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Polar Twins drop exciting one, 6-5

January 6, 2005 - SPHL (SPHL)
Winston-Salem Polar Twins News Release


[WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.] – Brad McDonald had the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Huntsville Havoc over the Winston-Salem Polar Twins 6-5 Thursday night in Southern Professional Hockey League action. Troy Ilijow was the high scorer for the Polar Twins with two goals and two assists.

Geoff Rollins put the Polar Twins on the board only 1:24 into the game with his sixth goal of the season. Rollins entered the zone on the left wing side and got in close enough to shovel a backhander under the pads of Huntsville goaltender Matt Carmichael for the 1-0 lead. Bill Cass and Troy Ilijow were credited with the assists on the play.

Huntsville came back to tie it at the 5:37 mark of the first frame. Jeff Dams beat his man at the top of the right faceoff circle and beat Jomar Cruz over the left shoulder for his seventh of the season from McDonald and a 1-1 game. Corey Dean scored with three minutes left in the opening period for a 2-1 Havoc lead heading into intermission.

In the second period, the Polar Twins got another quick start, scoring only 31 seconds into the frame to tie the game 2-2. Troy Ilijow beat Carmichael for his fifth goal of the season from Rollins and Brett Cross to even the score. Ilijow then capitalized on a two-man advantage late in the period to regain the lead for the Polar Twins, 3-2. Marcus WillyÂ’s assist on the play was his first since November 21.

Huntsville came back in the third, netting one only 41 seconds into the period. Josh Liebenow rifled a shot from inside the right faceoff circle that beat Cruz low to the stick side tie it up at 3-3. Steve Howard and Doug Merrell added goals, both on four-on-four situations, for a 5-3 Huntsville lead midway through the third.

Jason Bone brought the Polar Twins within one at 12:02 of the third, muscling to the net from deep in the right corner to backhand his second goal of the season past Carmichael for a 5-4 game. Brett Cross tied the game with five seconds left in the third period to bring the game to overtime where HuntsvilleÂ’s McDonald got the game winner for the 6-5 final.

Friday the Polar Twins will travel to Jacksonville before returning home Saturday for NASCAR Night featuring special racing-themed jerseys which fans will have the opportunity to bid on during the game. The Twins and FireAntz face off at 7:30 p.m. All fans attending the Fitness 500 earlier in the day will receive a $2 discount off the regular ticket price with their Fitness 500 ticket.

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