Knoxville Completes Weekend Sweep of IceGators
Published on March 2, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LouisianaThe road to the playoffs seems to keep growing longer for the Louisiana IceGators. The IceGators fell to the Knoxville IceBears Friday night by the score of 4-1. The IceGators have now lost eight of their last ten games. Despite Louisiana giving what might have been its most productive offensive outing in the last few weeks, Knoxville goalie Kyle Rank was almost impenetrable. Rank stopped 36 of Louisiana's 37 shots.
"I thought our work ethic was great," said IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski. "It was a very solid 60 minutes. When you put 37 shots on net, you think you're going to score more than one goal." Kaminski also pointed out fatal flaws in his team's performance. "On the other side of it, we gave up 2-on-1 and 3-on-2 opportunities. [Knoxville] is a good team with good skill, and you can't give them anything for free."
The IceGators did just that twice in the first period. Emery Olauson scored his first goal of the night and second of the weekend just 61 seconds into the contest. Olauson's score came in a two-on-one opportunity after he stripped the puck away from Ryan Pearson. Kevin Swider picked up an assist on the play. Ten minutes later, Kyle VanderMale scored on a play that mirrored the first goal. VanderMale stripped Robert Short of the puck and went on to score on a two-on-one. Mike Towns received credit for the assist. Tyler Fernandez cut the deficit to one with a wrist shot from point with about six minutes remaining in the first period. From there, it was all IceBears. Kyle VanderMale gave Knoxville a 3-1 lead with a shot in front of the goal midway through the second, while Olauson picked up his third score of the night on an empty net with seconds remaining in the game.
According to Kaminski, his team can win the rest of its games. "That's going to be our goal," he said. "We need to eliminate our mistakes, capitalize on our chances, and find ways to win instead of ways to lose." He added that this weekend's games are a good starting point for the IceGators to return to their winning ways. "I think we have to keep on believing," he said. "We did a lot of good things these last two games. We just have to keep believing in the systems. We have to find the confidence and swagger to know that we are going to win. I know it's frustrating right now, but with the work ethic we're playing right now, you are going to get rewarded eventually."
The IceGators return to the Cajundome next weekend. The IceGators host the Mississippi Surge next Friday night. The History Channel's Troy and Jacob Landry from the television show "Swamp People" will be in attendance. Then the IceGators take on the Mississippi RiverKings at the Frozen Swamp next Saturday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:05 P. M. Special ticket prices are available for both games.
SPHL Stories from March 2, 2012
- Surge get past Huntsville - Mississippi Surge
- Knoxville Completes Weekend Sweep of IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- RiverKings Drop Second Straight to Pensacola - Mississippi RiverKings
- Game Preview - Ice Flyers at Mississippi RiverKings - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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