Lafayette, LA- Chris Rebernik notched a hat trick to help the Ice Flyers top the IceGators 4-2 Thursday night in Louisiana. With the win, the Ice Flyers improve to 3-1 on the season. However, it was the home team that drew first blood in a very physical game.The IceGators struck first just four minutes into the game when Daryl Moore found the back of the net. The first goal of the game saw Ben Manny and Mark Miller assist on the play. However, the Ice Flyers countered.
With 6:05 remaining in the first period, Chris Rebernik scored a goal in a flurry in front of the net. Jesse Baraniuk and Trevor Karsiewicz assisted on the play to tie the game at one apiece. The power play goal brought Cam Lilley back out of the penalty box. With both teams at full strength, the back and forth game continued in the first period.
The game looked destined for a tie heading into the first intermission, but the IceGators' Danny Smith thought otherwise. With a minute and 43 seconds remaining in the first period, Smith took a shot that goalie Ryan Smith slowed down, but the puck continued slowly into the goal to give Louisiana a 2-1 lead.
The power play treated the Ice Flyers well again in the second period. Chris Rebernik scored his second goal of the night just outside of the crease to tie the game at 2. Taylor Hustead and Karsiewicz each picked up a point on the play.
Even before the second period was over both teams had sent six men to the penalty box, and three of the four goals in the game were on power plays. In fact, the third period was less than a minute old when Pensacola's Matt Withers was sent to the sin bin for hooking, his third trip of the night.
With 15:49 left in the third period, Chris Rebernik scored the Ice Flyers' first hat trick in franchise history to put Pensacola ahead 3-2. Chris Healey and Jesse Baraniuk assisted on the historic play.
"It felt good," Rebernik shared. "I'm just glad we won tonight." A good teammate, Rebernick did admit that "a hat trick makes it better, personally, but the win is what matters."
After the historic goal, Pensacola took a much more conservative approach to the game. Multiple IceGator attacks came up short while the contest took on a cleaner feel with less penalties.
With one minute to go in the game, one final penalty involved both teams: Frank Littlejohn of Louisiana and Penacola's Lorne Misita came to fisticuffs. The IceGators' crowd came alive, but it wouldn't change the outcome. In fact, Trevor Karsiewicz scored an empty net goal with 3.1 seconds remaining to make the final score Pensacola 3, Louisiana 2.
After the final faceoff the IceGators attacked the IceFlyers around center ice. The officials quickly put a stop to the fracas, and the players exited the ice peacefully, albeit with suspicion.
The Ice Flyers have their home opener on Friday when they host the Louisiana IceGators at the Civic Center at 7:05 p.m. More information and tickets are available at www.pensacolaiceflyers.com or by calling (850) 466-3111.
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