PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Icemen Gain Ground in the Standings with 2-1 Win Over Greenville

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Topias Leinonen stopped 19 of 20 shots to help guide the Icemen to a 2-1 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Sunday evening. With the win, coupled with a Savannah loss on Sunday, the Icemen now pull within two points of the final playoff spot in the South Division.

It took the Icemen just 29 seconds to strike in this one, as Will Hillman netted his 14th goal of the season to give the Icemen the early 1-0 lead.

That score remained until the second period, when forward Craig Martin took off into the Greenville end for a breakaway chance and cleanly carved a backhanded shot into the corner of the net to give the Icemen the 2-0 edge.

Greenville tried to rally in the third, Denis Smirnov netted a tally to pull the Swamp Rabbits within one, but the Icemen would close this one out with a 2-1 victory.

The Icemen have some much needed time to rest before facing Atlanta in Duluth on Saturday.

With Jacksonville Icemen match report

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

 

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Gladiators Lose 4-1 in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Icemen defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 4-1 on Friday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Adam McMaster scored a pair of goals for the Icemen to help them earn the win in the second of three straight games between the two clubs.

After a 2-0 loss to the Icemen at home on Wednesday night, the Gladiators looked for revenge in enemy territory in the rematch on Friday night. Ethan Haider started in net for Atlanta while Topias Leinonen started for Jacksonville.

The Gladiators came out with some great chances to begin the game but could not get the puck to bounce in their favor. Ryley Appelt fought Jaden Condotta 7:31 into the game, igniting some passion into the Gladiators’ game. The Gladiators had a chance on the power play 9:53 into the period but did not convert. With 7:04 left in the first period the Icemen broke the scoreless tie, with Adam McMaster scoring in transition from Jaques Bouquot and Holden Wale to make it a 1-0 Jacksonville lead.

After a scoreless second period, the Icemen broke free in the third period, extending their lead with a power play goal from McMaster. His snipe from the left circle beat Haider to make it 2-0 with 11:50 to play from Jed Pietila and David Jankowski. Almost a minute later, Jacksonville extended its lead to 3-0 after a pass angled perfectly off the end wall found Craig Martin backdoor with 9:08 to play. Martin’s goal was assisted by Jaden Condotta and Tyler Kopff. Trying to claw their way back, the Gladiators managed to rifle in a power play goal from Ryan Conroy with 8:07 to go in regulation. Conroy’s bid from the blue line hit the twine and made it a 3-1 game. Despite their best efforts, it was too little too late. Jacksonville buried an empty netter from Will Hillman with 30 seconds on the clock to seal the final score at 4-1.

Haider stopped 23/26 in the loss, while Leinonen stopped 22/23 for Jacksonville. The Gladiators went 1/3 on the power play and 2/3 on the penalty kill, and were outshot 27-23.

With Atlanta Gladiators match report

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockynews.com

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Wichita Homecoming Spoiled in Loss to Kansas City

WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita returned home on Friday night for the first time in over a month, falling to Kansas City, 5-2, at INTRUST Bank Arena in front of a lower bowl sell out of 6,001.

Jay Dickman led the way for the Thunder with a goal and an assist. Roddy Ross suffered the loss in a relief effort, stopping 15 shots.

Dickman opened the scoring near the midway point of the first. Wichita won a battle behind the Kansas City net. Kirby Proctor fired a shot from the high slot and Dickman redirected it past Logan Terness.

Jack Randl tied it at 17:09. He walked around a Thunder blueliner and beat Matt Davis for his 21st of the season.

At the start of the second, Davis didn’t return to the Thunder crease and Ross came into the game.

Bates connected at 1:38 of the second on a pretty passing play to make it 2-1. Dickman was denied on a breakaway but fed a pass from the right circle to Bates. He slipped a backhand through Terness for his 17th of the year.

Lucas Sowder tied the contest at 10:23 when he blew by two players at the Wichita line and beat Ross for his ninth of the season.

At 15:02, Bobo Carpenter picked the pocket of a Thunder defender at the red line, skated down on a breakaway and beat Ross to make it 3-2.

Kansas City tacked on a late power play goal after Michal Stinil was called for a high stick. Justin Janicke salted the game away at 19:10 after he was left all alone in front of the net and made it 4-2.

Hudson Wilson added an empty netter at 19:51 to close the scoring.

Dickman reached the 20-goal mark for the fifth-straight season. Bates has points in four straight and netted his first goal since February 18. Stinil appeared in his 300th ECHL game.

Wichita went 0-for-2 on the power play. Kansas City was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

The two teams play once again at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 at INTRUST Bank Arena.

With Wichita Thunder Match Report

Contact the Photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com

Kansas City Mavericks forward Lucas Sowder (86)

Kansas City Mavericks goalie Luke Pavicich (30)

Wichita Thunder goalie Roddy Ross (31)

Wichita Thunder goalie Matt Davis (33)

Wichita Thunder goalie Matt Davis (33)

Wichita Thunder goalie Matt Davis (33)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Robert Kincaid (14)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Kirby Proctor (3)

Wichita Thunder forward Spencer Blackwell (8), Kansas City Mavericks forward Casey Carreau (22)

Kansas City Mavericks forward Casey Carreau (22)

Kansas City Mavericks forward Casey Carreau (22)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Tyler Jette (81), Kansas City Mavericks forward Casey Carreau (22)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Peter Bates (12)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Tanner Palocsik (49)

Wichita Thunder goalie Matt Davis (33), Kansas City Mavericks forward Nolan Sullivan (19), Wichita Thunder defenseman TJ Lloyd (6)

Kansas City Mavericks defenseman Drake Burgin (16), Wichita Thunder defenseman Tyler Jette (81)

Wichita Thunder forward Cameron Mitchell (19), Kansas City Mavericks forward Colby MacArthur (23)

Kansas City Mavericks forward Jackson Berezowski (17), Wichita Thunder defenseman Robert Kincaid (14)

Wichita Thunder defenseman TJ Lloyd (6)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Tanner Palocsik (49)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Tyler Jette (81)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Robert Kincaid (14)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Nolan Kneen (27)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Nolan Kneen (27)

Kansas City Mavericks forward Lucas Sowder (86)

Wichita Thunder defenseman TJ Lloyd (6), Kansas City Mavericks forward Jack Randl (82)

Wichita Thunder defenseman Nolan Kneen (27)

Kansas City Mavericks defenseman Hudson Wilson (18)

Wichita Thunder forward Gavin Best (10), Kansas City Mavericks forward Justin Janicke (28)

Wichita Thunder forward Jay Dickman (21)

Wichita Thunder forward Oliver Tarr (23)

Wichita Thunder forward Jay Dickman (21)

Youngblood: Tulsa Oilers v Allen Americans

ALLEN, Texas – The Allen Americans had a “Youngblood” themed game, with the home team being the Hamilton Mustangs and the Tulsa Oilers being the Thunder Bay Bombers.

The following is the team match report from the Thunder Bay Bombers (Tulsa Oilers):

The Thunder Bay Bombers won 4-1 over the Hamilton Mustangs in Friday’s Youngblood night at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.

Andrei Bakanov scored the opening goal, popping home an in-tight, short side chance past Jackson Parsons to put Thunder Bay up 1-0. Lukas Jirousek extended the Bombers’ lead to 2-0, turning on the jets and popping home a shorthanded breakaway goal with 4:51 remaining in the first period. Danny Katic scored his 24th of the season with 29 seconds remaining in the frame, bringing the Mustangs within one goal.

David Tendeck, a former Mustang, turned in a great second-period performance, halting all 15 shots sent from his former employer in the middle frame. Jackson Parsons also turned in a clean period, stopping eight-of-eight.

Drew Elliott ended the game’s scoring drought 8:03 into the third period, netting his 13th of the season to put the Bombers ahead 3-1. Konnor Smith trebucheted the puck through all three zones into an empty net with 3:06 left in the final frame, securing a 4-1 win for the Thunder Bay Bombers over the Hamilton Mustangs.

Tendeck finished his debut with the team with 37 saves on 38 shots and added the lone assist on Konnor Smith’s empty-net goal. Poetically, Tendeck’s first professional win came against the Oilers on Jan. 16, 2021, completing 37 saves across 38 shots.

The Oilers return to their true identity Saturday, March 7 at 7:10 p.m. against the Allen Americans at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center.

Contact the photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com

Because of the remake of the movie “Youngblood”, the Allen Americans are the Hamilton Mustangs and the Tulsa Oilers are the Thunder Bay Bombers for this game.

Allen Americans forward Lukas Sillinger (77)

Tulsa Oilers forward Zach Murray (25), Tulsa Oilers defenseman Konnor Smith (4)

Tulsa Oilers goalie David Tendeck (1)

Allen Americans defenseman Anthony Costantini (22)

Tulsa Oilers forward Jonny Hooker (45), Allen Americans defenseman Anthony Costantini (22)

Allen Americans defenseman Quinn Warmuth (2)

Allen Americans defenseman Ty Prefontaine (8)

Tulsa Oilers forward Ryan Lautenbach (14)

Allen Americans defenseman Ty Prefontaine (8)

Tulsa Oilers forward Lukas Jirousek (38)

Tulsa Oilers forward Drew Elliott (15)

Tulsa Oilers forward Josh Nelson (19)

Allen Americans goalie Jackson Parsons (31)

Tulsa Oilers forward Jonny Hooker (45)

Tulsa Oilers forward Lukas Jirousek (38)

Tulsa Oilers forward Lukas Jirousek (38), Allen Americans forward Jake Chiasson (11)

Allen Americans forward Colton Hargrove (7)

Tulsa Oilers forward Andrei Bakanov (8)

Allen Americans defenseman Ty Prefontaine (8), Tulsa Oilers forward Dakota Seaman (29)

Tulsa Oilers defenseman Konnor Smith (4)

Tulsa Oilers forward Lukas Jirousek (38)

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Blades Roll Over Icemen 6-1 for Sixth-0Straight Win

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Everblades continued to roll to begin the month of March posting a 4-1 triumph over the Icemen to make it six straight wins. 

Both sides traded chances early in the opening frame, but nothing came to fruition until Oliver Chau broke through, banging home a loose puck off a Jordan Sambrook shot that generated a rebound off the far pad of the Jacksonville netminder. Chau’s 12th of the season, coming with 6:17 remaining in the first period, gave the visitors an early lead. Moments later, Reid Duke nearly doubled the advantage on a cross-ice feed from Hudson Elynuik, but Scott Ratzlaff dove across the crease to keep it a one-goal game. 

Late in the frame, the Icemen were awarded a power play on a slashing call against Duke but failed to convert, as Cam Johnson came up with a pair of timely stops to preserve the lead. As the penalty expired, Duke generated another opportunity when the puck found him coming out of the box to spring Florida on a breakaway, but the puck rolled on him, preventing a clean look on goal. The Everblades outshot Jacksonville 10–8 in the period and carried a one-goal advantage into the intermission.

Florida generated early pressure in the middle frame, firing the first three shots of the period but could not extend their lead. The Icemen found the equalizer at the 5:10 mark after a defensive turnover below the goal line led to Logan Cockerill snapping a shot over Johnson’s glove for his first of the season.

Midway through the period, the Everblades capitalized on a power play after Patrick Bajkov was penalized for boarding. Jordan Sambrook restored the lead just 45 seconds into the man advantage, blasting his fourth of the season through traffic over the blocker side of Ratzlaff. Moments later, Sambrook delivered a key defensive play, tracking down Jacques Bouquot on the backcheck to deny a potential breakaway bid after a turnover at the offensive blue line. Florida controlled much of the period, outshooting Jacksonville 12–5 in the middle stanza.

Reid Duke extended Florida’s lead halfway through the third period finishing off a chance set up by Hudson Elynuik for his 13th of the season to give the Blades some insurance. The score would remain the same until just under two minutes remaining when Oliver Cooper nailed the empty net to make it 4-1. 

Cam Johnson earned the win in net stopping 23 of 24 Jacksonville shots including all 11 shots he faced in the final frame for his 18th win of the season. 

With Florida Everblades Match Report

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: South Carolina edges Jacksonville, 3-2 in OT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While shorthanded in overtime, South Carolina goaltender Seth Eisele denied two point-blank chances from Jacksonville, keeping the Stingrays alive. Minutes later, the offense rewarded its netminder as Josh Wilkins buried the game-winner, lifting the South Carolina Stingrays to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Icemen on Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville (19-25-6-1) opened the scoring early in the first period when Craig Martin gave the Icemen a 1-0 lead less than five minutes in. South Carolina (34-18-1-0) responded nearly ten minutes later, settling into the game and finding the equalizer.

Jordan Klimek, playing in his 200th career ECHL game, snapped a shot from the point past Jacksonville netminder Michael Bullion, tying the game at one with 5:52 left in the opening frame.

In the second period, both sides generated chances on the power play, but South Carolina carried momentum from its opportunity to take the lead. Just nine seconds after the advantage expired, Zac Funk cleaned up a loose puck in the slot to give the Stingrays their first lead of the night, 2-1.

Jacksonville responded less than a minute later, as Ryan Pitoscia tied the game with 6:41 remaining in the second period.

Over the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Stingrays were forced to kill off multiple penalties, including four consecutive minutes midway through the period. The penalty kill stood tall to keep the game tied at two, sending South Carolina to overtime for the second straight Saturday.

The penalty kill was called upon again in the extra frame when Charlie Combs was called for hooking, and the Icemen pushed for the winner. Late in the kill, Jacksonville generated two prime chances to end it, but Stingrays goaltender Seth Eisele turned them both aside to extend the game.

Less than a minute after the penalty kill expired, Josh Wilkins forced a turnover in the offensive zone and blasted home the game-winner, lifting the Stingrays past the Icemen, 3-2.

The victory marked the Stingrays’ seventh overtime win of the season. Eisele earned his 16th win of the year and has now won seven of his last eight appearances.

With South Carolina Stingrays Match Report

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com