JACKSONVILLE, FLA – On Friday, April 9th, the Jakcsonville Icemen hosted the Florida Everblades in the first of a three-game set between two of the three Florida-based ECHL teams. Led by a three point night from Ara Nazarian and 23 saves by goalie Charles Williams, the host Icemen parlayed a goal in each period into a 3-2 win in front of a COVID-restricted crowd of 2,954 at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.
Jacksonville took the early lead 3:03 into the first period when during a power play, Nazarian and Brandon Gignac combined forced to set up Ryker Killins who beat Florida netminder Jake Hildebrand for his third goal of the season. Late in the opening frame, Everblades forward Alex Kile netted his first score of the game and 13th of the year to even the score. John McCarron and Michael Downing picked up the assists on the goal that sent the teams to the first intermission tied at 1-1.
There was only one goal in the middle stanza and it went to the host Icemen. It came at the 7:21 mark when Jake Elmer scored for the second time this season helped by assists from Jason Binkley and Erik Bradford. The only other excitement in the frame came three minutes later when Florida’s Marcus Vela and Jacksonville’s Pascal Aquin dropped their gloves and engaged in a spirited fight.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of Jacksonville until the final two minutes of regulation when Nazarian found the back of the net with his 11th goal of the season with 1:28 remaining. Aquin and Trevor Hamilton drew the helpers on what proved to be the margin of victory. That was because Florida’s Kile connected for his second of the game with 29 ticks left in regulation off an assist from McCarron to create the 3-2 final.
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