IceGators Beat Rivermen in Shootout
January 18, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Peoria, Ill.--Bret Peppler capped off his impressive weekend in grand style.
Peppler, who scored three goals in the first two games of the Louisiana IceGators' road trip, scored the game-winner Sunday night to give the IceGators a 4-3 victory over the Peoria Rivermen in a shootout.
The IceGators will now head to Alabama for a two-game set against the Huntsville Havoc. The first game will take place Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
"What a way to end the weekend," said IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli. "Again, we had two guys out, but we outworked and outbattled the Rivermen and came through with a huge shootout win. Our goal for the second half of the season is to have at least 20 wins. We're 2-0-1 to start and picked up five of six points this weekend, so we're moving in the right direction."
The IceGators and the Rivermen engaged in a see-saw battle throughout the game.
Jake Hauswirth scored at the 10:34 mark of the first period to put Louisiana ahead 1-0 going into the first intermission.
Alex Hudson tied the game at the 3:20 mark of the second period. The IceGators regained the lead with 3:41 left in the frame.
Peoria took a 3-2 lead midway through the third period thanks to back-to-back Alec Hagaman goals. The IceGators knotted the score with 6:18 left in regulations when Chris Wilson scored off assists from Clark Byczynski and Benjamin Rubin.
Garrett Vermeersch gave Peoria an early 1-0 lead after the first round of the shootout, but unanswered goals from Hauswirth, Peppler, and Shawn McNeil in the succeeding rounds sealed the IceGator victory.
After the game, Omicioli responded to comments Peoria head coach Jean-Guy Trudel made to the Peoria Journal Star following Saturday's game.
"Trudel pointed out that I was a mediocre player without ever seeing me play," Omicioli said. "This weekend, we showed that he is a mediocre coach, and we all got to witness it first-hand."
Despite the heated exchanges between the coaches during the series, Omicioli was quick to point out that the players determined the outcome of the games.
"This weekend was about these two teams battling for wins, not about two coaches and trash talking," Omicioli said. "We took the higher road today, and it paid off. Now we're on to Huntsville looking to pick up four points."
SPHL Stories from January 18, 2015
- Loewen Leads Columbus to Shutout Victory over Pensacola - Columbus Cottonmouths
- Early Goals Give RiverKings 2-1 Win in Huntsville - Mississippi RiverKings
- IceGators Beat Rivermen in Shootout - Louisiana IceGators
- Rivermen Fall in Shootout in Back-And-Forth Affair - Peoria Rivermen
- 4-3 Loss in Knoxville Puts Ice Flyers in Second - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Rivermen Edge IceGators in OT - Louisiana IceGators
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