JUNLAND'S OVERTIME WINNER DROPS ICEHOGS

IceHogs stymied in season opener 3-2

Peoria, Ill.- A quick start and solid goaltending weren’t enough to carry the Rockford IceHogs to two points in the club’s 2009-10 regular season opener. Rockford did pick up a standings point, but fell to the Peoria Rivermen 3-2 in overtime at Carver Arena.

After a scoreless third period, Rockford failed to tally on a power play that carried over to the overtime. Following the missed opportunity, Jonas Junland cleaned up a rebound for his second goal of the night with 2:05 remaining in overtime. Brendan Bell and Nicolas Drazenovic assisted the goal.

Rockford grabbed an early 2-0 lead on the Rivermen on Sunday. Danny Bois began the scoring at 3:05 of the opening frame when he shelved a Derek Nesbitt pass from behind the Peoria net and past Hannu Toivonen. Bracken Kearns also tallied an assist.

Later in the frame, while on a 5-on-3 power play, Nesbitt beat Toivonen glove side at 9:38. Nesbitt was set up by Mark Cullen and Bois for his first of the season.

Peoria got a goal back when they converted a power-play goal at 16:04. The Rivermen needed just about the entire four minutes of a Ryan Flinn double minor to tally as Junland was given credit for his first goal of the season when a Yan Stastny pass bounced off of his leg and past Joe Fallon.

Another power-play goal by the Rivermen tied the score early in the second period. Winger Barry Tallackson buried a perfect set-up by Danny Richmond at 1:16 of the middle frame making the score 2-2.

Fallon finished the night with 31 saves while Toivonen turned away 32 Rockford attempts. The IceHogs went 1-6 on the power play with Peoria finishing 2-6.

Next Home Game: Friday, Oct. 16 vs. Chicago Wolves. Game time is 7:05 p.m. After five-straight road tilts to open the 2009-10 regular season the IceHogs return home to face the Wolves. The first 5,000 fans to the game will pick up an IceHogs wall calendar from Maverick Media and 23 WIFR.