IceGators Win in Return to Cajundome
February 19, 2016 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
LAFAYETTE, La. - There's no place like home.
Judy Garland's classic line perfectly describes the emotions of the Louisiana IceGators, who, after spending the last six weeks playing the road, returned to the Cajundome Friday night and beat the Huntsville Havoc 3-1.
John Daniels led the team with his first-ever Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring the IceGators first goal, assisting on the game-winner, and brawling with Huntsville's John Lidgett midway through the game. Goalie Adam Courchaine was also amazing, stopping 27 of 28 Huntsville shots.
The IceGators and the Havoc meet again in the Cajundome Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.
"Obviously, it's great to be back home," said IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli. "The crowd was great and loud tonight, and we fed off of that. We needed these two points to keep climbing up the ladder. We need these games especially because Huntsville is ahead of us.
"We had a number of phenomenal Grade-A opportunities, but it truly was a goalie dual tonight. (Huntsville goalie Ryan) de Melo and Courchaine played extremely well tonight. Daniels played awesome tonight, as well. (Jeremy) Boyer, (Jake) Hauswirth, and (Luke) Sandler did their jobs, especially after we went down to eight forwards. I'm proud of (Alex) Hudson for sticking up for his teammates during the scrum early in the game. I thought my guys did a great job of protecting each other."
The teams kept the fans roused despite going scoreless in the first two periods, engaging in four fights in the first 40 minutes.
The IceGators turned their aggression into goals in the third period.
Daniels put Louisiana on the scoreboard 45 second into the final frame with a quick shot in front of the net off a Hauswirth feed from the low right point.
Huntsville capitalized on a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty called against the IceGators midway through the period. Scott Henegar tied the game by tipping in a John Lidgett shot with 9:31 left in the game.
The IceGators bounced back quickly. Sandler scored a beauty of a goal with 2:51 remaining in the game from point blank range off a Daniels feed from the corner.
Boyer iced the game with an empty-netter with 1:01 left in the contest.
"We knew this would be a tight game and a tight battle, but we did everything well," Omicioli said. "We had some opportunities where we didn't execute, but we have to get back to what we did in Peoria to make those chances work. Case in point: We had an opportunity to score on an open net. We missed out on a drop pass, and Huntsville comes back down ice and scores.'
Omicioli says his team must enjoy this win, but, he says, they must focus on what's at stake in Saturday's rematch.
"(Saturday's) game is a huge game for us," Omicioli said. "We can get within three points of them with two games in hand. Those two points on the line tomorrow night are enormous. We need to establish the Cajundome as a difficult place for other teams to play. We need a few more wins to do that, but tonight is a good step in the right direction."
SPHL Stories from February 19, 2016
- Historic Night for Mayhem - Macon Mayhem
- IceGators Win in Return to Cajundome - Louisiana IceGators
- Rivermen Announce Promotions for Weekend Series with Knoxville - Peoria Rivermen
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