May 6, 2008

Port Huron, Mich. - Former Mercyhurst standout, Kerry Bowman, and his Port Huron Icehawks hold a 2-1 series lead over the Fort Wayne Komets in the International Hockey League Turner Cup Championship series as both teams prepare for a pivotal fourth game Wednesday at Port Huron. Bowman joined the team after Mercyhurst's season came to an end in mid-March with a 5-4 double overtime loss to Air Force in the Atlantic Hockey championship game.

Bowman helped the Icehawks grab a 1-0 lead in the series over the weekend when he tallied the game-winner last Friday in a 5-2 win before nearly 7500 hostile fans in Fort Wayne. The Icehawks prevailed 3-2 in overtime on home ice Saturday before the Komets got back in the series Sunday with a 5-1 win in Indiana.

The Icehawks finals' appearance marks the first time that a Port Huron hockey team has advanced to the playoff finals since 1978. Fort Wayne, meanwhile, is participating in its 13th IHL Turner Cup Final in 48 seasons in the IHL. Fort Wayne has won the championship four times in the IHL and once in the UHL (2002-03).

In round one, the Icehawks eliminated the Flint Generals in five games (4-1), while the Komets defeated the Muskegon Fury in six games (4-2).

The first seed Komets had a record breaking season, turning in 56 wins (most wins in franchise history), 12 losses (fewest losses in a season) and 120 points (most points in a season), while setting an IHL record of 25 consecutive home wins. The second seed Icehawks wrapped up the regular season with a 41-29-2-4 record and 88 points. No team was hotter down the stretch, as Port Huron finished the regular season on a ten game unbeaten streak with a record of 7-0-1-2.

The Icehawks were victorious in the season series with every team in the league except Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne led the season series 11-3-0-1 and also led 6-1-0-1 at McMorran Arena. The Icehawks were able to steal a few games in Fort Wayne, however. The Komets lost at home just six times in the regular season, with two of those losses coming to Port Huron.