Delisle Hat Trick Helps RiverKings Beat IceGators
January 4, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
LAFAYETTE, La.--The Louisiana IceGators were victims of a case of dejÃÂ vu Sunday night.
Once again, the IceGators had the Mississippi RiverKings on the ropes in the Cajundome midway through the match. Once again, the IceGators allowed four straight goals late in the game en route to losing to the RiverKings 6-4.
Dan Delisle led the RiverKings with a hat trick. Sean Jones scored two of the other Mississippi goals.
The teams meet again Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. in the Cajundome.
"I thought we played a halfway decent first period after a terrible start--again," said IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli. "We were able to salvage a tie going into the second period. We then got to the game plan, came out looking fresh, and were able to go up 3-1. The next shift allowed a very weak goal on a mental breakdown, and we never rebounded from that."
The teams traded goals in the first period.
Leo Thomas scored his seventh goal of the year with a slapshot from the left point 57 seconds into the game. The IceGators responded 48 seconds later with a Luke Kasteel goal from in front of the net.
The IceGators then seemed to gain momentum.
They took a 2-1 lead 12 seconds into the second period off a Brett Peppler score. Shawn McNeil added another goal at the 9:25 mark after he deked Mississippi goalie Peter DiSalvo.
Then the RiverKings roared back.
Delisle and Jones scored twice in the final half of the second period to tie the game going into the second intermission. The pair tacked on two more goals in the first 10 minutes of the third period to put the RiverKings ahead 5-3.
Brett Peppler's goal with 2:32 left in the game gave the IceGators a chance at a comeback, but Delisle's empty-netter with 1:01 left sealed the victory and his hat trick.
"I thought we played very soft perimeter hockey in the second half of the game," Omicioli said "(The RiverKings) outworked us, out-battled us, and wanted more than we did again. I give them all the credit in the world because they wait on our mental lapses, which occur way too frequently, and they capitalize on them."
Omicioli says tonight's game is more evidence that he needs to reshuffle his line-up by finding new players for the team.
"Tonight proves to me that we don't have the right players," Omicioli said. "I've said it before, but we don't have the right make-up of a championship team. We don't have guys who are willing to pay the price on a consistent basis.
"I really think that we need a new look, a new approach, and new guys who can play a system and play it to a "T" and want to be effective in the roles that they are given. The most ideal player or players a coach can have are players who are so hungry that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win. We do not have that at all. We have some players that carry that trait, and we have some that are so far off the map that they've left us with no choice (but to make personnel changes)."
SPHL Stories from January 4, 2015
- Delisle Hat Trick Sparks 6-4 RiverKings Win - Mississippi RiverKings
- Delisle Hat Trick Helps RiverKings Beat IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Flyers Fall 3-1 to Cottonmouths in Front of Sellout Crowd - Pensacola Ice Flyers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
