in adding talent through the draft, we’re confident this move will help us put an exciting and competitive team on the ice for years to come.”
Indianapolis hockey minor pro team affiliations
Indy Fuel (ECHL): 2014-, Chicago Blackhawks (secondary)
Indianapolis Ice (CHL): 1999-2004, independent 1999-2003, Chicago Blackhawks (tertiary) 2003-04
Indianapolis Ice (IHL): 1988-99, independent 1988-89, Chicago Blackhawks 1989-98 (primary, full affiliation 1989-98, partial affiliation 1998-99).
Indianapolis Checkers (IHL): 1984-87: Minnesota North Stars 1984-87, New York Islanders 1984-86, Boston Bruins 1984-85, New Jersey Devils 1986-87 (all secondary)
Indianapolis Checkers (CHL): 1979-84: New York Islanders (primary)
Indianapolis Capitols/Cincinnati Wings (CPHL): 1963-64: Detroit Red Wings (secondary)
Indianapolis Chiefs (IHL): 1955-62: independent
Indianapolis Capitals (AHL): 1939-52: Detroit Red Wings (primary)
The full release on IndyFuelHockey.com
The agreement is set to run for five seasons and will allow the Blackhawks to assign players to Indianapolis for development, and also to evaluate Fuel players.
Indy Fuel president Sean Hallett said in a statement, “We are honored to be joining the Blackhawks family, a truly first-class organization with which we share a common philosophy of the game, direction for the team and mutual commitment to our communities. Chicago already has a strong fan base in Indianapolis, and the Blackhawks are a winning organization with a strong emphasis on the development of up-and-coming young talent.”
“We are excited to begin this new partnership with the Indy Fuel,” Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard said in a statement. “The Blackhawks and the city of Indianapolis have a history of developing many players that have had successful National Hockey League careers, and we look forward to doing the same with the Fuel and our deep group of talented prospects."
The Blackhawks had shared an ECHL affiliation with the Toledo Walleye with the Detroit Red Wings, but will have an exclusive affiliation with the Fuel.
As a "AA" league, the ECHL team is the secondary affiliate of an NHL organization, with the primary affiliates in the American Hockey League. The Blackhawks' primary affiliate is the Rockford IceHogs. The number of players the Fuel will receive from Chicago varies, but ECHL teams often receive between one and five players from their NHL parent at any given time. The Blackhawks currently have one player in their system -- forward Maxim Shulanov -- on the ECHL roster. Blackhawks prospects David Gilbert, Philippe Lefebvre and Mac Carruth -- two forwards and a goaltender -- have also played in Toledo this season. The remainder of the Fuel roster will be made up of minor-league free agents and players potentially assigned from other AHL teams.
The affiliation rekindles a relationship the IHL Indianapolis Ice shared with the Blackhawks from 1989-99, when the Ice were the Blackhawks' primary affiliates. The CHL Indianapolis Ice claimed a minor/tertiary relationship with the Blackhawks in 2003-04, their final season.
“As we reignite the spirit of professional hockey in Indianapolis, there’s no better situation for us than working with the defending Stanley Cup champion, one of the ‘Original Six’ franchises,” Hallett said in the statement. “We expect the affiliation with the Blackhawks to take our fans’ excitement to another level – and because Chicago has been so successful in adding talent through the draft, we’re confident this move will help us put an exciting and competitive team on the ice for years to come.”
Indianapolis hockey minor pro team affiliations
Indy Fuel (ECHL): 2014-, Chicago Blackhawks (secondary)
Indianapolis Ice (CHL): 1999-2004, independent 1999-2003, Chicago Blackhawks (tertiary) 2003-04
Indianapolis Ice (IHL): 1988-99, independent 1988-89, Chicago Blackhawks 1989-98 (primary, full affiliation 1989-98, partial affiliation 1998-99).
Indianapolis Checkers (IHL): 1984-87: Minnesota North Stars 1984-87, New York Islanders 1984-86, Boston Bruins 1984-85, New Jersey Devils 1986-87 (all secondary)
Indianapolis Checkers (CHL): 1979-84: New York Islanders (primary)
Indianapolis Capitols/Cincinnati Wings (CPHL): 1963-64: Detroit Red Wings (secondary)
Indianapolis Chiefs (IHL): 1955-62: independent
Indianapolis Capitals (AHL): 1939-52: Detroit Red Wings (primary)
The full release on IndyFuelHockey.com
This day in Indianapolis hockey history: April 1
Looking back at April 1 in Indianapolis hockey history
2014: The Indy Fuel announce an affiliation with the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, marking the second time a local hockey team has been affiliated with the Blackhawks. The Indianapolis Ice of the IHL had the Blackhawks' primary affiliation from 1989-98, and shared the primary affiliation in 1998-99. The Fuel will be the Blackhawks' secondary afffiliate, with the Rockford IceHogs the primary.
2011: Daniil Tarasov (2G, A) and Dominic Panetta (3A) each tally three-point games as the Ice beat Sioux Falls 6-4 on the road. Jon Gillies makes 44 saves in the win.
2006: Jay Sprague scores a hat trick for the Ice in a 7-2 defeat of Cedar Rapids in their first-round USHL playoff series. The victory gives the Ice a 2-1 lead in the series, but they fall in five games.
2005: Ryan Peckskamp scores a hat trick for the Ice and Garrett Roe has three assists, but they drop a 6-5 OT decision in Des Moines.
2001: The Ice clinch a playoff berth on the last day of the season, beating Huntsville 4-1 in front of 4,857 at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. Yvan Corbin scores his CHL-record 75th goal of the season and adds an assist for his 45th multi-point game. He and Chris MacKenzie share the Ken McKenzie Trophy - given to the CHL's leading scorer - with 129 points. The Ice finish the year 31-32-7 and place fourth in the CHL's eastern division. Steven Kirkpatrick starts the game and plays nine seconds as the Ice goaltender, with Gordie and Colleen Howe in attendance.
1992: Trevor Dam scores 27 seconds into the game, a team record, but it's not enough to prevent a 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. Jeff Rohlicek has a goal and an assist. It's the Ice's fifth straight loss.
1990: Guy Phillips scores his second and third goals for the Ice in a 2-1 win over Fort Wayne. Jim Waite stops 28 of 29 shots in the win.
1983: Rob Holland outduels Warren Skoerdenski in net, and Monty Trottier scores the game-winner as the Checkers thrash Birmingham 6-1 in the penultimate regular-season game.
1980: Ed Pizunski scores in overtime to give the Checkers a 5-4 win over the Dallas Black Hawks.
1957: The Chiefs clinch the Turner Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Louisville Rebels at Freedom Hall. Myron Stankiewicz scored an early goal and fed Frank Kuzma for a second-period goal that gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. Marc Boileau added an insurance goal in the third off a highlight-reel feed from teammate Pierre Brillant. Cliff Hicks made 32 saves, with several key ones late. The Rebels thought they had tied the game late, as a shot hit the side of the net and the red light came on. The official ruled "no goal." The Chiefs joined the 1942 and 1950 Capitals as Indianapolis hockey champions.
Happy birthday to ...
Brian Johnson: Right wing who played 13 games with the Checkers at the end of his career in 1985-86. A veteran minor-leaguer, he played three NHL games with the Red Wings in 1983-84. A native of Montreal, he is 54.
Byron Lomow: Center who joined the Checkers in 1986 after a junior career in the WHL, and then played the full 1986-87 season with the Checkers. In 90 games, he had 36 goals and 46 assists, as well as 235 penalty minutes. He also had five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games over the two years. His 71-point season in 1986-87 was the highest-scoring of his seven professional seasons. A native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, he is 48.
Brian Morgan: Forward who played for both the Ice and the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 2012-13 USHL season. In 39 games with the Ice, he tallied 16 goals and seven assists. He is currently a freshman at the University of Maine, where he had a 20-point season. A native of Windham, New Hampshire, he is 20.
2014: The Indy Fuel announce an affiliation with the NHL Chicago Blackhawks, marking the second time a local hockey team has been affiliated with the Blackhawks. The Indianapolis Ice of the IHL had the Blackhawks' primary affiliation from 1989-98, and shared the primary affiliation in 1998-99. The Fuel will be the Blackhawks' secondary afffiliate, with the Rockford IceHogs the primary.
2011: Daniil Tarasov (2G, A) and Dominic Panetta (3A) each tally three-point games as the Ice beat Sioux Falls 6-4 on the road. Jon Gillies makes 44 saves in the win.
2006: Jay Sprague scores a hat trick for the Ice in a 7-2 defeat of Cedar Rapids in their first-round USHL playoff series. The victory gives the Ice a 2-1 lead in the series, but they fall in five games.
2005: Ryan Peckskamp scores a hat trick for the Ice and Garrett Roe has three assists, but they drop a 6-5 OT decision in Des Moines.
2001: The Ice clinch a playoff berth on the last day of the season, beating Huntsville 4-1 in front of 4,857 at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. Yvan Corbin scores his CHL-record 75th goal of the season and adds an assist for his 45th multi-point game. He and Chris MacKenzie share the Ken McKenzie Trophy - given to the CHL's leading scorer - with 129 points. The Ice finish the year 31-32-7 and place fourth in the CHL's eastern division. Steven Kirkpatrick starts the game and plays nine seconds as the Ice goaltender, with Gordie and Colleen Howe in attendance.
1992: Trevor Dam scores 27 seconds into the game, a team record, but it's not enough to prevent a 4-2 loss to Milwaukee. Jeff Rohlicek has a goal and an assist. It's the Ice's fifth straight loss.
1990: Guy Phillips scores his second and third goals for the Ice in a 2-1 win over Fort Wayne. Jim Waite stops 28 of 29 shots in the win.
1983: Rob Holland outduels Warren Skoerdenski in net, and Monty Trottier scores the game-winner as the Checkers thrash Birmingham 6-1 in the penultimate regular-season game.
1980: Ed Pizunski scores in overtime to give the Checkers a 5-4 win over the Dallas Black Hawks.
1957: The Chiefs clinch the Turner Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Louisville Rebels at Freedom Hall. Myron Stankiewicz scored an early goal and fed Frank Kuzma for a second-period goal that gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. Marc Boileau added an insurance goal in the third off a highlight-reel feed from teammate Pierre Brillant. Cliff Hicks made 32 saves, with several key ones late. The Rebels thought they had tied the game late, as a shot hit the side of the net and the red light came on. The official ruled "no goal." The Chiefs joined the 1942 and 1950 Capitals as Indianapolis hockey champions.
Happy birthday to ...
Brian Johnson: Right wing who played 13 games with the Checkers at the end of his career in 1985-86. A veteran minor-leaguer, he played three NHL games with the Red Wings in 1983-84. A native of Montreal, he is 54.
Byron Lomow: Center who joined the Checkers in 1986 after a junior career in the WHL, and then played the full 1986-87 season with the Checkers. In 90 games, he had 36 goals and 46 assists, as well as 235 penalty minutes. He also had five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games over the two years. His 71-point season in 1986-87 was the highest-scoring of his seven professional seasons. A native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, he is 48.
Brian Morgan: Forward who played for both the Ice and the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the 2012-13 USHL season. In 39 games with the Ice, he tallied 16 goals and seven assists. He is currently a freshman at the University of Maine, where he had a 20-point season. A native of Windham, New Hampshire, he is 20.
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