
Overtime Thriller Sees Icemen Edge Solar Bears 3-2
February 28, 2021 - ECHL (ECHL)
Jacksonville Icemen News Release
Jacksonville, FL - Craig Martin scored at the 3:28 mark of overtime to secure a 3-2 comeback win against the Orlando Solar Bears at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday evening. With the win, the Icemen and Solar Bears have traded wins this weekend, with the final game of the tripleheader coming up on Sunday.
After a relatively slow start with both teams generating some offensive zone time, the momentum shifted when Cameron Critchlow was taken out by a huge Mark Auk hit at the 7-minute mark of the first period. Critchlow would later return in the period, but not before the Solar Bears capitalize on their first powerplay opportunity. The puck bounced towards Aaron Luchuk on the right side boards who fired a one-timer perfectly past Kyle Keyser into a wide open net.
The Icemen got off to a fast start in the 2nd period with a few solid rush chances but ultimately were not able to capitalize. That all changed when Nick Saracino picked up a loose puck in front of the bench and sniped a wicked wrister past the Solar Bears' Michael Lackey on a clean break. The Icemen later found themselves shorthanded, but with the penalty expiring, Mike Szmatula found himself on a breakaway and notched himself an assist after Brendan Warren buried the rebound past a sprawling Lackey. However, the lead would not last for long, as Orlando fired a flurry of shots on Keyser who was not able to stop a slot shot from Tristan Langan.
The third period was filled with special teams action as both teams got multiple powerplay opportunities. The Icemen could not convert on their powerplays early in the period, and neither could the Solar Bears. The best scoring chance came from Ara Nazarian as he received a pass straight out of the penalty box but was denied on the breakaway by Lackey. The Icemen were mired in penalty trouble late in the period, including a double minor high-sticking penalty by Pascal Aquin with just over 2 minutes left in the third.
The penalty kill unit was able to hold their own and force the game into overtime, where they subsequently killed off the remainder of the high sticking penalty. With the overtime play temporarily at 4-on-4, Aquin and Craig Martin rushed towards the Solar Bears' goal on a 2-on-1, and Aquin fed a textbook cross-crease pass to Martin for the easy tap in, giving the Icemen the 3-2 win.
The Icemen and Solar Bears meet again tomorrow for the third day in a row at 3pm before the Icemen depart for 3 straight games at South Carolina.
ECHL Stories from February 28, 2021
- Mavs Handle Business in Tulsa, Win 5-2 Sunday - Kansas City Mavericks
- Wichita Avoids Sweep with Game 3 Win on Sunday - Rapid City Rush
- Mavericks Defeat Oilers in Rubber Match - Tulsa Oilers
- Weninger, Beauregard Shine in Win vs. Rapid City - Wichita Thunder
- Wheeling Defeats Utah 6-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Nailers Pound Grizzlies, 6-1 - Wheeling Nailers
- Solar Bears Shine over Icemen with 4-1 Win - Jacksonville Icemen
- Overtime Thriller Sees Icemen Edge Solar Bears 3-2 - Jacksonville Icemen
- Coughler lifts Solar Bears to 4-1 win with hat trick - Orlando Solar Bears
- Komets Hand Indy Back to Back Losses - Indy Fuel
- ECHL Transactions - February 28 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Preview: February 28, 2021 Utah at Wheeling - Utah Grizzlies
- Special Teams Leads Greenville over Allen - Allen Americans
- Rabbits Take Two of Three over Americans, Win 6-4 on Saturday Night - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Mavericks Defeat Tulsa on Front Line Workers Night - Kansas City Mavericks
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.
Other Recent Jacksonville Icemen Stories
- Icemen Announce 2025 Protected List of Players
- Icemen Named Finalists for Six ECHL Awards
- EY US Unveils Andy Kaufmann as an Entrepreneur of the Year® 2025 Florida Award Finalist
- Icemen Remove Interim Tag from Sean Teakle & Garret Cockerill
- Icemen Announce 2025-2026 Regular Season Game Schedule

