The Jacksonville Icemen and Atlanta Gladiators faced off in two exciting back-to-back matchups at Gas South Arena. The Icemen were coming off a strong performance, having shut out the Adirondack Thunder 5-0 in their last game, extending their winning streak to three games. The Gladiators, on the other hand, recently secured a 4-0 win against the Orlando Solar Bears, ending their five-game losing streak.
Jacksonville’s Christopher Brown has been on a hot streak, accumulating seven points (4g, 3a) in his last six games. The Icemen had been dominant recently, outscoring their opponents 13-3 during their three-game winning streak. Atlanta’s goaltender Ethan Haider is now tied for the league lead with two shutouts after Tuesday’s win in Orlando, showcasing his strong performance in net. In their last matchup, Jacksonville defeated Atlanta 4-2.
Friday, November 22nd
First Period
Both teams were scoreless despite the Gladiators taking 17 shots on net. A fantastic bounce shot on the net by Jackson Pierson as he took the pass from Joey Cipollone but his shot just missed the net. Patriks Marcinkevics nearly made a goal scoring shot, but Vernon stopped it with his helmet. Atlanta got a power play after Calisti was penalized for interference at 2:06, and Marcinkevics followed up with another strong attempt. Derek Topatigh took his shot on net, but Vernon made the save. Eric Neiley set up Cody Sylvester, yet Vernon once again denied the shot. Easton Armstrong won the faceoff, but Vernon blocked his attempt as well. Blake Murray took a hard hit and fell down hard to the ice, leading to a slashing penalty being called on Chasese Lang at 4:02. Murray made a shot on the net, but it got tipped off. Ethan Haider and Vernon both making several crucial saves to keep the game scoreless as the period came to an end.
- Scoring: No goals scored.
- Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 8, Atlanta 17
- Penalties:
- Jacksonville: R. Calisti (Interference, 2:06), Lang (Slashing, 4:02)
- Atlanta: D. Marcinkevics (Roughing, 12:18)
Second Period
It would be Chad Nychuk that got the Gladiators on board early in the second stanza at 1:20, with the goal assisted by Joey Cipollone and Patriks Marcinkevics.
Later, Carter Allen and Brenden Datema dropped the gloves in the corner at 13:05, resulting in five-minute penalties for both for fighting. Olivier Nadeau tied the game for the Icemen at 9:38, with assists from Robert Calisti and Davis Koch. Shortly after, at 10:34, Randy Hernández regained the lead for the Gladiators with his first professional goal, assisted by Dominicks Marcinkevics and Blake Murray.
Atlanta got the puck, made a strike on the net, but it bounced off an Icemen’s skate and appeared to go into the net before Vernon pushed ultimately push it out. The play went under review, but the call on the ice of no goal stood. Andrew Jarvis sent the puck to the net, and on the rebound, he was stopped by Justin McRae near the net. Vernon got his glove on it for a stoppage in play. A Jacksonville player seemingly blew a tire, unfortunately leading to a penalty for Datema at 16:16. Jacksonville missed the shot, and Carabia blocked the shot from Robbie Calisti. Datema returned from the box, and Carter Allen blocked a follow up shot from Denomie.
- Scoring:
- Atlanta: C. Nychuk (1:20, assists: P. Marcinkevics, J. Cipollone)
- Jacksonville: O. Nadeau (9:38, assists: R. Calisti, D. Koch)
- Atlanta: R. Hernández (10:34, assists: D. Marcinkevics, B. Murray)
- Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 11, Atlanta 8
- Penalties:
- Jacksonville: C. Allen (Fighting, 13:05)
- Atlanta: B. Datema (Slashing, 16:16; Fighting, 13:05), D. Carabia (Hooking, 9:00)
Third Period
Connor Russell tied the game for Jacksonville at 14:05 with a wrist shot, assisted by Brendan Crane and Garrett Van Whye. Dylan Carabia took a shot, but it was tipped by Vernon’s stick. A missed tripping call on Van Whye for tripping Cipollone occurred. Dominiks Marcinkevics got tied up against the board. Blake Murray got his hands on the puck and fired it on net. Jacksonville chipped it out and took it down to the Gladiators’ zone.
Later, Denomie took a shot but missed, and Chad Nychuk’s rebound shot went wide, sending the puck up along the boards. The Gladiators got a hand on it and fired it on net, but Cody Sylvester just barely missed. On the other end, Ethan Haider made the save. The Gladiators had stayed on the puck well, getting every stick chance they could as the Icemen tried to get things to go their way. Cody on a slight breakaway nearly got the goal but the attempt was high and wide.
Carabia got snagged for hooking, sending Atlanta to the penalty kill. Haider made another save as Van Whye pressed. Straight from the box, Carabia got the puck and tried to find a pass to the net as the Gladiators successfully killed another penalty. Patriks Marcinkevics looked for Sylvester, but neither could get a clear shot. D. Marcinkevics took a shot from center that missed, and Jacksonville sent it off and was called for icing. Jacksonville got the equalizer with a laser shot on the net by Connor Russell at 14:05, assisted by Nadeau and Van Whye. Neiley tried to get the puck to the net but was unable to get traction. Patriks Marcinkevics had a driving shot, and Vernon took it in the numbers. Jacksonville kept Atlanta in their own zone, but the Gladiators fought to push it down and out. With less than two minutes remaining, Denomie passed to Neiley, whose shot went to the blocker of Vernon. Jarvis made a shot to the net, but it was blocked off by Jacksonville. The period ended, and after regulation we were tied at two goals each, sending the game to overtime.
- Scoring:
- Jacksonville: C. Russell (14:05, assists: O. Nadeau, G. Van Whye)
- Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 11, Atlanta 8
- Penalties:
- Atlanta: D. Carabia (Hooking, 9:00)
Overtime
It would not be long into overtime before the game was decided. Blake Murray scored the game-winning goal for Atlanta at just a minute into overtime, taking advantage of a turnover by the Icemen.
Final Score: Gladiators 3, Icemen 2 (OT)
Ethan Haider made 28 saves on 30 shots for the Gladiators, while Matt Vernon stopped 34 of 37 shots for the Icemen.
- Shots on Goal: Jacksonville 0, Atlanta 4
- Goals:
- Atlanta: B. Murray (1:00)
- Penalties: None
Three Stars:
- Blake Murray (Atlanta)
- Randy Hernández (Atlanta)
- Chad Nychuk (Atlanta)
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Jacksonville’s goalie, Justen Close, who is expected in net tonight, has been a standout, making at least 28 saves in three of his four appearances. On the offensive side, Joey Cipollone leads Atlanta with two goals against the Icemen. The Icemen have a strong record of 4-1-1 when leading after the first period, while three of the Gladiators’ five wins have been by just one goal. Adding to the excitement, Atlanta beat the Icemen the night before in an OT stunner, with Blake Murray scoring just 60 seconds into overtime.
In Friday night’s game, shots on goal and special teams both played a crucial role in the outcome. Atlanta outshot Jacksonville 37 to 30, with a particularly strong first period where they had 17 shots compared to Jacksonville’s eight. Despite Jacksonville’s efforts, including a power play goal, Atlanta’s consistent pressure and a timely overtime goal secured their 3-2 victory. Fans expected a closely contested game with both teams bringing their best to the ice.
First Period
It would begin as a fiercely contested period, seeing Cody Sylvester was brought down to the ice early by an Icemen player, setting the tone for what would be a physical game. Atlanta made a strong play with a fire feed on Justen Close from the line, but the Gladiators got tangled up during a line change. Jacksonville missed a shot on DeRidder, who made a crucial save deep in the net. DeRidder continued to be a wall, saving a shot from Zach Jordan, and Atlanta managed to bat the puck away. Behind the net, a skirmish broke out between Oliver Nadeau and Andrew Jarvis, escalating into a brief fight with Michael Marchesan joining in. Both Nadeau and Marchesan received penalties, with another Jacksonville player, Crane, serving the second penalty for the Icemen. On the power play, the Gladiators took advantage, with Eric Neiley scoring from a pass by Cody Sylvester, and Patriks Marcinkevics getting the secondary assist.
The period saw intense battles along the boards, with the Gladiators fighting hard to dig the puck out. Laaouan’s shot was padded down by DeRidder. Peter Tischke moved the puck to center, and Grando worked it in, but Carabia’s stick check caused a turnover. Grando nearly had a chance on the net, but Jacksonville’s shot went high and wide. Later, Jarvis’s shot deflected off Justin McRae’s glove.
Jacksonville tried to draw DeRidder to the right and shoot over his shoulder, but Russell’s shot missed. Cipollone had a chance at the net but just missed. Hernández drove towards the net, but Close made the save as the goal fell off its moorings. DeRidder stopped a shot by Bown, and on the opposite end, Close did the same after a shot by Neiley. Another opportunity by Cipollone and Carabia hit the post. Jacksonville’s shot was cleared by DeRidder. Garrett Van Why skated the puck down to the net, but DeRidder appeared to have kept the puck out, as it appeared that the net popped off again. The play was reviewed, but the call was no goal. Noah Laaouan’s shot moments later was kept clear by DeRidder, maintaining the tight contest throughout the period. At the end of the first period, the score was Atlanta 1, Jacksonville 0. Atlanta scored the only goal of the period on a power play.
- Goals: Atlanta – 1 (C. Sylvester, assisted by E. Neiley and P. Marcinkevics, PP)
- Shots: Jacksonville – 10, Atlanta – 10
- Penalties:
- O. Nadeau (JAX) – Cross-Checking, 2 min
- O. Nadeau (JAX) – Fighting, 5 min
- M. Marchesan (ATL) – Fighting, 5 min
Second Period
The Gladiators had some good chances early in the second period. Cipollone’s attempt was stopped, as was Patriks Marcinkevics’. A shot by Jax’s Grando went wide right of the net. The Gladiators showed nice puck handling up the middle, with Hernández feeding Nychuk, but he missed wide. Atlanta nearly got a chance after the deflection on a shot by Connor Russell. Jarvis’s shot on Jacksonville was blocked by Laaouan. Back near DeRidder’s net, Jarvis was penalized for hooking, putting the Gladiators on the penalty kill. DeRidder stopped several shots by the Icemen and gloved down a strong shot by Chris Grando, as the penalty kill was successful, returning the team to full strength.
Van Why’s shot was deflected twice, once by Jordan, and DeRidder made the save. Hausinger received a two-minute penalty for tripping, putting the Gladiators on the penalty kill again. Atlanta blocked a shot on net by Chris Brown. Later, Robbie Calisti passed to Brown, whose shot was deflected into the netting. A lucky bounce off DeRidder’s glove by Chase Lang at 12:07 would later tie up the game. Grando and Crane were credited the assists on that goal.
Moments later, the Gladiators were caught off guard, turning the puck over, and Nadeau slid the shot past DeRidder, giving Jacksonville the lead for the first time. Jonathan Hampton and Ty Cheveldayoff were on the assists.
Jacksonville continued to control the puck, but the Gladiators fought to regain momentum. Russell lost his helmet and headed off the ice just as Patriks Marcinkevics got his chance on the net.
The Gladiators almost scored on a shot o Closeby Murray, but Jacksonville’s netminder made the save. Atlanta had two more chances on net as they fought to tie the game. Jackson Pierson’s shot was saved by Close. Cipollone passed up front to Marchesan, who was hooked, giving the Gladiators a power play. Brown went to the box for the penalty. On the Powerplay, Neiley took a soft shot, but Close made the easy save. A tripping penalty by Justin McRae at at 18:49 on Patriks Marcinkevics led to another save by Close after the shot attempt by Sylvester. Another shot by Atlanta’s Topatigh was blocked by Close, keeping the game tightly contested. At the end of the second period, the score was Jacksonville 2, Atlanta 1.
- Goals: Jacksonville – 2 (C. Lang, assisted by C. Grando and B. Crane; O. Nadeau, assisted by J. Hampton and T. Cheveldayoff)
- Shots: Jacksonville – 7, Atlanta – 11
- Penalties:
- A. Jarvis (ATL) – Hooking, 2 min
- C. Hausinger (ATL) – Tripping, 2 min
- C. Brown (JAX) – Slashing, 2 min
- J. McRae (JAX) – Tripping, 2 min
Third Period
The Gladiators started the third period returning with time left on the the power play late in the second period. Unfortunately the Gladiators but couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage and the Icemen went back to full strength. Chukarov intercepted a pass, but the play was broken up. DeRidder lost his helmet after being taken down, leading to a goaltender interference penalty on Nadeau. The Gladiators tied the game on the power play with Neiley scoring off a deflection from Derek Topatigh’s shot. Randy Hernández then scored his second goal as a Gladiator, giving them the Gladiators the lead back. The officials reviewed the play and confirmed that the goal was valid even though the net came off its moorings after the play had ended.
Hausinger and DeRidder both made key saves. Denomie received a penalty for tripping at 7:08, putting the Gladiators back on the penalty kill. Brody Crane scored on the power play for Jacksonville, tying the game again. Cipollone won a faceoff, leading to a series of shots, but Close made the saves. The period ended with both teams tied and battling hard. At the end of the third period, the score was Jacksonville 3, Atlanta 3.
- Goals: Atlanta (E. Neiley, assisted by D. Topatigh and C. Sylvester, PP; R. Hernández, assisted by B. Murray and D. Marcinkevics), Jacksonville (B. Crane, assisted by C. Grando and C. Lang, PP)
- Shots: Jacksonville – 6, Atlanta – 8
- Penalties:
- O. Nadeau (JAX) – Goaltender Interference, 2 min
- C. Denomie (ATL) – Tripping, 2 min
- P. Tischke (JAX) – Interference, 2 min
- C. Lang (JAX) – Roughing, 2 min
Overtime
In overtime, what almost was a repeat of last night Murray’s shot on net was blocked by the Icemen, and Hernandez’s rebound attempt was also stopped. Topatigh received a penalty for interferent much to the ire of the fans.
DeRidder made several crucial and stunning saves, including one laser of a shot by Nadeau. Jarvis was then penalized for high sticking at 2:08, but DeRidder continued to make impressive saves. The Icemen were called for offsides, and DeRidder’s pad was on fire as he kept stopping shots as the icemen controlled much of the momentum. Eventually, Koch scored the unassisted goal for Jacksonville at 6:11 into OT, securing the win after a thrilling finish.
Final Score: Jacksonville 4, Atlanta 3 (OT)
- Goals: Jacksonville – 1 (D. Koch)
- Shots: Jacksonville – 10, Atlanta – 2
- Penalties:
- D. Topatigh (ATL) – Interference, 2 min
- A. Jarvis (ATL) – High-sticking, 2 min
Totals:
- Total Shots: Jacksonville – 33, Atlanta – 31
- Power Plays: Jacksonville – 1/5, Atlanta – 2/6
- Penalty Minutes: Jacksonville – 17 min (7 infractions), Atlanta – 15 min (6 infractions)
Three Stars:
- Davis Koch (JAX)
- Cody Sylvester (ATL)
- Eric Neiley (ATL
Jacksonville Icemen
The Jacksonville Icemen, after now playing 13 games, end the weekend with a record of sven wins, four losses, and two overtime losses. They have accumulated 16 points, giving them a points percentage of 61.5%. The team now has scored 40 goals while conceding 36. They have been strong in their last 10 games with a 6-3-1-0 record in that time.
Atlanta Gladiators
The Atlanta Gladiators have faced a few challenges this season, with 16 games played and a record of five wins, eight losses, and three overtime losses. They have earned 13 points, resulting in a points percentage of 40.6%. The Gladiators have struggled offensively, scoring only 28 goals while allowing 45. However, they have shown some recent improvement, as indicated by their current streak of 2-0-1-0. Over their last 10 games, they have a record of 3-5-2-0.
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