PENSACOLA, FL – Buffalo Wild Wings in Pensacola was full of energy Wednesday night as stars of the Ice Flyers and their loyal fans gathered for a mid-season meet-and-greet. Long-time season ticket holders and children with stars in their eyes had the chance to make personal connections with their favorite players.
Honored to be representing Pro Hockey News at the event, I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the players and get their feelings on the current season.
Cody Karpinski, #35, stated “I really like these events. It’s great to see how much the community supports us.” Karpinski has played in multiple professional leagues, earning himself quite a formidable reputation. In the four games he’s played in net for Pensacola in the 2024-25 season, he’s only let 11 of 91 shots against him hit the back of the net. When speaking about the fan base, he stated, “I try to flip a puck to a kid during every warmup. The game’s bigger than you, so if you can make a kid a fan of hockey for life, I think that’s important.”
Defenceman Tim Faulkner, #8, has played 28 games with the Ice Flyers in the 2024-25 season after returning from the Macon Mayhem. He has 3 goals and 3 assists, bringing his points-per-game ratio to 0.21. “Being on the beach and playing hockey, it’s the dream, and I’m loving it. When a southern state embraces hockey, it’s really cool to watch. All the guys here are good; we’re just trying to find a way to win hockey games and make it even better.” When asked what advice he’d give to kids dreaming of playing hockey themselves, he offered, “You just have to love the game. As long as you’re loving it, you’re going to go as far as you want to.”
“The best part of nights like these is connecting with the players,” said fan Eddie Wells. “We see them on the ice, we see them online or on the big screen, but to be able to chat with them and get to know who they are off the ice is something really special.”
As the evening drew to a close, fans left with a sense of pride and excitement, knowing that they are part of something bigger than just a hockey game. The meet-and-greet was more than an opportunity for autographs and photos; it was a reminder of the connection that exists between the team and its supporters.
One thing that can always be said about Pensacola is that they deeply love hockey. Though we have warmth year-round and the ocean right outside the rink, fans here carry a sense of pride and a deep love for the game. After Wednesday night’s event, I truly believe the players will hit the ice with the full force of the community behind them.
PHOTO CREDIT – Bill.Kober@prohockeynews.com
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