SPHL Pensacola Ice Flyers

Buccella Leads Ice Flyers' Comeback Victory over Augusta, 4-3

Published on March 15, 2013 under SPHL (SPHL)
Pensacola Ice Flyers News Release


Pensacola, Fla. - The Pensacola Ice Flyers began the last week and a half of their regular season on Friday night against the Augusta RiverHawks. Dan Buccella led the comeback with a hat trick, forcing overtime and then a shoot out. Ice Flyers goalie Gerry Festa redeemed himself only letting in one goal on four shots, while his teammates scored three times on four shots to complete the comeback and win 4-3.

Buccella scored his first goal of the night just 2:56 into the game. This cued the bunnies as they flooded the ice for the Bunny Toss benefitting the Sacred Heart Children's Hospital.

Augusta would take control of the game in the second period. Marcus Pryde scored their first goal 2:44 into the second period. Jesse Echternach made it 2-1 for Augusta at 8:49 of the second. Then with one minute remaining on the clock, Drew Baker fired a slap shot that beat Festa, and the RiverHawks took a 3-1 lead into the final period.

Buccella went back to work, scoring his second of the game 4:37 into the third. After drawing a slashing penalty late in the game, Buccella was sent back out for the final minute. The puck bounced from player to player, and Buccella was able to control it and score his hat trick goal, which tied the game at 3 and eventually sent it to over time.

Five minutes of over time solved nothing, so the game would be decided in a shoot out. Mike MacIntyre, Justin MacDonald and Brad Cooper all scored for the Ice Flyers, while Augusta captain Matt Auffrey was the only RiverHawk to beat Festa. The shoot out ended after four shooters, and the comeback was complete when Festa turned aside Augusta's Joe Schiller.

Pensacola outshot Augusta 59-27 and went 1-for-2 on the power play, while Augusta went 0-for-1.

Pensacola hosts the Mississippi RiverKings Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. and then the Louisiana IceGators Sunday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. Augusta wraps up their weekend on Saturday night in Louisiana.

Florida Lottery 3 Stars of the Game:

1st Star: Dan Bucculla (PNS)

2nd Star: Justin MacDonald (PNS)

3rd Star: Brandon Foote (AUG)

Check out the Pensacola Ice Flyers Statistics

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SPHL Stories from March 15, 2013


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