The Jacksonville Icemen hosted the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday, April 13, at 7 pm. Jacksonville is coming off an overtime win, and we’re looking to continue to carry the momentum into Saturday’s game.
The first period started slow for both teams. The Icemen put up seven shots on goal, while Atlanta only put up 3. Neither team was successful in placing the puck into the net. The second period started off with only four shots in the first 3 minutes. But Icemen Riley Fiddler-Schultz had a wide-open shot from upfront. Allowing the Icemen to take the 1-0 lead early in the second at 2:49. Atlanta would respond even harder with two back-to-back goals in a 10-second span. Michael Marchesan would be the first Gladiator to score with a wrist shot. Ten seconds later, off the faceoff, Joshua Boyer would put a one-timer away, giving Atlanta the 2-1 lead. At 13:57, Icemen Connor Russell would get a 4-minute double minor for high sticking, giving Atlanta the power play. Atlanta would get the power play goal. Brendan Hoffman would score on a goal. Making the game 3-1. With under a minute to play in the second, Derek Lodermeir would score at 19:44 with a goal. Putting the Icemen 1 behind Atlanta going into the third.
Jacksonville would enter the third period the same way they ended the second. Oliver Nadeau would score 27 seconds into the third with a wrist shot. The third period was also more enticing for penalties. 6 penalties were called in the third, compared to the rest of the game, where three were called between the first and second periods. Late in the third, Atlanta’s Michael Marchesan was called on multiple penalties. Marchesan was called for 5 minutes major for fighting, 2 minute minor for roughing, and 10 minutes game misconduct – aggressor. Marchesan would leave the game and not return. Icemen Riley Fiddler-Schultz would be called for a 2-minute minor for roughing, and Oliver Nadeau would be given a 10-minute misconduct for inciting. The Icemen had multiple opportunities to score while on the penalty plays; however, they did not capitalize. The Icemen outshot Atlanta 16-4 in the third. But the period would end at a draw, 3-3, and would go into overtime.
In overtime, Atlanta’s Luke Pierson scored at 3:44, winning the game for Atlanta 4-3. The Icemen will host Atlanta again on Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m. If the Icemen win and Greenville loses, the Icemen will claim the Southern Division. However, if both teams win, the divisional championship will be determined by a tiebreaker. The Icemen are right there to take the division, even after trailing behind Greenville for the majority of the year.
