IceGators Knock off Thunder
November 22, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, La. - Dorothy said it best in the Wizard of Oz: There's no place like home.
After a two-week road trip, the Louisiana IceGators returned to the Cajundome Friday night and resumed their winning ways, defeating the Bloomington Thunder 4-2. The victory also gives the IceGators a measure of revenge against the Thunder, who defeated Louisiana in two straight games last weekend in Bloomington.
The teams close their four-game series Saturday night in the Cajundome. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
"I thought it was a solid team win," IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski said. "I thought Peppler, MacLeod, Grant, and Duplantis did a great job against Bloomington's top line. They did a great job of shutting that line down, and they scored a few goals and picked up a couple of assists.
"They played a hell of a game to keep (Bloomington) off the score sheet."
The IceGators jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first period. Brett Peppler scored at the 2:37 mark, while Jeremy Boyer recorded a goal 9:12 into the game.
Bloomington cut the Louisiana lead to one when Kyle Watson scored at the 9:23 mark of the second period.
The IceGators regained their two-goal advantage 91 seconds into the third period thanks to a Jeff Grant score.
The Thunder would not go quietly. Kevin Walrod registered a goal with 11 minutes remaining in the game.
However, the IceGators sealed the Thunder's fate when Grant scored an empty-netter with nine seconds left in the contest.
"I thought we had them with high energy in the first and third periods," Kaminski said. "We teetered in the second. We gave both goals to them on turnovers. However, the guys were resilient and responded with big, timely goals."
Kaminski says his team must continue playing physical hockey against Bloomington to sweep the second leg of the series.
"We have to stick to the plan again," Kaminski said. "Tonight, we hit them all night, and that's the way we have to play. We have to get the puck deep and wear them down."
SPHL Stories from November 22, 2013
- Salvis Leads Ice Flyers Past Rivermen in Shootout - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Flyers Win in Shootout 3-2 - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Surge Best RiverKings in Shootout for Mississippi Bowl Title - Mississippi Surge
- IceGators Knock off Thunder - Louisiana IceGators
- Gurtler Scores Hat Trick As Havoc Wins - Huntsville Havoc
- RiverKings Start Strong; Fall in Shootout - Mississippi RiverKings
- IceGators Avenge Losses to Thunder - Bloomington Thunder
- The Surge Scoop - Mississippi Surge
- Winger Matt Viola Added to Rivermen Lineup - Peoria Rivermen
- Ice Bears Falter at Home - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Ice Flyers' Star Not "Good" for Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
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.
