GREENVILLE, SC – The ECHL has moved into November with most of the teams in the league having played at least 7 games by this point. One, Utah, has even played 10 games.
However, the league schedule makers apparently felt that the Jacksonville Icemen needed some extra time before they really took off for the 2017-18 season. The season is three weeks and the Icemen have only played three games, all at home. In those first three games, the Icemen went 0-2-1, losing in overtime to Orlando and losing by one goal to both South Carolina and Atlanta. This weekend, that will all change with two road games in two days. First up was a game in Greenville, South Carolina against the Swamp Rabbits.
Greenville entered the game with a 4-3-1 record and winners of their last three contests. It was Greenville’s fifth home game of the season and the last of a three game home stand. They were 2-2 at home this season coming in. Greenville started Brandon Halverson, who had a 1-2-1 record and a 5.31 goals against average. Jacksonville again started Jamie Philips, who has started every game this season for the Icemen. Philips has a 0-2-1 record and a goals against average of 4.63
Greenville started off the scoring in the first period at 9:48 when, on the power play, Joe Basaraba scored his second of the season from the right face-off circle. Adam Chapie and Allan McPherson got the assists.
Jacksonville then tied up the game a little over two minutes later when at 12:10, Christopher Dienes beat Halverson from just inside the blue line on the right side for his first goal of the season. Brendan Collier and MacIntyre got the assists.
Jacksonville then took the lead two minutes when Bobby MacIntyre scored from almost the same spot on the ice that Dienes had earlier. For MacIntyre, it was his second goal of the season. Dienes was awarded the assist, along with Collier. That was how the first period end with Jacksonville leading 2-1 and the Icemen outshooting the Swamp Rabbits in the period 17-8.
Jacksonville extended its lead with almost five minutes gone when MacIntyre got his second of the game and third of the season, beating Halverson at the top of the crease. Collier and Elgin Pierce got the assists.
Greenville got back within one about five minutes later with Austin McKay getting the puck past Philips from the top of the crease. It was McKay’s second of the season. Jack Nevins got the only assist.
Jacksonville then extended the lead back to two on its first short-handed goal of the season when at the fourteen minute mark, Alexandre Goulet recorded his fifth goal of the season, beating Halverson while Garet Hunt was off for slashing. Emerson Clark got the assist.
Once again, Greenville got back within one when Caleb Herbert beat Philips for his fourth of the year with Chad Duchesne and McPherson getting the assistson the score at the seventeen minute mark of the frame.
The second period ended shortly there after with the Icemen leading 4-3. Shots in the period were 10-10, giving Jacksonville a 27-18 margin through two. It was the first lead Jacksonville had going into the third period in a game this season.
However, as the third period got going, Greenville would tie the game when McPherson got his first goal of the game and fifth of the season, beating Philips. Joe Houk got the assist at 8:53.
With 2:55 left, Greenville took the lead of the game back when while Jacksonville’s Dajon Mingo was off for slashing, Carter Sandlak scored his first goal of the season from out in front. McPherson got one assist (and his fourth point of the night) while Evan Jasper got the other. That’s how the game ended, with Greenville winning 5-4.
Icechips: Jacksonville is now 0-3-1 on the season, with all four losses by one goal… Greenville finished its three game home stand with a 3-0 mark… Jacksonville had 16 minutes in penalties, Greenville recorded 12… Attendance was 4569, Greenville’s highest attendance of the young season… Jacksonville outshot Greenville for the game 35-26.
Allan McPherson was the first star of the game, Carter Sandlak of Greenville the second and Jacksonville’s Bobby MacIntyre the third.
Greenville has a short two game road trip next, playing games next Tuesday night and Thursday morning in Orlando. Jacksonville continues their five game road trip Sunday in North Charleston against the Stingrays.
Contact the author at kenneth.holdren@prohockeynews.com
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