Rivermen Score OT Win over Defending Champs
November 28, 2014 - SPHL (SPHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
PEORIA - In his first game back in Peoria after his ECHL call-up, Ben Warda scored the game-winning goal seven seconds into overtime to give the Peoria Rivermen a 3-2 victory over the two-time defending champion Pensacola Ice Flyers on Friday night at Carver Arena.
Jordan Sims skated in on a breakaway off the face-off to begin overtime and his rebound was converted by Warda. Sims was in his first game back with the Rivermen after his call-up to the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads while Warda was back after his time with the Evansville IceMen.
Pensacola scored the only first period tally at the 9:06 mark on a Cody Ferreiro goal on assists from Adam Pawlick and Corey Banfield. The Rivermen tied the game 6:23 into the middle period on defenseman Richie Zobak's goal assisted by Kyle Fletcher and Sims, but the Ice Flyers took a 2-1 lead into the intermission just 1:07 after the Zobak goal on a lamp-lighter by Drew Baker assisted by Pawlick and Brett Lutes.
The Rivermen tied the game at 2-2 at 4:37 into the third on Jake Trask's fourth goal of the season assisted by Warda and Garrett Vermeersch, and the contest remained knotted until seven seconds into overtime with Warda's rebound goal.
Kyle Rank stopped 29 shots for the win while Max Strang took the loss despite making 49 saves. Pensacola scored both goals on power plays, going 2-for-3, while Peoria was 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
The Rivermen (8-3-1) and the Ice Flyers (8-2-1) are now tied for second in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings with 17 points, one behind the Knoxville Ice Bears.
The Rivermen and Ice Flyers rematch on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Carver Arena on Batman Night, with an appearance by the Caped Crusader and special Batman jerseys worn by the Rivermen and auctioned immediately after the game. The game can be heard inside Carver Arena on 93.7 FM and online at www.rivermen.net. All Rivermen games can be viewed via subscription through SPHLLive.com.
Single game tickets for Peoria's 33rd season of professional hockey are on sale weekdays at the Peoria Civic Center. Season ticket packages and group ticket options for the 2014-15 campaign are on sale now through the Rivermen office, located at 201 S.W. Jefferson Street, or over the phone at (309) 676-1040. For the latest Rivermen news and notes, follow online at www.rivermen.net or through Facebook ( www.facebook.com/PeoriaRivermen) and Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Peoria_Rivermen).
SPHL Stories from November 28, 2014
- Ice Bears Win in Shootout and Take over First Place - Knoxville Ice Bears
- Rivermen Score OT Win over Defending Champs - Peoria Rivermen
- IceGators Rebound with Win over Havoc - Louisiana IceGators
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