Ice Have Strong Showing in Fall Classic
September 14, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
It didn't count, but it was important. The Indiana Ice faced off with perennial USHL power, the Green Bay Gamblers, Saturday at the annual Fall Classic. Despite returning only five full-time skaters from the 2012-2013 roster, the Ice held their own before falling 2-1 in overtime to the Gamblers.
Nick Schmaltz tallied 34 seconds into the 3-on-3 overtime, but the Ice could look back and still see progress in the overhauled squad.
"We have a lot of new guys with a lot of skill," commented Indiana captain Tyler Pham. "Making a switch from youth hockey to the USHL is big."
"You have to get used to the pace and size of the skaters. I thought we pushed back after the first period and played better."
Indy shifted the momentum in the second period by getting to loose pucks and winning corner battles. The hard work paid off when Joe Sullivan buried a perfect pass from winger Mitch Hults at 3:10 of the second stanza. Mike Preston started the scoring sequence before Hults steered a feed to the goal Green Bay goal crease to tie the score at 1-1.
"Hults made a great pass," commented Sullivan. "I just stood near the crease and pushed it in."
After being outshot 10-5 in the opening stanza, the Ice threw 15 pucks on net in the middle 20 minutes. The defense throttled down the visitor offensive by holding the Gamblers to seven shots.
Green Bay got on the board first with a shorthanded goal 3:33 after the opening faceoff. Mitch Snyder did the damage for the Gamblers. The lead almost doubled when Drew Best got completely behind the Indy defense and his subsequent breakaway was stopped cold by Indiana goaltender Jason Pawloski.
The pipes were friendly to Pawloski as Green Bay hit iron three times in the contest including twice in the second period.
Indy returns to Pan Am Plaza for a Sunday matchup with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The puck drops at 5:45.
United States Hockey League Stories from September 14, 2013
- Lancers Storm Back, Drop Bucs 4-2 - Omaha Lancers
- Ice Have Strong Showing in Fall Classic - Indiana Ice
- Lumberjacks Hold off Late Roughriders Charge for First Preseason Victory - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Malone Hat Trick, Third Period Outburst, Earns Fighting Saints 7-2 Win over Chicago - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Let 3rd-Period Lead Slip Away against USA - Youngstown Phantoms
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