INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Ice has advanced to the East Division Finals in the 2010 USHL Playoffs presented by Ivy Tech Community College. The three-seed Ice will meet the one-seed Gamblers tonight and Sunday for games one and two. Tonight’s battle is an 8:05 pm face-off, while Sunday’s contest begins at 4:05 pm.

The East Division Finals match-up marks a rematch of the second round in the 2009 Clark Cup Playoffs when the three seed Ice defeated the top seeded Gamblers 3-1 in a best-of-five series.

The Ice is coming off another thrilling first round match-up with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders where Indy rallied to win three consecutive games culminated by a 3-2 overtime victory in game five this past Wednesday in Iowa. It was the second straight year that Indiana eliminated the RoughRiders in game five in Cedar Rapids.

Anthony Bitetto was the overtime hero as he scored just 4:09 into the extra session to send the Ice to round two. Goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 37 shots for his third straight win and his overall numbers in the first round included a 3-0 record, 1.43 GAA and a .957 save percentage. Brian Ferlin and Jacob Fallon also had markers in the series clincher.

Indiana’s focus now shifts to the mighty Gamblers who were the best team in the USHL in the regular season with a phenomenal 45-10-5 clip. The Ice was 1-3-1 against Green Bay during the regular season with the Gamblers earning victories in the last four meetings. The majority of the offense in the season series came from the duo of Bryon Paulazzo (2G, 3A) and Max Cook (4A), who had nine of the club’s 20 points. In net, Cab Morris had the brunt of the work going 1-2-1 with a 2.41 GAA and a .916 SV%.

** Game three next Friday (4/23) at Pepsi Coliseum is an Affordable Friday where you can get $2 Bud Lights, Ball Park hot dogs, soda and popcorn. In addition, anyone presenting a valid Ivy Tech ID at the box office on game night will get into the game free. **

Tickets for game three of the USHL playoffs presented by Ivy Tech Community College are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com or by visiting Karma Records, select Walmart and Simon locations, the Pepsi Coliseum, or Conseco Fieldhouse box offices. Individual playoff tickets are $15 and $9 and those people interested in group tickets can call the Indiana Ice front office at (317) 925-4423. For all the latest on the Ice, visit www.indianaice.com.

East Division Finals Playoff Schedule
ICE at Green Bay Friday, April 16 8:05 pm- Resch Center
ICE at Green Bay Sunday, April 18 4:05 pm- Resch Center
Green Bay at ICE Friday, April 23 7:05 pm- Pepsi Coliseum
Green Bay at ICE * Saturday, April 24 7:05 pm- Pepsi Coliseum
ICE at Green Bay * Tuesday, April 27 8:05 pm- Resch Center

* If necessary