IceGators Win Second Straight over Rivermen
November 21, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
John Daniels of the Louisiana IceGators
(Louisiana IceGators)
Peoria, Ill. - For the second night in a row, the Louisiana IceGators relied on solid goaltending and 60 minutes of steady play to beat the Peoria Rivermen.
Saturday's performance, however, was the first this season in which the team's offense truly clicked.
Johnny Daniels, who returned to the IceGators line-up this weekend following an injury, put on a scoring clinic, recording a hat trick to lead Louisiana to a 5-2 victory over the Rivermen. Goaltender Adam Courchaine was masterful between the pipes once again, stopping 40 Peoria shots.
The IceGators and the Rivermen will face off in the third game of the weekend series tomorrow at 3:05.
"Another great team win for us tonight," IceGators head coach Drew Omicioli said. "I was beyond pleased with our effort. I felt we controlled the tempo. Overall, we played hard and got the result we wanted."
Daniels asserted himself in the first period. He scored his first two goals within four minutes of each other- one at the 10:10 mark and the other at 13:47- to put Louisiana ahead 2-0 going into the first intermission.
The second period was a see-saw battle. Geordie Wudrick put Louisiana ahead by three when he scored off a Jake Hauswirth helper at the 8:14 mark of the second period. Peoria's Alec Hagaman capitalized on a power play to put the Rivermen on the board with 3:01 left in the middle frame. Louisiana responded quickly, as Dylan Hood scored with two seconds left in the period to give Louisiana a 4-1 lead.
Former IceGator Adam Stuart cut the Peoria deficit to two goals on a power play score five minutes into the third period. Courchaine's goaltending kept the Rivermen at bay the rest of the game.
Daniels tacked on an empty-netter with three seconds left in the contest to complete his hat trick. However, emotions from both teams boiled over, leading to a brawl on the ice before the final horn.
"The end of the game was out of hand," Omicioli said. Our tempers flared. We need to be disciplined and stay out of that stuff at the end of games."
Omicioli says he hopes his team saved some of that aggression and emotion for Sunday's game.
"With all the chirping, it's going to get heated," Omicioli said. "[Sunday] will be another hard-fought game."
Images from this story
 Geordie Wudrick of the Louisiana IceGators Shoots again the Peoria Rivermen |
 John Daniels of the Louisiana IceGators |
SPHL Stories from November 21, 2015
- Havoc Come back to Down Ice Flyers 3-2 in Shootout - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- IceGators Win Second Straight over Rivermen - Louisiana IceGators
- Ice Bears Drop Home Game to Cottonmouths - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Mayhem Prevails over Fayetteville, 4-3 - Macon Mayhem
- November 21 Game Notes vs Louisiana - Peoria Rivermen
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