GRIFFINS DEFEAT WILD 4-1
Mar 21, 2014GRIFFINS DEFEAT WILD 4-1
Iowa Continues Six-Game Homestand on Saturday at 1:05 P.M.
Des Moines, IA – The Iowa Wild (25-27-6-4, 60 points) was defeated by the Grand Rapids Griffins (40-18-2-4, 86 points) 4-1 in front of 6,547 fans at the Wells Fargo Arena on Friday evening. Grand Rapids Captain Jeff Hoggan scored 13 seconds into the game and the Griffins never trailed en route to the team’s 40th win of the year. Winger Mitch Callahan added a goal and an assist as the Griffins improved to 6-2-0-0 against the Wild this season. Grand Rapids goalie Tom McCollum (22-11-3) stopped 17 of 18 for the win. Iowa Johan Gustafsson (11-15-2) stopped 25 of 29 in the defeat. Forward Kris Foucault scored the club’s lone goal as Iowa fell to 11-17-3-1 at home this year. The Wild continues a six-game homestand on Saturday, Mar. 22 at 1:05 P.M. against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Griffins opened the scoring early in the first period, as Captain Jeff Hoggan scored at 0:13 of the opening period. Hoggan picked up the puck on the left-wing wall and wristed a shot past goalie Johan Gustafsson for his 14th goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Grand Rapids made it 2-0 just 1:43 into the second period with Mitch Callahan’s 23rd goal of the year. An Iowa defender lost the puck to the right of the Wild net and Callahan jammed it past Gustafsson for the two-goal lead. Iowa countered with a power-play goal at 4:53 of the middle frame. Kris Foucault worked a give-n-go play with defenseman Jonathon Blum off the rush. Blum set up Foucault for the deflection past goalie Tom McCollum. Forward Stephane Veilleux also added an assist on Foucault’s seventh goal of the year. The Griffins regained their two-goal lead at 3-1 with merely 14 seconds left in the period. Andrej Nestrasil put in a rebound at 19:46. Callahan and Martin Frk each added an assist on Nestrasil’s 11th goal of the year.
Forward David McIntyre made it a 4-1 lead at 9:20 of the third period. Hoggan and defenseman Brennan Evans each had an assist on McIntyre’s goal. The Griffin walked over the Iowa blueline and uncorked a slapshot over the shoulder of Gustafsson for his seventh goal of the year.
The team continues a six-game homestand on Saturday, Mar. 22 at 1:05 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Iowa also welcomes Charlotte (3/25 and 3/26) over the six-game stretch. This upcoming weekend, the Wild celebrates Go Green Weekend, presented by MidAmerican Energy. The Iowa Wild encourages fans to bring an eco-friendly cleaning product to donate at the door for Habitat for Humanity. Fans that make a donation will be rewarded with a free ticket to a future home game and a MidAmerican eco-friendly bag. On Saturday, the team celebrates Faith and Family Day with a 1:05 p.m. faceoff against the Griffins. The Wild welcomes local faith groups for Faith and Family Day. All fans who have a ticket to the game are invited to stay for a special live acoustic set performance by Matt Baird following the game at Hy-Vee Hall C. Fans may also grab a Subway Family Four Pack, which includes 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas, 4 Subway coupons starting at $44.
Fans may purchase single game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website – www.Iowawild.com, Wells Fargo Arena box office or Dahl's Ticketing. Tickets are available online at www.iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-866-55-DAHLS (32457) or by visiting one of 13 Dahl's Food Stores locations in the greater Des Moines area, and in Ames. In order to purchase group tickets (10 or more), please call the Iowa Wild ticketing department at 515-564-8700. Fans interested in buying full season, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
The Iowa Wild regular season is presented by Mercy Medical Center. Season tickets to see the Wild play at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $9 per game. For more information on tickets, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
-- IOWA WILD --
· BECOME AN IOWA WILD SEASON TICKET HOLDER
For more info on season ticket packages call 515-564-8700 or email ticketing@iowawild.com
· IOWA WILD IN THE COMMUNITY
To schedule a Wild appearance, contact Jenna Bieri, marketing and community relations manager, at 515-564-8714 or email jenna.bieri@iowawild.com.
· IOWA WILD CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS
To create a customized advertising package for your company contact Ed Chamberlain, VP of corporate sales, at 515-564-8704 or email at edward.chamberlain@iowawild.com.
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