Bob Hunt Photographer

The Peoria Rivermen franchise ended Sunday night at Carver Arena before 4,302 loyal fans after 31 continuous years. The team received a standing ovation the final minute of the game against the Milwaukee Admirals. Longtime P.A. announcer B.J. Stone announced “One minute remaining in Peoria Rivermen hockey,” to the crowd. Long lines waited for over two hours after the game to meet the players, get autographs, take pictures and visit one last time with there favorite team.

-Bob

Three straight wins over the Peoria Rivermen weren’t in the cards for the Rockford IceHogs on Wednesday as the Hogs were shutout 4-0 at Carver Arena before 2,476 fans. The first period went scoreless on Wednesday as Peoria rattled off the first seven shots on goal in the opening frame while Rockford fired the final 12 shots of the period. In the second period, Peoria snagged the first goal of the game 4:18 into the frame. Andrew Murray fired a shot though traffic past a screened Henrik Karlsson for his 13th goal of the season. The Peoria lead was extended later in the stanza. Newly acquired winger Nathan Longpre picked up a Tyler Shattock pass and snuck his fifth goal of the season under the arm of Karlsson in transition at 17:12. A penalty shot goal moved the Rivermen’s lead to 3-0 in the third frame. After getting tripped by Ryan Stanton on a breakaway, Murray buried his second goal of the game with a penalty shot marker 3:25 into the third period. Rockford pulled Karlsson with just over three-minutes to play in regulation in a desperate attempt to get back into the game but Jeff Woywitka fired a shot into the Hogs empty net to seal it at 17:41. The iceHogs outshot the Rivermen 36-20 in the contest, but it wasn’t enough as their four-game winning streak was snapped.

-Bob

After trailing throughout most of the game, Rostislav Olesz registered his second goal, and third point for Rockford, of the game to help the IceHogs beat the Peoria Rivermen 5-4 Saturday evening at Carver Arena in front of 6,039 fans. In the third period, down 4-3, a power play goal evened the score for Rockford. Jimmy Hayes set up Adam Clendening at the right point and the rookie blueliner blasted his seventh goal of the season past Mike McKenna through traffic at 7:28. That set the stages for another Rostislav Olesz game-winning goal late in the third period. Martin St. Pierre knocked down a clear out attempt by Peoria and fired a shot in on McKenna where Olesz re-directed in his sixth goal of the season and second game-winning goal in as many nights, this one at 17:29 of the final frame. The IceHogs earned their tenth third period come-from-behind victory of the season, most in the AHL.

-Bob

Darren Haydar spoiled Jake Allen’s return to the Peoria Rivermen when he scored a goal and added two assists within a 3:38 span to lead the Chicago Wolves to a 3-0 victory over the Rivermen Saturday night at Carver Arena before 6,881 fans. Matt Climie recorded his third shutout of the season with a 38 saves to help the Wolves to their first win in Peoria this season. The third period featured the Wolves scoring three goals in the first 6 minutes. After forcing a turnover, Andrew Ebbett passed the puck to Haydar, who scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season past Allen to break the tie at 1:50. Next, Ebbett added a goal of his own after rebounding a shot from Haydar. Kevin Connauton also earned an assist on the goal at 3:01. Lastly, Haydar led a 2-on-1 break and pushed a pass to Devin DiDiomete, who scored his second goal of the year on a one-timer at 5:28. Connauton was credited with another assist on the play.

-Bob

The Rockford IceHogs scored just 48 seconds into the game and never looked back on their way to a 4-0 victory over the Peoria Rivermen Wednesday evening at Carver Arena before 2,791 fans. Despite six power play opportunities and 35 shots on goal, Peoria was never able to find the back of the net. In the opening minute, Terry Broadhurst deflected a shot past Mike McKenna for his third goal of the season. Klas Dahlbeck and Ben Youds earned assists on the early goal. The IceHogs doubled their lead in the second period. Only 4 seconds into a power play, Shawn Lalonde pushed the puck to the left circle, where Jeremy Morin one-timed his 17th goal of the season at 9:20. Brad Mills also was credited with an assist on the play after winning the face-off. Peoria went 0-for-6 on the power play as Rockford went 1-for-4 on the man advantage. The Rivermen outshot the Heat 35-24 in the game.

-Bob