Lansing Tops Predators in Home Opener, 5-3
December 14, 2003 - International Independent Hockey League (IIHL)
Lansing Ice Nuts News Release
East Lansing, MI â Ethan Burnes and captain Adam River each scored a pair of goals Sunday night as the Lansing Ice Nuts defeated the Northern Michigan Predators, 2-1, in their International Independent Hockey League home opener at Munn Arena. Rivers also scored the game winning goal from Eric Patten at 11:59 of the third while Burnes added the empty net insurance from Rosty Saglo (3 assists) with 19- seconds remaining.
The Ice Nuts were pleased with the return of their captain Adam Rivers who missed the last two games with health issues. The return couldn't have been any timelier.
"Whenever you get your captain back, it's big," Lansing head coach Chris Blaisuis said following the game. "He has only played two games with us thus far and he has scored four goals. He's a great hockey player and we were glad to have him back tonight even though he was only seventy percent."
Lansing also unveiled a new addition Sunday as former Michigan State University assistant captain Damon Whitten signed a contract prior to the game. Whitten not only started the game and contributed with a first period assist but was also involved in a toe-to-toe fight with the Predators' Joe Pace (2 assists) and an altercation with Otto Visvader which drew a double minor on both players for roughing.
"(Whitten) is going to be a part time player for us," said Blaisuis. "I wish I had him full time, however, with his commitment to doing radio for the Michigan State hockey club it's not possible for him to play full time. But he got in a couple of scraps tonight which helped us out."
When asked where Whitten learned to fight as it obviously wasn't during his time at the collegiate level, Blaisuis laughed, "That's a good question. He surprised everybody that he could actually go."
The Predators opened the game scoring at 7:19 of the first when Visvader (goal, assist) scored from Pace. The Ice Nuts responded with two goals in a span of 2:07 as Burnes scored from Erroll McDonald and Tim Nelson on the power play at 11:27 followed by Rivers from Whitten and Saglo at 13:34 to put Lansing in front 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
The second period was all Predators though as Lansing got away from their game and were drastically outshot by Northern Michigan. Their play also reflected on the scoreboard as the Preds scored twice in the frame.
Lee Jenke (goal; assist) evened the contest with a power play goal from Dan Howard (goal; assist) and Pace at 8:31. Jenke returned the favor nearly three-minutes later when he set up Howard's goal at 11:25 to put Northern Michigan in front 3-2 after two periods of play.
The Ice Nuts, however, refused to go quietly into the night and responded with an unanswered third period, three-goal outburst which was kicked off by Matt Little's power play goal from Mike Bujdos and Saglo at 2:08.
The win extended Lansing's season-opening winning streak to four games as the Ice Nuts continue to find ways to win despite their banged up condition.
"We are not a healthy hockey club at all," said Blaisuis. "We have guys banged up and sick. Under those circumstances, the fact that we are 4-0-0 is a very good start for us."
Goaltender Glenn Ridler, who has the caption, "Riddle me this" on one side of his cage and a picture of the Riddler from Batman and Robin fame on the other side, picked up his third win between the pipes making 33 saves (.916 save percentage).
The Ice Nuts will be back in action next weekend with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at Munn Arena before taking a short holiday break. Puck drop for these games is 7:30 PM. Lansing also expects to unveil their new official logo Friday night.
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International Independent Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2003
- Lansing Tops Predators in Home Opener, 5-3 - Lansing Ice Nuts
- Perfect Nuts; Lansing Wins in Shootout, 2-1 - Lansing Ice Nuts
- Cats Move Into Third Place Despite Shootout Loss - Ohio Valley Ice Cats
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