JACKSONVILLE, FLA – The Jacksonville Icemen began a holiday homestand on Tuesday, November 20th when the South Carolina Stingrays came calling at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The Icemen started fast with two goals in the first period and held on for a 3-2 victory.
Jacksonville started the scoring just 2:22 into the opening period when defenseman Dajon Mingo lit the goal light behind Stingrays goalie Parker Milner for his fourth tally of the year. The lone assist on the score went to Cameron Critchlow. Just before the midway point of the period, the Icemen doubled their lead when captain Garet Hunt set up Colton Veloso for his first goal of the season.
The teams battle through a scoreless second period as Milner and Icemen netminder Mikhail Berdin were both on their games, shutting down the opposition offense. Berdin stopped all 13 South Carolina shots he faced while Milner turned away all seven attempts by Jacksonville in the frame.
Cameron Bakker got the Stingrays on the board 4:59 into the third with an unassisted score, his first of the season. Jacksonville answered back at the 12:23 mark when Maxime Fortier set up Kris Newbury who netted his first of the season.
Kevin McKernan pulled the visitors within 3-2 when he scored his third of the season off an assist from Nick Roberto at the 14:30 mark but it was not enough as Berdin closed the door on the Stingrays to earn the win.
Berdin finished the game with 31 saves while his counterpart Milner stopped 25 shots in suffering the loss.
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