PEORIA, Ill – The Peoria Rivermen and the Pensacola Ice Flyers once again played each other in the first round of the SPHL Presidents Cup playoffs. This is the third straight season the Rivermen and Ice Flyers have met in the first round and this season ended just like the previous season did with a Rivermen sweep in front of 2,630 fans at Carver Arena.
The Rivermen dominated the first period, outshooting the Ice Flyers 14-1 and 31-16 for the game. The Rivermen got on the scoreboard first at 5:31 of the first period with a goal by their beloved captain Alec Hagaman. The score would stay that way until 5:15 of the second period when Malik Johnson would tie the game at one apiece.
From then on it was all Rivermen as they would end the second period with a 3-1 lead on goals from newcomer Mathew Rehding and ex-Ice Flyers player Meirs Moore. Peoria finished the regular season with an SPHL record of one home loss in regulation and they continued with their home-ice dominance in the third period scoring three more goals, one by Mike Gelatt, another by Jordan Ernst, and the final goal by JM Piotrowski. The latter two coming with Peoria on the powerplay.
Peoria will now move onto the second round of the playoffs and face the Evansville Thunderbolts in a best-of-three series.
Game 1 is set for Wednesday night in Evansville with Game 2 in Peoria on Friday and game 3 (if necessary) on Sunday.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Jeremie Allen, who was there to capture the action.
