Tag Archives: Steve Poapst

More disciplined Hogs still fall to .500 in 2-1 loss to Wolves

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Chris Block| 2 Comments

By Chris Block

After allowing 17 goals in their last two losses, 7 coming while the team was short-handed, the Rockford IceHogs held team and organizational meetings all last week focusing on eliminating the mindless and careless minor penalties which have plagued this team all season.

That’s all fine and well, but when it takes until late January to correct an issue that should have been nipped in the bud at least two months ago, losses like the one to the Chicago Wolves on Friday night sting even more.

On Friday, Rockford was narrowly outplayed by the Chicago Wolves, handing the IceHogs a 2-1 defeat in front of a sellout crowd of 6,097 fans at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

The loss extends Rockford’s current losing streak to three games, but this loss wasn’t anything like the previous two. Read more »

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Hutton, IceHogs win 4th straight, cap off week that has young team buzzing; Update on Alexander Salak, Pirri talks Blackhawks

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Chris Block| Leave a comment

By Chris Block

Rockford extended its season-long winning streak to four games on Sunday in a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals before of a sparse crowd of 3,938 on “Blackhawks Night” at BMO Harris Bank Center.

Carter Hutton was spectacular in goal once again, capping off seven days that will assuredly earn him AHL Player of the Week honors.  Hutton stopped 33 shots against the Admirals in route to a 4-0-0-0 week in which Hutton allowed a total of five goals against.

“We got great goaltending tonight,” said IceHogs head coach Ted Dent. “It’s a nice way to finish off the weekend.”

It was a weekend that saw the IceHogs win three one-goal games, the first two coming in a home-and-home versus interstate rival Chicago Wolves.  Despite an overall record (18-21-1-3) that still seats Rockford 3rd from the bottom team percentage of points wise in the league, the IceHogs have been good in games decided by a goal, 9-6-1-3.

That particular record hasn’t come around until of late for the young IceHogs.  Rockford is 5-1-0-0 in their last six games decided by one goal.  Two of those wins came in overtime.

“Earlier in the year, the one-goal games, the last five minutes of the game you just didn’t have a good feeling on the bench,” Dent said.  “You felt like something bad was going to happen.  And it was.  It was always happening, bad.  Now, I think there is a comfort level that we can defend a lead.” Read more »

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Hogs lose 5th straight at home, blanked by Peoria

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Chris Block| 2 Comments

It’s a little early to panic, but the IceHogs are off to an auspicious start to the season on their home ice.

On Saturday, a crowd of 4,715 witnessed the IceHogs’ fifth-consecutive home ice loss, a 3-0 shutout to the Peoria Rivermen.  The defeat drops Rockford’s record to 1-5-0-0 at home and 5-7-1-0 overall.

Rockford now sits firmly in 5th and last place in the Midwest division, three points behind the Chicago Wolves, who have played just four of their thirteen games at Allstate Arena so far.  The IceHogs are also four points behind 3rd place Milwaukee, who have two games in hand on Rockford.

“When we’re on the road, we’re just relaxed. We just go out and play our game.  We’re tight and a little unsure of ourselves at home,” IceHogs captain Brandon Segal said after Saturday’s loss.

“It’s kind of frustrating because obviously these are the points we need right now and we’re not getting them.”

The IceHogs came into Saturday’s contest off a stunning 7-6 loss at Peoria on Friday.  Stunning, because Rockford led that game 6-4 with a minute and change left in regulation only allow two quick Phil McRae goals and then to lose the game in overtime on a questionable goaltender interference non-call that left the IceHogs incensed.

Peoria’s offense picked up where it left off Friday night and got going early when T.J. Hensick gave the Rivermen an early 1-0 lead.  Brett Sterling skating down the far half wall found Hensick streaking to along the goal line to the net, stringing a pass through two IceHogs defenders.  Hensick held the pass and skated around a weak stick-check attempt by Alexander Salak and roofed an easy nonchalant backhander far right corner 2:54 into the game. Read more »

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Bob Probert Day, Interesting Tallon weekend, Campbell speaks, Chelios, Peters and more

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Chris Block| 4 Comments

Sunday was Bob Probert Day in his hometown Windsor, Ontario.  800 motorcyclists turned out for a memorial charity ride supporting a local hospital’s angioplasty program.  Chris Chelios was there and served as honorary “captain” for the ride.  July 5th is the one-year anniversary of Probert’s death.

Later on Sunday, Chelios was on hand at Detroit’s Fox Theatre for his buddy Eddie Vedder’s solo show.  Vedder is at the Chicago Theatre tomorrow and Wednesday night.  This was a big thrill for Chelios.  I guess he kind of had to be there.  During Vedder’s two and a half hour set Sunday, he dedicated his version of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” to Chelios.  Detroit wasn’t a scheduled stop on Vedder’s current U.S. tour until Chelios did some persuading on his friend and Pearl Jam frontman.  To oblige, Vedder cancelled an additional planned show in Philadelphia.

Chelios and Vedder met in San Diego in 1980-81 in that beach community’s surfing scene, in the summer months where the Chelios clan lived.  They also worked for a time at opposite gas stations across the street from each other.  The pair didn’t keep in touch and Chelios never put two and two together even after Pearl Jam burst onto the scene ten years later and Chelios became a fan.  Back in San Diego, Eddie Vedder was actually Eddie Mueller.  But one night in 1997, Vedder was out with Dennis Rodman in Chicago and happened to be at the same bar as Chelios.  Vedder recognized Chelios, but as he put it (Vedder wasn’t a hockey fan), not from being a star NHL player, but from their old haunts on the surf.  Vedder recounted to Chelios how the two knew each other from San Diego, but didn’t introduce himself as the famous rock singer and Chelios still didn’t put that together on his own.  Vedder walked away realizing Chelios hadn’t the faintest recollection or idea who Vedder was.  Shortly after, one of Vedder’s bodyguards (he is legitimately 5’4”) walked over and clued Chelios in and the two exchanged phone numbers. At times Chelios has arranged his summer schedule around Pearl Jam and Vedder shows in Chicago and Detroit.  In 2008, Chelios planned his two days with the Stanley Cup around a Cubs game and a Vedder show at the Auditorium Theatre.  A night John Cusak, John C McGinley (Scrubs) and Sean Penn were also on hand for.  Chelios got a mixed reaction from the Chicago crowd when he raised the Stanley Cup under a spotlight from a balcony box in a planned spot to start Vedder’s set.

Brian Campbell says ex-teammates of his want to join him in Florida.  NHL.com Read more »

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Haviland job interview, Rockford news, IceHogs season tickets, 92 Chicago Riots, Campoli, more

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Chris Block| Leave a comment

Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland is interviewing for the Winnipeg head coaching job on Friday, per the Winnipeg Free Press. Others known to be interviewing are Craig MacTavish, Manitoba Moose head coach Claude Noel and technically the current Winnipeg coach, Craig Ramsey.  It had appeared this would essentially come down to Noel and Haviland unless another candidate steps up.  However, MacTavish, who was heavily rumored to be the new Wild coach, is back in the mix as word tonight is that Minnesota hired Mike Yeo, who is the head coach of their AHL affiliate Houston Aeros.  I think the linked article’s phrasing – “Ramsey has also been granted an interview,” tells you Ramsey is heading into this process a heavy underdog.

– Chris Campoli was named to the NHLPA Competition Committee on Monday.  Montreal’s Mike Cammalleri is the other new member of the committee.  Campoli and Cammalleri replace Mike Commodore and Mathieu Schneider as voting members.  Schneider will stay on as an advisor.  The committee now consists of Campoli, Cammalleri, David Backes, Chris Clark and Ryan Miller.

In Boston on Monday, the committee voted to approve the broadening of Rule 48 (originally known as the blindside headshot rule) to cover a hit to the head from any angle.  Alterations were needed because when the league put together Rule 48 and called it the “Illegal Check to the head” rule (contrary to legal checks to the head, you see) the rule didn’t cover all checks to the head of an opponent.

Campoli (right knee surgery) should be cleared for full workouts in 2-3 weeks.  He’s a restricted free agent on July 1 as long as he gets his qualifying offer a few days before then.

Haven’t read or heard an update on Troy Brouwer (right labral (shoulder) tear) since his May 10th surgery.  He’s expected to be fine by training camp.  Brouwer is also a restricted free agent in need of a new deal.

– This is old news but again, we’re catching up. Read more »

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