Game Notes | Pensacola Ice Flyers

Ice Flyers Comeback Attempt In Home Finale Foiled By Macon Mayhem In 4-3 Loss

greg — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 01:08:56 +0000

By Bill Vilona

IceFlyers.com Correspondent

The Ice Flyers were hoping their scheduled home finale would put an Easter Sunday bow on a season of record-setting attendance and fan experience memories.

But the Macon Mayhem had other ideas.

On an afternoon that followed Macon’s overtime win Saturday night at Birmingham — thwarting the Bulls from clinching the league regular-season crown — the Mayhem jumped to a 4-1 lead in the second period Sunday and held on for a 4-3 victory against the Ice Flyers at the Pensacola Bay Center.

A crowd of 3,609 on Friends and Family Day boosted the Ice Flyers season attendance to 148,588 for the 28-game home schedule. It was by far the largest season attendance in the team’s 15-year franchise history.

Unfortunately for the Ice Flyers, they weren’t able to close it out with a win. They will now finish the 56-game schedule on the road next weekend at Fayetteville, which is battling to hold on to fourth place and home-ice for the first round of the playoffs.

Both teams were playing in their third game in three days. The Ice Flyers (25-25,4 OT losses) split their two-game series against Evansville the previous nights at the Bay Center, while Macon (15-32, 7 OT losses), which is battling with Knoxville to stay out of last place in the 10-team Southern Professional Hockey League, split two games at Birmingham.

“We got outplayed by a team that shouldn’t have outplayed us,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “It’s unacceptable. It was a very disappointing weekend to lose two home games. I care a lot about it. It’s frustrating. I just don’t feel that level was there (Sunday) from our group.”

The game recap:

FIRST PERIOD

The game’s first penalty led to the Ice Flyers first goal.

Macon’s Sacha Roy was whistled for tripping twice in the same sequence with 13:55 remaining. And 45 seconds later, Reggie Millette wristed a shot into the net, following a faceoff won by Garrett Milan in the Mayhem zone. Milan got the puck to Zac Herrmann, who found Millette open for the shot.

Less than two minutes later, Macon tied the game.

David Nippard rifled a shot that bounced off Ice Flyers’ goaltender Reid Cooper’s chest protector and the puck went over his shoulder and rolled into the net.

Cooper became a pro hockey buzz last April when the Washington Capitals signed the former NCAA Division III star goaltender to a contract — and he dressed for an NHL game as the backup goaltender.

Cooper was making his first start for the Ice Flyers. He played a total of 14 pro games, all in the higher level ECHL in 2023 and earlier this season before the Ice Flyers signed him.

Exactly three minutes later, the Mayhem took a 2-1 lead into the intermission when Roy’s shot from inside the blueline got through traffic and past Cooper with 8:40 remaining.

The Ice Flyers’ Spencer Kennedy created the other noteworthy moment of the period. He got tangled with Macon’s Dan Winslow, took to a hold around his neck and dropped Winslow with a flurry of punches. Teammate Billy Jerry jumped in, and Kennedy threw some punches at him as well.

It produced seven minutes in penalties for Kennedy and gave Macon a five-minute power play that the Ice Flyers killed off.

SECOND PERIOD

This is when the game was ultimately decided.

The Mayhem scored two goals less than two minutes apart and it caused Graham to pull Cooper from the game after Macon took a 4-1 lead with 13:46 remaining. He faced 16 shots, stopping 12.

The Ice Flyers No. 1 goalie, Stephen Mundinger, who played between the pipes the previous two nights, was unexpectedly summoned to finish the game. Mundinger stopped all 14 shots he faced to help get the Ice Flyers re-energized.

Houston Wilson started the momentum with his shot through traffic with 2:54 remaining in the period, cutting the deficit to 4-2 at second intermission.

THIRD PERIOD

Less than three minutes into the period, Macon thought they had scored when a shot hit the pipe and the goal lamp came on. After the officials stopped play for video review, their initial decision of no goal was confirmed.

This led to the Ice Flyers’ Reggie Millette putting home a rebound on a shot from Mitch Atkins with 14:26 remaining. Suddenly, the crowd was making an impact and the Ice Flyers seemed positioned for a complete comeback.

But in the final four minutes, the Ice Flyers managed just three shots on goal, including the final 1:19 when Mundinger was pulled during a timeout for an extra attacker.

It was Macon’s fourth win against the Ice Flyers in the 10 games between the teams.

NOTABLES

— With Sunday’s attendance, the Ice Flyers finished their 28 home games with an average of 5,307 per-game. Only the Huntsville Havoc, the league’s attendance leader, has a better per-game average and total attendance in the SPHL.

— Following the game, the Ice Flyers signed autographs for fans on the second-level concourse.

— During the first intermission, the Ice Flyers front office staff had their moment in a contest shooting pucks from the blue line into an empty net.

— The Ice Flyers have clinched the No. 7 seed in the playoffs and will face either Birmingham or Peoria in the first round of the playoffs that can begin the week of April 8-14.

QUOTABLES

Ice Flyers Coach Gary Graham:

“The first two (Macon) goals were very lucky. The shots went off a player and went into the net. So, they had a little bit of puck luck early. And again, for the new goalie (Cooper), his first game when I had to pull him, he didn’t get a chance to do a lot for us.

“And any goalie is going to be upset which is normal. They are passionate guys, they are competitors, which I respect. For me, it wasn’t his play, it was more about trying to wake my team up. Sometimes for a coach it’s a gut feel, and we did start playing a little bitter out of that. I’m upset that his first game was like that, but I have a lot of confidence in both of them, so that’s not going to waver at all moving forward.

On Ice Flyers Struggles:

“For me it’s the same thing over and over again. You look at a team, Macon, they shoot the puck from everywhere. They have two of the top five goal scorers in the league. They shoot and shoot and they get to the net. Every game, we have chances in the slot, we look for something cute on the back post, it’s been the same problem all year. We don’t have pure goal scorers on this team. We don’t have guys who want to shoot the puck.”

WANT TO GO?

WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Fayetteville Marksmen

WHEN: April 5-6

WHERE: Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, N.C.

ONLINE STREAMING: www.flohockey.com (subscription required).

GAME LIVE STATS: www.thesphl.com

PLAYOFF HOME GAME: Playoffs can start on April 8 and first games can be played April 8-10

TICKETS: Available through www.iceflyers.com/tickets or at Bay Center box office on Saturday.

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Game Notes: February 2 vs Birmingham Bulls

greg — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 21:06:26 +0000

PENSACOLA, FL – Get ready for a thrilling night of hockey as the Pensacola Ice Flyers host the Birmingham Bulls tonight. This game will not only be the start of the much-anticipated 15th Anniversary Celebration presented by Kia Autosport of Pensacola, but it’s also the Annual $5 Weekend! The Bulls, currently leading with 52 points, are sure to provide a challenging and exciting game. But don’t count the Ice Flyers out. Fresh off a 3-2 overtime win against the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, they are eager to continue their momentum.

ICE FLYERS FOUNDATION’S 50/50 WEEKEND JACKPOT

It’s your chance to win big with the Ice Flyers Foundation’s 50/50 Weekend Jackpot! The lucky winner will be announced during Saturday’s game, on social media and at iceflyersfoundation.org. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to join in the fun and have a shot at a fantastic prize!

Purchase raffle tickets: https://icefly.co/5050Raffle

50/50 Weekend Benefactor – Rally Gulf Coast

WIN BIG WITH BERÉ JEWELERS THIS WEEKEND

Raffle tickets for the Beré Jewelers Shopping spree are available for purchase now. One lucky winner will win a $5,000 shopping spree at Beré Jewelers. Raffle tickets are $50 per ticket. All proceeds benefit the Ice Flyers Foundation. A winner will be announced at the Ice Flyers game on Saturday, February 3.

Enter to win: icefly.co/48euEfu

A CELEBRATION 15 YEARS IN THE MAKING

The team will be kicking off their 15th Anniversary Celebration in style with commemorative 15th Anniversary jerseys being worn by players and specialty jerseys and merchandise being sold the entire weekend.

Game Raffles – Fans can purchase Shirt-Off-His-Back Raffle and Fan Raffle tickets at the Coca-Cola Concierge located above section 111. #49 Ivan Bondarenko’s jersey will be up for grabs in the Shirt-Off-His-Back Raffle with an alumni signed 15th anniversary jersey being the night’s fan raffle prize.

Jersey Auctions – Select player worn jerseys will be available to bid online HERE until Sunday, February 4 (ending at 4:00 p.m. CT). Saturday’s game will feature a live jersey auction immediately after the game for remaining jerseys.

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Game Notes: Batman™ Night

greg — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 22:08:53 +0000

The Ice Flyers face-off against the Huntsville Havoc for their 4th of 8 matchups this season. With the Havoc occupying the 5th spot in the SPHL rankings and the Ice Flyers in the 6th, the two teams could each use the additional 2 points from a win tonight to help advance their standings. Coming off of a home win in front of a franchise-record-setting crowd, the Ice Flyers plan to restart their winning streak at the Hangar with the first of two home games this weekend. Batman™ Night presented by Anglin Reichmann Armstrong is finally here! The team will be wearing speciality Batman™ jerseys on the ice in honor of the Caped Crusader. Replica jerseys are available for purchase at the merchandise stands on the upper concourses. Following tonight’s game, a live game-worn jersey auction presented by Mediacom for select players will take place in sections 103 & 104 all benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.

ICE FLYERS FOUNDATION’S 50/50 WEEKEND JACKPOT

Purchase raffle tickets: https://icefly.co/5050Raffle

50/50 Weekend Benefactor – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.

GAME RAFFLES

Fans can purchase Shirt-Off-His-Back Raffle and Fan Raffle tickets at the Coca-Cola Concierge located above section 111. #16 Reggie Millette’s jersey will be up for grabs in the Shirt-Off-His-Back Raffle with a team signed Batman™ jersey being the night’s fan raffle prize.

Winners will be notified during the game on the videoboard ribbon.

All proceeds from Friday’s game raffles will benefit the Ice Flyers Foundation: iceflyersfoundation.org

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Game Notes: Wiener Dog Race Night

greg — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 21:35:59 +0000

The Ice Flyers are seeking to readjust after a difficult start to 2024 game play. Head Coach Gary Graham stressed the importance of sticking to the game plan and team accountability moving forward in last night’s press conference. Tonight’s game presents the opportunity to set things right in the second matchup of the weekend against the fourth ranked Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. Wiener dogs will be taking to the ice during both intermissions, so be prepared to sit back and cheer on the cute chaos of Wiener Dog Race Night presented by Olive Branch Pet Hospital.

Game Raffles

Shirt-Off-His-Back and the team’s game raffles have moved to the Coca-Cola Concierge above section 111.

Fans will have the chance to win the jersey off of #67 Malik Johnson’s back or a team signed jersey with our fan raffle.

Winners will be notified during the game on the videoboard ribbon.

All proceeds from Friday’s game raffles will benefit the Ice Flyers Foundation: iceflyersfoundation.org

Win BIG By Entering the Ice Flyers Foundation’s Weekend 50/50 Raffle

The Ice Flyers Foundation’s 50/50 just got BIGGER! Enter the 50/50 raffle tonight for a chance to win the weekend jackpot!

50/50 Raffle tickets are available for purchase online now here: icefly.co/5050Raffle

Tickets can also be purchased at the team’s raffle kiosks located above sections 105 and 120.

This weekend’s 50/50 will benefit Canine Companions.

GameNotes1.13.24 Download

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Game Notes: Hockey Night in Pensacola

greg — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 21:08:42 +0000

Tonight’s matchup against the 4th ranked Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs marks only the third time these two teams have met this regular season. With the Rail Yard Dawgs coming off their 5th consecutive win, it will be a hard fought battle for the Ice Flyers who are hoping to get things on the right track after struggling in their last 6 games. In addition to the action on the ice, the Jr. Ice Flyers will be playing scrimmages during the 1st intermission on a night dedicated to the sport of hockey. Come repping your favorite NHL team tonight for Hockey Night In Pensacola presented by Florida Blue!

Game Raffles

Shirt-Off-His-Back and the team’s game raffles have moved to the Coca-Cola Concierge above section 111.

Fans will have the chance to win the jersey off of #91 Lucas Herrmann’s back or a team signed jersey with our fan raffle.

Winners will be notified during the game on the videoboard ribbon.

All proceeds from Friday’s game raffles will benefit the Ice Flyers Foundation: iceflyersfoundation.org

Win BIG By Entering the Ice Flyers Foundation’s Weekend 50/50 Raffle

The Ice Flyers Foundation’s 50/50 just got BIGGER! Enter the 50/50 raffle tonight or tomorrow night for a chance to win the weekend jackpot!

50/50 Raffle tickets are available for purchase online now here: icefly.co/5050Raffle

Tickets can also be purchased at the team’s raffle kiosks located above sections 105 and 120.

This weekend’s 50/50 will benefit Canine Companions.

GameNotes1.12.24 Download

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Game Notes: Hometown Heroes Night

greg — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 19:26:23 +0000

Tonight, the Ice Flyers will face off against the 3rd ranked team in the SPHL, the Peoria Rivermen, in their 25th game of the season. This home game promises to be an exciting clash as the 5th ranked Ice Flyers will be looking to make up ground in the standings. In addition to the on-ice action, the Ice Flyers are excited to host “Hometown Heroes Night,” driven by Kia AutoSport Pensacola. This special event is dedicated to honoring the city of Pensacola’s hometown heroes: our first responders, healthcare workers, and educators. Their tireless efforts to keep our community safe, healthy, and educated will be recognized and celebrated throughout the night!

Game Raffles

Shirt-Off-His-Back and the team’s game raffle for Thursday’s game are available for purchase online: icefly.co/Jan4Raffles

Fans will have the chance to win the jersey off of #6 Zac Herrmann’s back or a team signed jersey.

Winners will be notified during the game on the videoboard or emailed if not in attendance.

All proceeds from Thursday’s game raffles will benefit the Ice Flyers Foundation: iceflyersfoundation.org

Win BIG By Entering the Ice Flyers Foundation’s 50/50 Raffle

Thursday night’s 50/50 Raffle tickets are available for purchase online now here: icefly.co/5050Raffle

Tickets can also be purchased at the team’s raffle kiosks located above sections 105 and 120.

Thursday night’s 50/50 will benefit Escambia County Sheriff’s Foundation.

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Game Notes: Military Appreciation Night

greg — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 18:43:32 +0000

The Ice Flyers are gearing up for the final game of their 3-game series against the formidable Birmingham Bulls. Following two recent unsuccessful bids to victory, the team is determined to turn the tide in their favor in tonight’s game. Tonight marks the first of three Military Appreciation Nights. These special nights are proudly sponsored by the Navy Federal Credit Union and are designed as a tribute to the valiant members of our armed forces. The initiative acknowledges the deep-rooted bond and rich shared history between the community and the military. Several local businesses have also joined forces for tonight’s game. These include Code Ninjas Pensacola, All Dry Services, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Beulah, and Award Masters. Together with the Ice Flyers, they have generously donated tickets to local military members as a token of respect and gratitude through the team’s military sponsorships. To all who serve and those who have served in our country, the Ice Flyers extend their heartfelt appreciation. It is in your honor that we play!

Game Raffles

Shirt-Off-His-Back and the team’s game raffle for Saturday’s game are available for purchase online: https://icefly.co/Dec30Raffles

Fans will have the chance to win the jersey off of #10 Garrett Milan’s back or a team signed jersey.

Winners will be notified during the game on the videoboard or emailed if not in attendance.

All proceeds from Saturday’s game raffles will benefit the Ice Flyers Foundation: https://iceflyersfoundation.org

Win BIG By Entering the Ice Flyers Foundation’s 50/50 Raffle

Saturday night’s 50/50 Raffle tickets are available for purchase online now here: icefly.co/5050Raffle

Tickets can also be purchased at the team’s raffle kiosks located above sections 105 and 120.

Saturday night’s 50/50 will benefit Rally Gulf Coast.

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Game Notes: Peanuts Night

greg — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 19:57:08 +0000

After finally finding success on the road last night in Macon with a 6-1 win, the Ice Flyers are looking to keep the momentum going while heading into their 21st game on the year and fourth matchup against the Macon Mayhem. Tonight it’s all about Peanuts with the players wearing specialty holiday Peanuts jerseys on the ice and tons of Peanuts and holiday themed fun slated throughout the game. Fans can purchase replica jerseys at the merchandise booths or bid on game worn jerseys online and immediately after the game in sections 103 and 104. Santa will also be above section 107 throughout the game if anyone needs to stop by and make sure they’re still on the “nice” list. The Ice Flyers organization would like to extend their sincerest gratitude for spending the holiday season with them and want to wish every single one of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Our game day raffles have moved online! Fans can purchase raffle tickets for the jersey raffle and shirt off his back now HERE.

50/50 tickets can also be purchased ahead of tonight’s game HERE.

There will be a live auction with select players after the game in sections 103-104. Online bidding has already started, click HERE to register and bid!

GameNotes12.23.23 Download

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Game Notes: Rally Foundation Night

greg — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 20:21:51 +0000

The Ice Flyers are set for a rematch against the Peoria Rivermen in their 16th game of the season! This marks the second matchup between the two teams, and in the previous night’s thrilling match, the Ice Flyers claimed victory with a final score of 7-4. This win solidifies the Ice Flyers’ position in the 2nd spot in the SPHL standings, while the Rivermen have now fallen to 4th. Join us in supporting the Ice Flyers as they strive for success on the ice and help them in their efforts to end childhood cancer. The team is dedicating a night to fundraising and awareness in collaboration with Rally Gulf Coast.

The Raffle Foundation Night fan raffle features a team-autographed authentic Rally Foundation jersey, a 2-night condo stay from Southern Vacation Rentals, a 2 night stay from Innisfree Hotels, a $100 gift card to Beré Jewelers, 4 glass-tickets to a future Ice Flyers game, and a $50 gift-card to McGuire’s Irish Pub. Tonight’s Shirt-Off-His-Back will be #83 Nick Leitner. Fans can purchase raffle tickets for the Fan Raffle and Shirt-Off-His-Back now HERE.

50/50 tickets can also be purchased ahead of tonight’s game HERE.

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Game Notes: Star Wars Night

greg — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 21:26:36 +0000

The Ice Flyers host the Macon Mayhem tonight for the Ice Flyers’ 11th game of the season and the first of 10 matchups between the two teams. Last night, the Ice Flyers fell to the Birmingham Bulls (5-3) in Pelham while the visiting Mayhem didn’t have a game. The Ice Flyers are looking to finish the weekend with some points against a team that is currently sitting 7th in the league standings. With the force and the Ice Flyers faithful behind them, the Ice Flyers are sure to put on a show in tonight’s Annual Star Wars Night!

Our game day raffles have moved online! Fans can purchase raffle tickets for the jersey raffle and shirt off his back now HERE.

50/50 tickets can also be purchased ahead of tonight’s game HERE.

There will be a live auction with select players after the game in sections 103-104. Online bidding has already started, click HERE to register and bid!

GameNotes11.18 Download

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