IceGators Rebound with Win over Augusta
February 2, 2013 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, Louisiana--After an embarrassing loss Friday night, the Louisiana IceGators were looking to reclaim the zest that filled their play in late December and early January.
They found that zest and outworked the Augusta RiverHawks to claim a 6-3 victory. Matt Robertson picked up two goals and an assist. Tyler Lyon contributed four assists.
The victory is also the IceGators' first-ever win against Augusta.
IceGator coach Kevin Kaminski says his team's composure was the key to victory. "We knew they had the momentum," he said. "We knew we had to take it back. We countered their physicality with physical play of our own."
"I think the guys knew we let [Friday] night's game slip away," he added. "We got complacent after we took the lead. Tonight, we kept the foot on the gas and put them away."
The IceGators will have to keep their feet on the accelerator, as they will play four games in the next six days. First up are the Mississippi Surge, who the IceGators play twice during that stretch. The first game will be played Tuesday in Biloxi. The second game will take place Thursday in the Cajundome. Both games start at 7:05 P. M.
Louisiana scored the first four goals of the night. Robertson scored his first goal 2:32 into the game on a powerplay. Cody Zubko scored seven minutes later after he deflected a Kevin Brojek shot past goalie Robert Moss.
Robertson scored his second goal of the night off a feed from Matt Miller at 1:17 of the second period. A few minutes later, Marc-André Carré recorded his first goal since December 26 to make the score 4-0. Troy Ofukany recorded his first assist with the IceGators on the play.
Augusta did not go down without a fight. Myles McCauley scored two consecutive goals--one in the second period and another in the third--to cut the Louisiana lead in half. Jason Price also added a goal late in the game. However, a Robert Lawrence score and a Jordan Foreman empty-netter sealed the IceGators' victory.
Kaminski spoke highly of Robertson's efforts. "Rob's got a knack around the net," he said. "His second goal was an absolutely unbelievable shot. He picked his way through traffic and put it above the goalie's shoulder. We called that shot 'water bottle service' because it knocked the goalie's bottle off the net."
Kaminski was also pleased with Carré's return to form. "Marc was more involved tonight," he said. "He skated much better, completed his checks, got into a fight, and was good on faceoffs. He was a guy we needed to step up, and he did. I think he knows that he's got more to do, but this is a good start to get out of a slump. Now he has to build off it."
"The guys meant business tonight," he added "Tonight's performance was like night and day from [Friday] night. We were hungrier, and our effort was much better. When you have your legs--your moneymakers--going and skate well, you will win big. We did it tonight."
SPHL Stories from February 2, 2013
- IceGators Rebound with Win over Augusta - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Flyers Lose 3-2 in a Shootout to the Surge - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- 'Kings Shut Out by Columbus - Mississippi RiverKings
- Win, the Ice Bears Did - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Surge get past Pensacola - Mississippi Surge
- RiverHawks Fall to Ice Gators, 6-3 - Augusta RiverHawks
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