Gators Fly by Pilots

November 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release


Pensacola, FL– The Louisiana IceGators and Pensacola may have just developed into the hottest rivalry in the ECHL. In Todd Gordon's return to Pensacola, it was the IceGators using their special team to earn a 6-4 victory.

The tone for this game was set early as the two teams exchanges words and shoves during pre game warmup. The game started off just as hot, at the 50 second mark of the game Randy Dagenais' slap shot was redirected by Wes Mason past Frederic Cloutier to give the Gators a 1-0 lead. It was Mason's 3rd goal of the season. Corey Neilson answered with a wrist shot at the 1:40 mark. Then on a 5-3power play, Mike Omicioli scored his first goal of the game, a top shelf one- timer to give the Gators a 2-1 advantage. The Gators out shot the Ice Pilots 14-12 in the first period.

In the 2nd period, the two teams continued the offensive assault with each team tallying twice. Mike Omicioli's 2nd power play goal of the game, a deflection off an Ice Pilot's defensemen put the Gators up 3-1. But goals by Bill Kinkel and Cam Keith tied the game midway through the period. With 24.3 seconds to play, Max Fortunus put Louisiana up for good. Taking a behind the back pass from Omicioli, the 2nd year defenseman ripped a wrist shot high past the glove of Cloutier to give Louisiana a 4-3 lead after two.

David Bararuk's first goal of the season, a two on one wrist shot from the right circle, gave the Gators a 5-3 lead with under 12 minutes to play. That goal would turn out to be the game winner as Jordan Krestanovich cut the lead to one with 3:57 to play. Alex Materukhin would seal the victory for the visitor's as he stole a cross ice pass and walked in alone on an empty net with 7 seconds to play, capping a 6-4 victory, Materukhin scoring in his first game back in an IceGators uniform.

Kyle Kettles stopped 31 of 35 Pensacola shots for his first win of the year. Mike Omicioli tallied 2 goal and 2 assists for the Gators first 4 point game of the season. The Gators were 2-5 on the power play while Pensacola was 0-5. The Gators have not allowed a power play goal so far this season.

The home opener for the Louisiana IceGators 10th anniversary season is tomorrow night, November 6, 2004, when the Gators host the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Tickets for this night and all IceGators home games are available now. For more information call the IceGators office at (337) 234-4423.



ECHL Stories from November 5, 2004


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