Surge Earn Win over Knoxville 6-5
Published on January 5, 2012 under SPHL (SPHL)
Mississippi Surge News Release
For the second time in 10 days the Mississippi Surge has defeated a team that was in first place in the Southern Professional Hockey League after a 6-5 win over the Knoxville Ice Bears Thursday night in Knoxville. The Surge also became the first visiting team to win in Knoxville this season, as the Ice Bears had been 12-0-0 at home heading into Thursday's game.
The same two teams meet Friday night at the Coast Coliseum at 7:05.
Jeff Grant scored two goals for the Surge, only 44 seconds apart in the last 1:35 of the game to turn a 5-4 deficit into the 6-5 win. The six goals is a season high for the Surge. Missisippi had defeated Augusta back on December 27th when the RiverHawks were in first. Knoxville and Agusta began Thursday tied for first. Augusta defeated Huntsville Thursday to regain sole possession of first place.
Grant's late dramatics overshadowed a hat trick performance by Knoxville's Emery Olauson. He opened the scoring at 8:06 in the first period. Eric Satim gave Knoxville a 2-0 lead before the first period ended.
The Surge erupted for a season high four goal second period. But even still could do no better than manage a tie after 40 minutes. Scott Jenks started the Surge outburst with a power play goal at 4:28. The Surge's leading scorer Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn continued his hot scoring lately, with his fourth goal in the past three games that tied the game 2-2. Olauson's second goal put the Ice Bears back on top until Matt Kinnunen and Nick Guran scored to give the Surge its first lead of the game at 4-3. But before the wild second period ended Ice Bear veteran Kevin Swider knotted the game at 4.
Olauson completed his hat trick, on a delayed penalty putting Knoxville back on top early in the third period. Grant's power play goal at 18:25 was the Surge's third with the man advantage. He then salted away the victory with 51 seconds left.
SPHL Stories from January 5, 2012
- RiverHawks Recover First Place with Victory Over Huntsville - Augusta RiverHawks
- Surge Earn Win over Knoxville 6-5 - Mississippi Surge
- 1450 ESPN and Ice Flyers Announce Broadcast Revision - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Season Tickets On-Sale Now - Mississippi RiverKings
- Surge Visit Ice Flyers - Mississippi Surge
- Game Preview - Ice Flyers Vs. IceGators - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Ice Flyers Name December Players of the Month - Pensacola Ice Flyers
- Pensacola's Steve Christie Named SPHL's SBK Player of the Month - SPHL
- RiverKings Excited to Host 'Elvis Night' January 6 - Mississippi RiverKings
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