Series Preview: Pensacola, Peoria Rivalry Manifests Again with Championship on the Line
Published on April 29, 2016 under SPHL (SPHL)
Pensacola Ice Flyers News Release
The Peoria and Pensacola hockey rivalry has always been intense, going back to the Rivermen's days in the ECHL against the Pensacola Ice Pilots. The two cities don't meet as often as some others but the games are always heated.
Now the Ice Flyers and the Rivermen will renew hostilities in the Southern Professional Hockey League's first best-of-five President's Cup Final since 2011 when the Mississippi Surge swept the Augusta RiverHawks.
The Rivermen finished the regular season in first place for the second season in a row and had to get past the Macon Mayhem and Fayetteville FireAntz to reach their first ever President's Cup Final. They faltered in Game One of Round One against Macon but then rattled off four straight wins to close out the Macon series and sweep Fayetteville.
The Rivermen broke the SPHL's regular season wins and points records, previously held by the 2013-14 Ice Flyers team, and finished the 2015-16 season with a record of 39-12-5 for 83 points. However, despite Peoria dominance over the rest of the league, Pensacola won the regular season series 5-3-0. That includes 2-3-0 in Peoria's Carver Arena and a perfect 3-0-0 inside the Hangar.
Who's hot?
Joey Holka, RW, Pensacola: 3 G, 2 A, E in 2016 playoffs
Corey Banfield, LW, Pensacola: 2 G, 3 A, +3 in 2016 playoffs
Anthony Calabrese, D, Pensacola: 1 G, 4 A, +5 in 2016 playoffs
Adam Stuart, C, Peoria: 1 G, 4 A, +1 in 2016 playoffs
Brandon Greenside, D, Peoria: 0 G, 3 A, +4 in 2016 playoffs
Alec Hagaman, RW, Peoria: 2 G, 1 A, +2 in 2016 playoffs
In the Nets
Pensacola:
John McLean: 5 GP, 4-1-0, 2.00 GAA, 0.940 SV% against Peoria during the regular season
Matt Zenzola: 2 GP, 1-1-0, 2.00 GAA, 0.938 SV% against Peoria during the regular season
Peoria:
David Jacobson: 3 GP, 0-3-0, 3.69 GAA, 0.904 SV% against Pensacola during the regular season (includes one game with Macon)
Kyle Rank: 4 GP, 1-3-0, 2.01 GAA, 0.942 SV% against Pensacola during the regular season
Regular Season Series Leaders
Goals: Stephen Buco and Joe Caveney, Pensacola (5)
Assists: Adam Pawlick, Pensacola (6)
Points: Adam Pawlick, Pensacola (8)
Special Teams
Just as the Rivermen finished first in the standings, Peoria had the SPHL's best power play unit during the regular season checking in at 16.54%. That efficiency led to leading the league with 44 power play goals (Pensacola was second with 39). Their penalty kill unit didn't have quite the same success. While they led the league in shorthanded goals with 10, their kill percentage was fourth in the league at 85.66%.
Peoria's special teams have been strong during the postseason. They've scored four power play goals on 21 chances for 19.05% but they also allowed Macon to score a shorthanded goal in Game Three of Round One before ultimately closing out the series. They've been perfect on 24 penalty kills and have scored a shorthanded goal as well.
Pensacola is right behind with four goals on 22 power plays (18.18%) and the Ice Flyers have not allowed a shorthanded goal. Pensacola has, however, allowed four goals while on the penalty kill 20 times (80.00%).
SPHL Stories from April 29, 2016
- Ftorek Named First Head Coach In Rail Yard Dawgs History - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- Series Preview: Pensacola, Peoria Rivalry Manifests Again with Championship on the Line - Pensacola Ice Flyers
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