JACKSONVILLE, FL – Sunday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Arena, the Jacksonville Icemen played, for the only scheduled regular season game this season, a team from the Western Conference as the Allen Americans finished a four game Southern Division road trip in Jacksonville. The Icemen entered the game with a 17-26-3-3 record for 40 points, last in the Eastern Conference but two points behind both Brampton and Norfolk and four points behind Greenville.
Allen’s Joel Chouinard (72, white) and Jacksonville’s Tyson Fawcett battle for position along the boards (PHN photo by Trina Kirk)
Allen entered the game with a 24-20-4-2 for 54 points, currently tied for fourth in the Mountain Division.
Austin Lotz (11-8-1-1, 2.80 goals against average) started the game in net for Jacksonville while Jeremy Brodeur (13-9-2-1, 3.10 goals against average) got the start for Allen.
Jacksonville dominated the first period on the ice, outshooting the Americans 15-3. However, it was Allen that led after the first period when, at the 14:37 mark, Casey Pierro-Zabotel recorded his 14th of the season from the top of the crease. Assists were awarded to Colby McAuley and David Makowski. Allen would also have the only penalties of the period, three minors in all.
Allen increased its lead in the second period at 12:03 when Zack Pochiro recorded his 11th of the season, with assists going to Alex Guptill and Miles Liberati. Allen would also control the second period in shots too, outshooting the Icemen 11-4. For two periods, Jacksonville still held the shot advantage at 19-14. Jacksonville had eleven minutes in penalties for the period while Allen had 7. Overall, Allen led the penalty minutes 13-11.
Allen’s Jeremy Brodeur made 32 saves to thwart Jacksonville Sunday afternoon (PHN photo by Trina Kirk)
Jacksonville cut into the Allen lead in the third period on the power play when Scott Savage recorded his seventh of the season when his blue line shot was screened and beat Brodeur. Dajon Mingo and Bobby MacIntyre got the assists at 7:02. However, Jacksonville could not tie the game and Allen increased the lead back to two at 13:56 when Bryan Moore recorded his fifteenth goal of the season, with the only assist going to Eric Roy. The scoring ended there as Allen finished up with one win on its southern road trip, defeating Jacksonville 3-1.
Jacksonville outshot Allen in the third period 14-6 and for the game 33-20. Each team had four minutes in penalties in the final period, Allen ending the game with 17, Jacksonville 15.
Icechips: The three stars of the game all came from Allen: Zach Pochiro—1st, Jeremy; Brodeur—2nd; Bryan Moore—3rd… Attendance for the game was 4,301… Jacksonville stayed two points behind both Norfolk and Brampton in the eastern conference. Norfolk lost at home to Adirondack 5-2 and Brampton was off… Allen returns home for its next game, a Friday night game against the Utah Grizzlies… Jacksonville’s next game is Valentine’s Night, on the road in Norfolk. The Icemen return home Friday, February 23rd when they play host to Norfolk.
Contact the author at kenneth.holdren@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at trina.kirk@prohockeynews.com
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