Tag Archives: #BSOG. #PHNECHL

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Gladiators Score Two Shorthanded Goals in 7-2 Beatdown of Icemen

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Atlanta Gladiators put up a season-high seven goals on the Jacksonville Icemen on Friday night in the first game of a three in three. Five different Gladiators registered a multi-point game as Atlanta improved to 13-4 on the season with its fourth win in a row.

After two overtime wins vs Greenville on Saturday and Sunday at home, the Gladiators hit the road for the first of three games in three days against Jacksonville. Atlanta started goaltender T.J Semptimphelter, while Jacksonville went with Scott Ratzlaff.

Louis Boudon wasted no time opening the scoring, putting in the first of the night 1:02 into the first period to make it 1-0 Atlanta from Chad Nychuk and Isak Walther. A too many men penalty on Atlanta sent Jacksonville to the man advantage late in the period, but it was the Gladiators who capitalized – scoring two shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill 1:19 apart. Joey Cipollone scored from Carson Denomie with 3:48 left in the period, followed by Ethan Scardina’s first pro goal from Ryan Nolan and Ryan Conroy to put the Gladiators up 3-0. Ratzlaff’s night would end there, as he was relieved by Michael Bullion in net. The Icemen were able to get on the board 1:09 after Scardina’s goal, with an unassisted tally from Kolby Johnson to make it 3-1 before the period’s end.

Only one goal was scored in the second period, and it belonged to Atlanta. On the power play, Isak Walther scored on a one-timer from the left circle to make it 4-1 Gladiators, with the assists coming from Boudon and Young. With the goal, Atlanta now has power play goals in three straight games – the longest streak this season. 

The Gladiators continued to assert their dominance in the third period with another power play goal, as Boudon earned his second of the night from Nychuk and Cody Sylvester to make it 5-1 Atlanta. Brody Crane got the Icemen back on the board with 7:13 left in the period, but the Gladiators tacked on two more goals from Sylvester and McNamee to make it a 7-2 final score. T.J. Semptimphelter stopped 31/33 in the win. Ratzlaff stopped 5/8 and Bullion 16/20 in net for Jacksonville. 

Louis Boudon finished the night with 2 goals and 2 assists and extended his point streak to five games (3g, 7a). Isak Walther had 1 goal and 2 assists, extending his point streak to five games (3g, 4a), and Chad Nychuk had 2 assists, extending his point streak to four games (1g, 5a). With an assist, Alex Young extended his point streak to three games (2g, 2a). Atlanta scored two shorthanded goals and went 3/3 on the penalty kill, while going 2/4 on the power play.The Gladiators and Icemen will meet again on Saturday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:00 PM before the scene shifts to Duluth on Sunday at 3:00 PM. Sunday’s game is Max’s Holiday Party, with the annual Sing for Santa, Jambo’s PJ toss, and the first 1,500 fans receiving a Gladiators ornament courtesy of Bare Bones Steak House.

With Atlanta Gladiators release

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Stingrays drop Icemen, 4-1

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JACKSONVILLE, F.L. – After allowing an early goal on the road, the South Carolina Stingrays scored four unanswered goals from four different goal scorers to skate by the Jacksonville Icemen, 4-1, on Wednesday evening at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville (9-9-0-0) jumped out in front quickly at home. Christopher Brown converted the first shot of the game just 3:11 into the game giving the Icemen a 1-0 lead. Following the opening goal, South Carolina (12-7-0-0) responded. With just under six minutes gone, Reilly Webb let a shot go that deflected off an Icemen’s skate and found the back of the net, tying the game at one.

Neither side could break the tie in the rest of the 1st period, but in the 2nd period, the Stingrays took over. Just over five minutes into the middle frame, Jalen Luypen tapped home a centering pass from Simon Pinard, putting the Stingrays ahead for good, 2-1. South Carolina found an insurance goal from Josh Wilkins with 9:05 left in the period off an assist from Kyler Kupka building the lead to two, 3-1.

The Stingrays took the two-goal lead to the 3rd period, but Jacksonville came out firing looking for an answer early. Netminder Mitch Gibson was up for the task. The backstop made multiple saves across the first minute, keeping the 3-1 lead intact.

South Carolina drew a penalty just over eight minutes into the period and made the Icemen pay. Zac Funk punched home his first goal of the season on the power play, giving the Stingrays a 4-1 lead with 10:38 left in regulation. Jacksonville had no answer for South Carolina down the stretch as Gibson saved the final 21 shots he saw on the evening to beat the Icemen, 4-1.

In the victory, Funk, Kupka and Wilkins all had multi-point outings while Gibson earned his seventh win of the season, including his second over Jacksonville.

With South Carolina Stingrays release

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Icemen Close the Door on Atlanta as Close Earns Shutout in First Pro Win

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Jacksonville Icemen release:

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Justen Close stopped all 28 shots faced to earn his first professional victory to lead the Icemen to a 5- shutout win over the Atlanta Gladiators Friday night at Vystar Veterans Arena.

The Icemen struck first when a shot from the point was tipped in front and into the net by rookie forward Ty Chveldayoff to give the Icemen a 1-0 lead.

Later in the period, the Icemen’s potent power play converted when Chris Grando knocked in a shot from the slot that put his team ahead 2-0.

Neither team lit the lamp in the second period, but goaltender Justen Close remained sharp and turned aside every shot faced in the middle frame.

Jacksonville seized control of the game in third period, netting three goals.  The first came on a high-press sequence down low, which concluded with an excellent pass to Christopher Brown who snuck the puck in on the short side to make it a 3-0 Icemen edge.

Zach Jordan snapped a shot from the left wing while Justin McRae put home a rebound for good measure to lead the Icemen a 5-0 victory.

Close earned a 28-save shutout in his first professional victory.

The Icemen will host the red-hot South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday at 7 p.m. South Carolina is unbeaten in their last five outings.

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com