Icemen Hold off South Carolina's Rally to Win Wild 7-6 Affair
December 27, 2024 - ECHL (ECHL)
Jacksonville Icemen News Release
JACKSONVILLE, FL - The South Carolina Stingrays scored four goals in the third period in an effort to rally from a 4-0 deficit, but the Icemen held on to prevail by a 7-6 count in front of 10,633 fans at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena Friday night. The Icemen have now scored seven goals in back-to-back games, following a 7-2 win at Atlanta on December 21.
The Icemen raced out of the gates in the opening frame, lighting the lamp three times as Brendan Harris, Davis Koch and Brody Crane all lit the lamp in the first period as the Icemen went into the first break leading 3-0.
In the second period, Harrs netted his second of the night when he drove to the net and swung around the outstretched and out-of-postioned goaltender and then lifted a shot high into the net for the tally to give the Icemen a 4-0 lead.
Moment later, South Carolina got on the board on Ryan Hofer's rebound chance to make it a 4-1 contest. However, the Icemen recorded a goal off the rebound when Chase Lang shoved in the second chance scoring opportunity to give Jacksonville a four-goal lead again.
In the closing minutes of the second, Erik Middendorf gave his team a spark before the close of the period, scoring his 10th tally of the season.
Middendorf's tally ignited an offensive burst for the Stingrays in the third period, as the refused to go away. Andrew Perrott scored three minutes into the period to make it a two-goal game at 5-3.
However, Jacksonville rookie blue liner Brayden Hislop wristed a shot from the high slot that cleanly hit the back of the net to give the Icemen a three-goal edge at 6-3. The goal was Hislop's first as a pro.
Nearly 45 seconds later, Justin Nachbaur scored off a rebound to make it a 6-4 game, and just over a minute after that, Perrott would take the faceoff win and drive uncontested to the net to slip a shot past Icemen goaltender Matt Vernon to pull the Stingrays with one at 6-5.
In the final minute, South Carolina pulled the goaltender to allow for the extra attacker, but the Icemen's Zack Jordan hurled a shot from the right wing into the empty-net to give the Icemen some breathing room with a 7-5 lead. The Icemen's comfort level diminished just 26 seconds later when Tyler Weiss scored a goal off the rebound to pull the stubborn Stingrays within one with 28 seconds remaining.
The Icemen were able to hold off the South Carolina push back and preserve the 7-6 victory. The Icemen now pull within one point of the second place Stingrays in the standings. Jacksonville now hits the road for a pair of games at Greenville on Saturday and Sunday.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 27, 2024
- Biakabutuka Is Overtime Hero in Return from Holiday Break - Tulsa Oilers
- Icemen Hold off South Carolina's Rally to Win Wild 7-6 Affair - Jacksonville Icemen
- Rush Offense Records Season-High, Runs Over Grizzlies 6-3 - Rapid City Rush
- Savannah Scores Late Goal, Defeats Norfolk, 5-3 - Norfolk Admirals
- Americans Third Period Rally Falls Short in Loss to KC - Allen Americans
- Lloyd Nets First Game Winner of his Career in OT Victory on Friday Night - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Defeat Grizzlies 6-3 at Maverik Center - Utah Grizzlies
- Cyclones Fall to Nailers 3-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Swamp Rabbits' Comeback Stifled in Overtime - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Mavericks Dominate Early, Hold off Americans for 5-2 Victory - Kansas City Mavericks
- Steelheads Grab a Point in 3-2 Overtime Loss vs. Thunder - Idaho Steelheads
- Railers Fall Short 2-1 to Royals - Worcester Railers HC
- Hawkins, Ness Score in Shootout as Toledo Defeats Iowa - Toledo Walleye
- Stingrays' Comeback Falls Just Short in Jacksonville - South Carolina Stingrays
- Everblades Shine On Both Ends In 2-1 Win Over Orlando - Florida Everblades
- Heartlanders Fall in Skills Competition to Walleye, 4-3 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Bison Drop Road Content in Kalamazoo - Bloomington Bison
- Nailers Hold on for Thrilling 3-2 Win - Wheeling Nailers
- K-Wings Pour It On, Take Down Bison Friday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Thunder Stumble Against Lions 6-2 - Adirondack Thunder
- Fuel Sell Out Friday Night, Fall To Komets - Indy Fuel
- ECHL Transactions - December 27 - ECHL
- Stingrays Sign Connor Lovie and Malik Johnson - South Carolina Stingrays
- Charles Martin, Trevor Janicke Recalled by Calgary Wranglers - Rapid City Rush
- Wright, McLaughlin, and LaFontaine All Called up to Coachella Valley - Kansas City Mavericks
- Orlando Solar Bears Road Game in South Carolina Rescheduled for February 8, 2025 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Game Day #24 - Adirondack Thunder vs. Lions de Trois-Rivières - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Americans Host KC on Friends Night - Allen Americans
- Rush Game Notes: December 27, 2024 at Utah Grizzlies - Rapid City Rush
- Grizzlies Gameday: December 27, 2024 - Rapid City at Utah - Utah Grizzlies
- Stingrays Announce February Game Date Change - South Carolina Stingrays
- Wichita Returns to Action Tonight vs. Idaho - Wichita Thunder
- Michael Simpson Recalled to Belleville Senators - Orlando Solar Bears
- Forward Micah Miller Recalled by Hershey Bears - South Carolina Stingrays
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.
