Ice Flyers set to take flight

PENSACOLA, FLA – The year without hockey in Pensacola seemed like eons to the die hard hockey fans there. The summer waiting for the final green light probably felt longer but finally it is time to play. After a year’s absence, the sounds of sticks and blades are about to resume in the Pensacola Civic Center as the Pensacola Ice Flyers begin their first season as members of the SPHL. Although the home opener is still two weeks away, head coach and general manager Todd Gordon and his staff are busily preparing as the team gets set for its inaugural road game Friday night in Lafayette, Louisiana. “We haven’t had a chance yet (to take a break) to be honest with you. Tim Kerr (Pensacola owner) was in town last week and we took about an hour and then when you sit back and look at how much we’ve accomplished in a few months, it was absolutely mind-boggling,” Gordon said. “Then you get something else on your plate and as soon as you clear it off there’s another thing coming on there which is a good thing.” Kerr, former Philadelphia Flyer great and one-time owner of the ECHL Pensacola Ice Pilots, came to the rescue of the fans by agreeing to purchase and operate a franchise in the SPHL. Before the negotiated lease with the PCC was executed, the Escambia County Board of Commissioners asked the team to sell 1,250 season tickets by mid-August. They did so and then some, setting in motion the frenzied activity to get ready for the season. So far, Gordon the general manager has been very pleased with how everyone has come together to make the Ice Flyers a reality. “For a late start getting going, everything has gone relatively smooth. The building has been great. The players that came in really had a great attitude and work ethic-wise. We got all of our equipment stuff in on time,” he said. “Things are going great. Our corporate sponsorship is great. Our season tickets are going well and I couldn’t be happier.” In the middle of all of the hustle and bustle, Gordon had the task of building a competitive roster. He admitted that he had little knowledge

of what the SPHL was like but came away impressed with what he saw from the players who came to training camp. “It was a very big surprise as I didn’t know what to expect so I had a fairly large camp. The talent level, the speed – I was very impressed,” he said. “I had heard some horror stories and different ideas about how the league was and stuff like that but overall the level of play is not that much different than the ECHL.” Gordon said that his philosophy about building his teams is starting from the goaltenders and working out. He said he was very pleased to land two good goalies in Ryan Scott and Chad Collins. Scott, who came to Pensacola via the Richmond/Twin City dispersal draft, was 14-13-3 a season ago with the Renegades. Collins, who was acquired in a deal from Fayetteville, is a former SPHL playoff MVP. “It basically give us – instead of having a one two goalie system – two number ones,” Gordon said. Defensively, Gordon balanced his selections between experienced pros and talented rookies. Jesse Baraniuk, who at one time played in Pensacola, is back in the U.S. after spending last year with the Nijmegen Devils in Holland. He has two seasons of SPHL play with Huntsville under his belt. Also bringing some league knowledge to the table is Matt Withers who has played for three SPHL squads including Richmond and Knoxville. Baraniuk and Withers will be asked to take the four newcomers under their wings. Joe DiBello, who joined the Ice Flyers after being cut from the IHL Dayton camp, is a strong skater and moves the puck well. Brian Dunford made the team after arriving from Toledo in the CHL. Kevin Floris also was cut from Toledo but Gordon is more than happy to have him because he “does all the little things well”. The final rookie is Baylor Dieter who Gordon says has great puck sense and moves it well. “For right now, those six guys – even though four of them are rookies – I’m really happy with that combination right now,” Gordon said. Up front, the Ice Flyers have a solid nucleus of veteran talent. Trevor Karasiewicz, who had 19 goals and 70 points for Richmond last season, has been around the SPHL since its birth and brings great leadership skills to the table. The same can be said of Lorne Misita, who moves from Columbus where he scored no fewer than 22 goals in any of his five seasons there. Taylor Hustead, who was the SPHL’s Rookie of the Year two years ago, was taken from Twin City where he posted 49 goals in 98 games over two campaigns. Late in camp, Gordon made a deal with Knoxville to acquire Chris Rebernik who is another all-around type player and good character person. Several rookies were invited into camp and played well enough to displace SPHL veterans who were trying to make the roster. Kevin Galan, who Gordon described as being in the power forward mold of Hustead, impressed the coaching staff and earned a spot. Anthony Monte, Erik Stoyanovich, Tyler Barr Chris Healey and Rob Campbell each played their way onto the opening night roster and will be expected to contribute. Gordon said that with several pro teams closing their doors, the increased amount of talent available should make play in the SPHL markedly better and more exciting for fans. As for his team, he expects it to be a squad that they will love. “I would tell the fans to be prepared to be very proud (of the team). It’s a group of young kids that will work as hard as they can every night, give everything they can and be a big part of this community with the kids, with the schools, with the hospitals,” he said. “Be ready for some real exciting hockey that’s going to make you very proud to be a fan.” Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com