Fortier’s two goals lead Icemen over Growlers 2-1

ST. JOHN’S, NFL – For the only time this season, the Jacksonville Icemen traveled north of the border as they headed to St. John’s, Newfoundland for a pair of games with the Growlers. The two teams had met once previously, back on Wednesday, November 21st in Jacksonville. That time, the Icemen came away with a 2-0 victory. This time, led by a pair of goals by Maxime Fortier, the Icemen defeated the Growlers by a 2-1 score.

Mikhail Berdin started the game in goal for the Icemen while Brad Barone started for the Growlers.

Much like the first meeting, the first period between the two teams ended up scoreless. It would not be until the second period before a team was able to get on the board and that team would be the Growlers. Berdin stopped a shot by the Growlers but the puck slipped behind him where Marcus Power found it and scored. For Power, it was his ninth goal of the season and assists were awarded to Zach O’Brien and Garrett Johnson for the power play goal at 4:59

At 12:12 of the second, Jacksonville was able to tie the game on a breakaway goal by Fortier. Fortier’s unassisted goal was the last scoring of the period, with the game tied at 1.

The defensive struggle continued into the third period but the tie was broken at 10:28 when Fortier scored his second goal of the game (and 11th overall on the season) to give the Icemen the 2-1 lead. Garret Cockerill was given the only assist. That one goal would hold up the rest of the way, Jacksonville ends up winning the game 2-1.

STATS: Jacksonville outshot Newfoundland for the game 28-26… Jacksonville was called for eight penalty minutes, Newfoundland six… Fortier lead all players in plus/minus with a plus-2… Announced attendance for the game was 3,928… Three stars of the game were: 1st—Maxime Fortier (JAX), 2nd—J.J. Piccinich (NFL), 3rd—Mikhail Berdin (JAX)… Newfoundland went 1-for-4 on the power play, Jacksonville 0-for-3.

UPCOMING: The two teams finish their two game set Saturday night in St. John’s at the Mile One Centre. Start time is 7:05 p.m. NST (5:30 p.m. ET).

Contact the author at kenneth.holdren@prohockeynews.com