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My main goal with this FAQ is to answer some common questions new fans might have, to supplement what's already on the team website. Most of this will be old news for the die-hards, but there are a lot of links compiled throughout, so perhaps having a lot of this stuff summarized in one place will come in handy at some point. I'll start off with a simple index of questions, followed by the lengthy Q&A...

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

THE TOP 10
1. When do the IceMen play?
2. How can I get tickets?
3. Where do the IceMen play?
4. What about parking?
5. What concessions are available? Can I buy beer?
6. How can I buy IceMen souvenir merchandise?
7. How can I participate in one of the intermission contests?
8. Do the IceMen do birthday celebrations?
9. What song is played after each IceMen goal?
10. When are the "Three Stars of the Game" announced?

GENERAL INFO
• What is the AAHL?
• Is the AAHL affiliated with any higher leagues?
• Aren't the IceMen moving to the IHL in the future?
• Didn't the IceMen have a different logo during the team's first season?
• How are postponements handled?
• Do the IceMen have a Fan Code of Conduct?
• I'm coming from out-of-town. What can you tell me?

ICEMEN INTERACTIVE
• Where can I find the IceMen on the radio?
• Where can I find video of the IceMen?
• Where can I find pictures of the IceMen?
• What media outlets cover the IceMen?
• Are the IceMen active in social networking?
• Can Blizzard and/or the IceMen Dance Team come to my party?
• Can I sing the national anthem at an IceMen game?
• Can I have (player's) autograph?
• Can I attend an IceMen practice session?

GAME & LEAGUE INFO
• How long are AAHL games?
• What is the overtime/shootout procedure in the AAHL?
• When are media timeouts?
• What officiating system is used in the AAHL?
• How many teams qualify for the Champions Cup playoffs?
• How many players can dress for each game?
• How are "veteran" and "rookie" defined by the AAHL?
• When is the AAHL's All-Star break?
• Where can I find out about the AAHL's individual player honors?

HOCKEY 101
• How do the "offside" and "icing" rules work?
• What are the types of penalties, and how does a "power play" work?
• What do all of the referee's hand signals mean?
• Um, where's the goalie going?
• Why is everyone throwing hats onto the ice?
• What do all of those statistics mean?
• What the heck does (insert oddball term here) mean?
• How does the Zamboni work?
• What about ________?

THE FINAL 3
• How can I help?
• What if I have a question about the Fan Forum?
• How can I contact the team?

THE TOP 10

1. When do the IceMen play?
The season runs from October through March or April, depending on playoff scheduling. IceMen home games start at 7 PM CT on Wednesdays and Fridays, 7:45 PM CT on Saturdays, and typically 4 PM CT on Sundays. Doors open approximately 1 hour before game time, and pre-game warmups begin 30 minutes prior to game time. (Please note that on rare occasions, games may be pushed back as much as 15-30 minutes due to earlier rink events running long.) A professionally-printed pocket schedule is available at Swonder Ice Arena and several businesses around the Evansville area, or you can print your own full-color calendar schedule or black-and-white text version from the 2009-10 IceMen Schedule thread. For the latest information about upcoming game night promotions, please click here.

2. How can I get tickets?
All single-game seating is general admission (so arrive early if you want the best seats!), and tickets are just $7 per person. On game days, the Swonder Ice Arena box office opens approximately 1 hour before the scheduled game time, and general admission tickets for any future home game can be purchased in advance at the souvenir stand. Specific seats can be reserved (at a discount rate) by purchasing a season ticket package or a half-season flex package, which allows you to pick any 12 home games of your choice. Group rates are also available. For more information about tickets, visit the IceMen Ticket Info page or call the team office at 812-435-8971.

3. Where do the IceMen play?
All IceMen home games are played at Swonder Ice Arena, which is adjacent to Roberts Stadium at the corner of Boeke Road and the Lloyd Expressway on Evansville's eastside. Swonder, which opened in 2002, has two NHL-regulation sheets of ice and features year-round public skating, a fitness center, a pro shop, and a skate park. The larger (west) rink has permanent seating for about 1000 and can be configured to hold at least 1200-1500 when temporary seating is added. The rink is handicap-accessible (with an elevator providing access to the top of the seating area), offers an ATM for patrons, and features protective netting that prevents most wayward pucks from entering the stands. In accordance with local laws, smoking is prohibited inside the building, but fans are permitted to smoke outside. (During IceMen games, a ticket stub must be presented for re-entry.) Swonder is also the home of four great non-profits - the Evansville Youth Hockey Association, the Tri-State Adult Hockey Association, the Greater Evansville Figure Skating Club, and the Roller Girls of Southern Indiana women's flat-track roller derby organization.

4. What about parking?
Parking at Swonder Ice Arena is FREE. The rink's lot typically provides an adequate number of spots for IceMen games, and on many nights, Roberts Stadium's adjacent lot is also available for free overflow parking. However, parking can be somewhat limited if a major event is also taking place at the stadium. Check this page to see if anything is also scheduled at Roberts on game day. If so, please plan accordingly and show up early if you want to improve your chances of finding a close spot. Even if both the Roberts and Swonder lots are completely full (which is very rare), there is free street parking available in the surrounding neighborhoods. You may have to walk a block or two on rare occasions, but you should never have to pay to park when attending an IceMen game!

5. What concessions are available? Can I buy beer?
During IceMen games, the concession stand offers burgers, hot dogs, pizza, snacks, candy, soft drinks and more, all at the same low prices used any other day at Swonder. Beer is available for fans who can prove they are of age (21). Please note that beer is only sold and must be consumed inside the arena, and can not be taken out to the lobby. Fans are reminded to drink responsibly and NEVER drink and drive. Anyone who over-consumes and becomes intoxicated may be subject to ejection. Outside food and drink are not allowed in the building.

6. How can I buy IceMen souvenir merchandise?
The IceMen offer replica jerseys, a variety of shirts and apparel, official logo pucks, and much more. Souvenirs are available at Swonder on game nights, and customized jerseys can also be ordered by phone. For more information, visit the official IceMen Gear page.

7. How can I participate in one of the intermission contests?
During the second intermission at most games, lucky IceMen fans will have a chance to participate in one of several fun-filled intermission contests, aiming to win IceMen tickets or souvenirs or other prizes provided by sponsors. If you would like to take part, keep an eye out for the "Icy Hots," our volunteers who meander through the crowd seeking contest participants. Popular contests include the Blindfolded Puck Hunt, Shuffle Puck, Dance For Your Dinner, Air Guitar Hero, Football On Ice, and the hilarious Frozen T-Shirt Contest.

8. Do the IceMen do birthday celebrations?
Of course! If you would like to have your birthday (or someone else's) announced at an IceMen game, just visit the scorer's box (between the penalty boxes) or the soundboard (at the top of the stands at center ice) during one of the intermissions and give us your info. (Please wait for an intermission - we're kind of busy during the game!) You can also submit your info in advance if desired - just e-mail me at stormfreak44@yahoo.com (use "IceMen Birthday" as your subject line) at least a couple days before game day. (I'll reply to confirm, so if you don't receive a reply before the game, you should probably give us your info at the game too.) Birthdays will be announced during the 3rd period at each game. And remember, we offer group ticket rates, so you can bring your birthday party to Swonder for an IceMen game. To make arrangements, just call 812-435-8971.

9. What song is played after each IceMen goal?
The IceMen goal celebration song is called "Rock & Roll (Part 2)" by Gary Glitter. You can download a live recording of an IceMen goal celebration here (MP3 format), and use it as a ringtone if you so desire. If you have any other "what song was that?" inquiries, feel free to e-mail me (stormfreak44@yahoo.com) with the subject "IceMen Music Question."

10. When are the "Three Stars of the Game" announced?
The "Three Stars of the Game," presented by Black Buggy, are announced shortly after each IceMen game. The 3 stars are selected by a panel of IceMen staff and volunteers.


GENERAL INFO

• What is the AAHL?
The All American Hockey League, which operated as the All American Hockey Association during its inaugural 2008-09 season, is a "Class-A" minor professional hockey league. The AAHL is essentially a union of the surviving franchises from the Midwest Hockey League and Mid-Atlantic Hockey League, both now defunct. The AAHL currently has teams in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. The league employs a business model that is quite unique in professional hockey, as its teams play in recreational rinks (generally with capacities of 500-1500) instead of much larger (and more expensive) arenas.

• Is the AAHL affiliated with any higher leagues?
Yes, the AAHL is affiliated with the "Class-AA" International Hockey League. The IceMen are affiliated with the Fort Wayne Komets, one of the most successful minor league hockey franchises in history. For more info about the IceMen/Komets affiliation, click here. For details about other AAHL/IHL team affiliations, click here.

• Aren't the IceMen moving to the IHL in the future?
In all likelihood, yes. The IceMen have been granted future franchise rights in the IHL, as explained here. However, fulfilling that agreement depends on the organization's ability to secure a future lease for a facility deemed suitable for IHL competition. (Swonder Ice Arena is too small for IHL capacity standards.) Presumably, the IceMen should be the frontrunners to become the hockey tenant for Evansville's new downtown arena. But the city, of course, will consider all options - meaning the IceMen are not a 100% lock for the new arena, even with IHL rights already in hand. You can help make sure the IceMen ARE the new arena's hockey tenant. Please respond to the Maniac Call To Action!

• Didn't the IceMen have a different logo during the team's first season?
Yep. The original logo, featuring a polar bear eating a hockey stick, was one of several designs submitted by college students before the team's first season. The organization was later made aware that a good portion of the logo was actually "borrowed" (to say the least) from a youth hockey league in southeastern New York state. Thus, the IceMen offered up 3 potential new designs and let the fans vote for a winner - and the current design featuring the angry parka-wearing gentleman won. The organization subsequently unveiled new jersey designs as well. The official team colors are still black, blue, grey and white; the new logo and jersey designs are expected to be used for years to come.

• How are postponements handled?
Generally, hockey can be played regardless of what the weather is like outside. But on rare occasions, extreme winter weather (and the associated travel complications) can force an IceMen home game to be postponed. In such an event, the make-up date will be announced online and at subsequent home games as soon as it is known. Tickets for the postponed game will be valid only for the re-scheduled date, unless stated otherwise.

• Do the IceMen have a Fan Code of Conduct?
Not officially, but fans are always encouraged to behave in a manner that allows all fans to enjoy the game as much as possible. With that goal in mind, please consider the following...
* Except when celebrating a hat trick, fans are prohibited from throwing items onto the ice.
* Refrain from using excessive foul language. (If you can't say it on TV, don't say it at Swonder!)
* Abusive and/or obscene actions and gestures will not be tolerated.
* Fans who are clearly intoxicated should be reported to team officials.
* Indecent or obscene clothing should not be worn at Swonder Ice Arena.
* Guests must be able to show their ticket if requested.
* Please wait for a stoppage in play to leave or return to your seat.
* In "standing-room only" situations, do not block aisles or stairways.

• I'm coming from out-of-town. What can you tell me?
For starters, we recommend spending the night at one of our sponsor hotels - Casino Aztar or La Quinta Inn. (Tell them the IceMen sent ya!) For tourism information, please contact the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau (also a loyal IceMen sponsor) or visit the Evansville Government online. For more general information about Evansville, please take a look at the city's Wikipedia entry. And as always, if you have any questions about Evansville or the IceMen, feel free to post right here on the forum, and we'll do our best to help you out!


ICEMEN INTERACTIVE

• Where can I find the IceMen on the radio?
All IceMen home games are broadcast locally on 96.9 WYIR and online at WYIR.com. (For more information, click here.) IceMen road games are usually broadcast online by the home team; each team's streaming link can be found at the top of the forum. Also, the IceMen are regular guests (generally on Thursdays) on "All About Sports," the daily sports call-in show on ESPN 106.7 FM. For more information and the show's web stream link, click here.

• Where can I find video of the IceMen?
Check out the IceMen YouTube Channel, or click here to see all IceMen videos (uploaded by anyone) that are available on YouTube. Also, Stream Net Sports, one of the AAHL's corporate partners, offers pay-per-view streaming video LIVE for select games for $4.99 per game. (To see if a game is offered, find it on the league's daily schedule page. If there's a small TV icon present, the game will be offered.) Please note that the PPV video service is a work-in-progress, and stream quality can be somewhat inconsistent.

• Where can I find pictures of the IceMen?
Official team photographer Wendy Hemingway posts numerous high-quality pictures from each home game here. (The photographs are watermarked; if you'd like to acquire clean high-resolution images, contact Wendy using the e-mail address provided on the gallery page.) Fan photos can be found on the IceMen Flickr group, and you can submit your own there as well. And if you're looking for a way to decorate your desktop, take a look at our IceMen Wallpaper designs. Please remember that cameras and video recorders are allowed at Swonder Ice Arena during IceMen games as long as they are for personal (not-for-profit) use. If taking pictures or recording video, please avoid standing in the aisles, do not obstruct the view of others, and refrain from using tri-pods and other camera support equipment unless authorized by the IceMen.

• What media outlets cover the IceMen?
The IceMen are covered by the Evansville Courier & Press, WTVW Fox 7, WEHT News 25, and 14 WFIE. If you are not satisfied with the amount of coverage given to the IceMen, please don't hesitate to contact them and let them know you want to see more IceMen hockey!

• Are the IceMen active in social networking?
Yes. You can join the IceMen Facebook group here and the IceMen MySpace group here. The IceMen do not currently have an official account on Twitter, but several fans do actively "tweet" about the team.

• Can Blizzard and/or the IceMen Dance Team come to my party?
Blizzard, the IceMen mascot, is available for appearances. Click here for more information. Members of the IceMen Dance Team may also be available for appearances, schedule permitting. Contact Jeriann Page (jeriann.page@yahoo.com) to inquire about making arrangements.

• Can I sing the national anthem at an IceMen game?
The IceMen are always looking for additional anthem singers. Please contact Bridget McDonald at icemen.operations@yahoo.com for more information.

• Can I have (player's) autograph?
Thanks to Penn Station East Coast Subs, several members of the IceMen appear in the lobby after each home game, giving autographs and posing for pictures with fans. While the available players vary from game to game, each player should make a few appearances over the course of the season. If you're hoping to meet a particular player at a specific game, please contact the team office (812-435-8971) and the organization will do its best to accommodate your request.

• Can I attend an IceMen practice session?
IceMen practice sessions at Swonder Ice Arena are open to the public, and admission is free. The practice schedule varies from week to week, so please contact Swonder (812-479-0989) or the IceMen office (812-435-8971) to find out when the team will be on the ice.


GAME & LEAGUE INFO

• How long are AAHL games?
Each AAHL game consists of three 20-minute periods. Between the 1st and 2nd periods and again between the 2nd and 3rd periods, the players are given 1 minute to leave the ice, and an 18-minute intermission follows. A typical regulation AAHL game will last about 2½ hours, give or take 15-20 minutes. Each game is preceded by a 15-minute pre-game warm-up session, which begins approximately 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.

• What is the overtime/shootout procedure in the AAHL?
* In the regular season: A game tied at the end of regulation will be followed by a 5-minute 4-on-4 sudden-death overtime period. If the game is still tied after the overtime period, a 3-round shootout will follow. If still tied after 3 rounds, the shootout will continue one round at a time until the tie is broken. Regardless of the total number of goals scored during the shootout, the team that wins the shootout will be credited with 1 team goal and the team that loses the shootout will be credited with 0 team goals. Goals scored in a shootout do not count toward individual player statistics. If a game is tied 0-0 going into a shootout, both goaltenders are credited with a shutout for that game.
* During the playoffs: A standard 18-minute intermission will follow the 3rd period, followed by a full 20-minute sudden-death overtime period. If necessary, additional full intermissions and overtime periods will continue until one team scores.

• When are media timeouts?
One media timeout is held each period at the first whistle after 10 minutes have been played, except during a power play or after a goal is scored. Media timeouts will be one minute in length. During the playoffs, there will NOT be media timeouts during overtime periods.

• What officiating system is used in the AAHL?
All AAHL games are to be officiated by 1 referee and 2 linesmen, with a goal judge situated off-ice behind each net.

• How many teams qualify for the Champions Cup playoffs?
For the 2009-10 season, the top four teams (as determined by Points) will qualify for the playoffs. (Each regular season win is worth 2 points, and an overtime/shootout loss is worth 1 point.)

• How many players can dress for each game?
For each AAHL game, each team will dress 2 goaltenders and a maximum of 15 skaters. There can also be up to 3 rostered players declared inactive each game, bringing the total roster at any time to 20. Each team is also permitted to place up to 3 players on Injured Reserve.

• How are "veteran" and "rookie" defined by the AAHL?
A "veteran" is any player with more than 100 games of professional experience. A "rookie" is any player with fewer than 25 games of professional experience. Teams may carry a maximum of 6 veterans; there is no roster maximum or minimum for rookies.

• When is the AAHL's All-Star break?
The 2009-10 AAHL All-Star Weekend will be held January 8-9, 2010, in Evansville, Indiana. Friday night will feature a skills competition; Saturday afternoon will feature the AAHL's first-ever All-Star Game. Click here for more information.

• Where can I find out about the AAHL's individual player honors?
The AAHL website offers the latest information about the Player of the Week, Player of the Month, and Goaltender of the Month honors. At the conclusion of the season, the league will also announce the recipients of several year-end awards. Visit TheAAHL.com after the season to find out who wins!


HOCKEY 101

• How do the "offside" and "icing" rules work?
The Wikipedia entries about these rules are very helpful. Click here for "offside" and here for "icing."

• What are the types of penalties, and how does a "power play" work?
Again, Wikipedia's entry about Penalties is very helpful. It includes explanations about the types of penalties (minor, major, etc) and types of infractions (hooking, tripping, etc), and if/how a "power play" results from each.

• What do all of the referee's hand signals mean?
The most common referee signals are shown and explained by NHL officials here.

• Um, where's the goalie going?
During a delayed penalty on the other team or if trailing late in the game, a team may opt to "pull the goalie" in order to play with an "extra attacker." For more details about this practice, visit - you guessed it - Wikipedia.

• Why is everyone throwing hats onto the ice?
When a player scores 3 goals in the same game, it is known as a "hat trick." The term originated in the sport of cricket, and has been used in hockey for decades. When a "hat trick" is completed, fans of the team celebrate by throwing their hats onto the ice. For more information about the history of the term, click here. On a similar note, a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" is defined as scoring a goal, earning an assist and taking part in a fight in the same game. The term pays homage to Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe, who was a prolific scorer and also an accomplished fighter.

• What do all of those statistics mean?
Much like baseball, hockey is loaded with statistics. Visit About.com for a nice rundown of player stats and goalie stats.

• What the heck does (insert oddball term here) mean?
Hockey has its fair share of jargon and slang, some common and some not-so-common. This Wikipedia entry should help you keep up with the conversation when your fellow puckheads are jibber-jabbering about the game. It will also help you understand how a single hockey game can feature biscuits, butterflies, cherry-picking, a meat wagon, waffles, and even a yard sale.

• How does the Zamboni work?
Once again, check out the almighty Wikipedia. The Zamboni entry has a nice explanation about just what the machine does in order to turn a choppy snowy mess into a beautiful clean sheet of smooth ice.

• What about ________?
First off, let's go back to About.com for some more basics. This one covers the rink dimensions and "zones," the puck, the net, player substitutions, and more. If you've still got a question about the sport that isn't covered in any of this section's links, feel free to post your question on the forum. Surely, we'll be able to help you out!


THE FINAL 3

• How can I help?
For starters, please consider joining the IceMen Maniacs Booster Club. The Maniacs sell cowbells and other fun small items at each home game, with all proceeds going into the IceMen Players Fund. There is also a 50/50 drawing held at each home game, with all proceeds going to the Players Fund. Due to AAHL salary restrictions, donations to individual players can not be accepted; however, the Booster Club can accept donations (monetary or otherwise) for general use by the team. The team is always in need of certain furniture and household items for player housing, so if you have something laying around the house that you'd like to donate, please contact the team office (812-435-8971) to see if the item could be of use to the players. Finally, the IceMen are always in search of additional game day volunteers. If you're interested, please call the team office.

• What if I have a question about the Fan Forum?
First, make sure you've read the Registration Info page and familiarized yourself with the Fan Forum Rules. If you're wondering about the words that show up under your avatar when you post, see the Custom Titles thread for more info. If you have any other questions or comments about the forum, please post them in this thread. You're also welcome to e-mail me (stormfreak44@yahoo.com) about anything forum-related. Please note, however, that I don't have anything to do with the main IceMen website - that's all Chip Rossetti's work!

• How can I contact the team?
Need tickets? Want to sponsor the team? Interested in playing for the IceMen? Willing to volunteer? Have a question not covered here? Whatever the case, you can always contact the IceMen office by phone at 812-435-8971 or via e-mail at evansvilleicemen@yahoo.com. You can also find the club's mailing address here.


If you have a comment regarding this FAQ or an idea for a question that you'd like to see added to the FAQ, please e-mail me at stormfreak44@yahoo.com. Thanks.