AUGUSTA, GA – Having fallen out of first place, the Augusta RiverHawks were eager to climb back into the top position. On Thursday, January 5th, the RiverHawks skated to an early three goal lead and hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Huntsville Havoc at the James Brown Arena. The win, combined with the Knoxville Ice Bears losing the same night, vaulted Augusta back into sole possession of first place in the SPHL, a spot they had held for most of the season.
The game was the RiverHawks’ first since the team made a series of changes to the roster designed to jump start their performance. The changes seemed to pay dividends early in the game as the RiverHawks controlled play while staking themselves to a three goal lead early in the game.
A major part of the renovations to the roster was the re-signing of Egor Mironov who was one of the RiverHawks’ top goal scorers during the 2010-2011 campaign. He scored what would be the game’s winning goal just 1:11 into the second period, converting a nice passing play from new linemates Neil Graham and Matt Auffrey.
Augusta had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, thanks in part to the continued stellar play of defenseman Ed Snetsinger. Snetsinger, the RiverHawks’ nominee for Player of the Month for December, set up both tallies in the opening stanza. Jim Gehring notched the first one at the 5:45 mark and Jesse Echternach put the second one home at the 18:14 mark. The two assists gave Snetsinger 29 points in 28 games and put him within a handful of points of the league lead in scoring among defensemen.
Huntsville broke onto the scoreboard late in the second when Mike MacDonald beat Augusta goalie Jon Olthuis with just over a minute left in the period. Ryan Kretzer pulled the Havoc within one with 56 seconds left in regulation after net minder Kevin Beech had been pulled for an extra attacker. Olthuis was able to shut the door the rest of the way, stopping 24 shots on net including 11 of the 12 he faced in the final period.
Augusta%27s Curtis Megginson (right) battles a Huntsville player for the puck as goalie Jon Olthuis look on.
Huntsville%27s Sam Cannata (left%2C black jersey) and Augusta%27s Tyler Howe go at it.
Havoc forward Dennis Sicard (left) and Augusta%27s Kyle Watson slug it out in a second period fight.
RiverHawks goalie Jon Olthuis makes a save on Huntsville%27s Glenn Detulleo.
Jesse Echternach (right) beats Havoc goalie Kevin Beech for a first period goal.
Augusta%27s Tyler Howe (center%2C white jersey) throws a hit on a Huntsville player.
Contact the photographer at stephanie.simpers@prohockeynews.com
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