Ice Flyers Fill Arena, Fall To Birmingham
February 3, 2024
By Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Ice Flyers had a filled arena Friday on their special 15th anniversary weekend, created plenty of scoring chances, had strong goaltending and evoked crowd reaction from several hard checks.
But a too-familiar, empty feeling, became the final narrative.
The Birmingham Bulls got a deflected goal midway through the second period and made it stand in a 1-0 victory against the Ice Flyers before a sellout crowd of 8,049 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
“(Bulls) made one more play than we did and that’s what the game came down to,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “Tip your hat to Birmingham, they’re the top defensive team in the league for a reason. They are very structured. They defended very well.”
It was the Bulls sixth consecutive win against the Ice Flyers, further burnishing their position atop the SPHL standings. Birmingham backup goaltender, Drennan Atherton, a Winter Haven native, who played a game earlier this season for the Ice Flyers, earned his first shutout by stopping all 34 Ice Flyers shots.
His performance included several big stops in the first period and kept the packed arena from having a goal dance celebration to start the annual $5 ticket weekend. The Ice Flyers will get another opportunity Saturday in a sold-out game against the Macon Mayhem to complete back-to-back discount games.
“I’m disappointed for the guys, because again, I know how badly they wanted to get a win for the big crowd,” Graham said. “But I told them (afterward), we get back here, we’ll have a big crowd (Saturday), we have to get points.
“The urgency of this group, they have to start playing with a desperate, killer instinct. And will it happen? That’s the million-dollar question.”
The Ice Flyers (15-17, 2 OT losses, 32 points) had three power play chances in the game. They were only whistled for one penalty. They were able to pull goaltender Stephen Mundinger with 2:46 remaining and a timeout with a faceoff in the Bulls zone.
But even with chances in that final sequence, they could not get a shot into the net and Birmingham (24-6, 6 OT losses, 54 points) improved to 7-3 in the series with Pensacola this season.
“I go back to the first period all the scoring chances, Grade-As, that we had in the slot and we don’t bear down,” Graham said. “We missed the net a lot. And didn’t create enough second chances, greasy goals around the net. That is the issue for our team. We’ve talked about it this year, we have a forward group that we want it the easy way.
“We’ve gone through this in this season about crashing the net, getting positioning around the net front and scratching and clawing for goals.”
The game’s only goal came on what started as a pass. Birmingham’s Dillon Radin was created for a goal when his play in the goal crease area led to the puck bouncing off a skate and into the net.
“Unfortunately, bounces didn’t go our way,” Mundinger said. “We’re right there. One of those things where we ran into a hot goalie, he played well, but I think if a couple bounces go our way, that game is 5-0. It’s frustrating, but we’re playing good hockey.”
Mundinger was awed by scene in the arena where people were literally sitting in the final row near the Bay Center roof. From ice level to rafter left, the seats were filled. And it will occur again Saturday.
“I feel like every week here, you think like you get the best and it just keeps more and more,” Mundinger said. “Nothing but great things about playing here… more than I could have ever dreamed of when coming here. This is a special weekend. You want to win for everyone that’s there. “
For more photos, click or tap here.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Macon Mayhem vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Here Are The Road Work Construction Spots To Watch Next Week
January 20, 2024
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
- U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) Resurfacing between Henry Street and Cottage Street in Century – Northbound and southbound traffic on U.S. 29 (North Century Boulevard) is shifted to one outside travel lane in each direction between Rudolph Street and Green Street. The shift will be in place through the spring as crews perform drainage improvements. Signage will be in place to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
- Lillian Highway (State Road (S.R.) 298) Resurfacing from north of U.S. 98 to east of Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727) and Lillian Highway at Blue Angel Parkway (S.R. 173) – Drivers will encounter daytime lane closures and intermittent nighttime lane closures, between U.S. 98 and Blue Angel Parkway, Monday, Jan. 22 through Friday, Jan. 26 as crews perform concrete and striping work.
- County Road (C.R.) 4 over Canoe Creek Bridge – C.R. 4, between Byrneville and Bratt, will be closed until fall 2024 as crews replace the Canoe Creek bridge. Traffic is directed through a 5.6-mile detour using Bratt Road to Pine Barren Road, then back to C.R. 4.
- Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) Resurfacing from north of Interstate 10 (I-10) to Davis Highway- Drivers will encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures, between I-10 and Davis Highway, Sunday, Jan. 21 through Thursday, Jan. 25 from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews mill and pave the roadway.
- Mobile Highway (U.S. 90) Resurfacing from Nine Mile Road (U.S. 90A) to west of Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) – Drivers may encounter daytime lane closures, between Nine Mile Road and Pine Forest Road, Monday, Jan. 22 through Friday, Jan. 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as crews pave the roadway.
- I-10 Routine Utility Maintenance from the Alabama state line to Exit 22 (Avalon Boulevard) – Motorists will encounter intermittent nighttime lane closures Tuesday, Jan. 23 through Thursday, Jan 25 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to repair overhead lights.
Santa Rosa County:
- U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
- Median and turn-lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
- Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive Sunday, January 21, through Friday, January 26, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for stormwater drainage improvements and paving operations.
- S.R. 87 Resurfacing from Hickory Hammock Road (C.R. 184) to Technology Avenue – Drivers may experience intermittent S.R. 87 single-lane closures, between Hickory Hammock Road and Technology Avenue, Monday, Jan. 22 through Friday, Jan. 26 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for turn lane construction and paving operations.
- S.R. 89 Resurfacing from North of S.R. 87 to Highway 178 – Drivers will encounter intermittent lane closures, between S.R .87 and Hwy. 178, Monday, Jan. 22 through Friday, Jan. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. as crews perform turnout widening and paving work.
- I-10 Westbound at Blackwater River Resurfacing – Drivers will encounter the following traffic impacts Sunday, Jan. 21 to Thursday, Jan. 25, from the Ward Basin Road on-ramp (Exit 28) to the Blackwater River Bridge eastern approach:
- Intermittent single-lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for milling and paving operations and to place low-profile barrier wall.
- A slight shift of the I-10 westbound travel lanes toward the inside of the roadway. The new configuration will provide space for crews to work in the construction zone behind the barrier wall and is expected to be in place through Feb. 2024.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Elijah Ray Ramos
January 12, 2024
Elijah Ray Ramos, of Molino, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at the age of 19. He was born in Pensacola, Florida on March 11, 2004 to Ray and Crystal Ramos. After high school, Eli went to work for the family business where he worked until his passing. Eli was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved the outdoors and hanging out with his friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Faye Campbell; grandfather, Billy Ray Campbell; grandmother, Juanita Ramos; and his great uncle, Raul Ramos, Jr.
Eli is survived by his father, Ray Ramos; his mother, Crystal Ramos; grandmother, Kay Campbell; grandfather, Raul Ramos, Sr.; his aunt/sister, Ciara (Codie) Callaway and their boys, Lawson and Fletcher; great-grandparents, Billy and Joyce Campbell; his uncles, Roy Ramos and Rodney Ramos; aunts, Wanda Ramos and Wendy Ramos; great aunt, Trudy Campbell; great uncle, mentor, and buddy, Tim Thomasson; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and many friends.
The family of Elijah Ray Ramos will receive friends for visitation at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. Funeral services will begin at 12:00 p.m. with Pastor Philip Dean officiating. Burial will follow at McCurdy Cemetery (Fannie Road) in Century, Florida.
Pallbearers include Trey Campbell, Kody Lee, Tyler Swauger, Caleb Banks, Chad Sims, and Eddie Brown.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements. Y
Thomas Clayton Ward Jr
January 1, 2024
Mr. Thomas Clayton Ward Jr. age 80 passed away at his residence in Century FL. Wednesday December 13, 2023.
Mr. Ward was a life-long resident of Century FL. and was of the Baptist faith. He was a retired owner/operator of Thomas Ward Trucking, and retired Veteran of The United States Army where he served during the Vietnam era, serving alongside his late brother James L. “Booter” Ward.
In his spare time, Mr. Ward enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren which his love was unsurpassed.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years Kathy Ward of Century FL; stepson Scotty Hagan of Pensacola FL; daughters Debbie (Dennis) Finegan of Green Cove Springs, FL. Karen (Andy) Layton of Milton FL; brother Bennie (Jenny) Ward of Cantonment FL; Sisters Delois Brown of Bratt FL. Joyce Burkett of Byrneville FL. Barbara (Donnie) Kilcrease of Byrneville FL; grandchildren that were the light of his life Andrew (Taylor Hendrieth) Howell, Christina Finegan, Wesley (Brooke) Layton, Ashley Finegan, Delaney Hagan, Ian Hagan; several nieces and nephews, and a friend like family Jeff (Junia) Fisher of Flomaton, AL.
Mr. Ward is preceded in death by his father and mother Thomas Clayton Ward Sr. and Ruby Flowers Muse; first wife Margeret Ann Ward: brothers Byron “Bit” Martin, James L. “Booter” Ward.
Visitation will be held Sunday December 17, 2023, from 1P.M. until 2 P.M. service time at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services for Mr. Thomas Clayton Ward Jr. will be held Sunday afternoon December 17, 2023, at 2 P.M. from the chapel of Flomaton Funeral Home with Brother Tim Floyd officiating. Interment will follow in Byrneville Cemetery with Flomatn Funeral Home Directing.
Jennifer Smith Is Kingsfield Elementary’s Teacher Of The Year
December 28, 2023
Jennifer Smith was named the Kingsfield Elemenatary School Teacher of the Year.
NorthEscambia.com is wrapping up 2023 by honoreing the Teacher of the Year from North Escambia schools over the next several days. Escambia County’s overall Teacher of the Year will be named in January.
Cantonment Man Caught During Traffic Stop Gets Five Years In Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking
December 13, 2023
A Cantonment man was sentenced this week to state prison on drug charges that resulted from a seat belt violation traffic stop.
Samuel Lee Purifoy, Jr., was sentenced to five years in state prison, with credit for 52 days served, for possession of fentanyl.
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped Purifoy’s vehicle in the area of North S and Delano Street. Purifoy smelled strongly of marijuana and appeared to be under the influence of marijuana, according to an arrest report.
A search of his vehicle uncovered marijuana and 86.3 grams of drugs in the vehicle, and $1,710 in cash was in his pocket, the report states.
Want To Have Your Say In The Future of Beulah? Two Master Plan Meetings This Week
December 3, 2023
Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, county staff and Sigma Consulting invite the public to the Beulah Master Plan Design Charette Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Beulah Senior Citizens Center, 7425 Woodside Road.
This two-day charrette will allow county staff and Sigma Consulting to further engage with citizens and learn more about planning for Beulah. From 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 5, Sigma Consulting will hold a short presentation followed by activities designed to provide Sigma with residents’ preferences for design improvements to the Beulah Master Plan. From 1-5 p.m. on Dec. 6, Sigma will use an open design studio format to quantify and consolidate data collected from the previous day. A presentation will follow the open design studio from 6-7 p.m.
The Beulah Master Plan is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury under the RESTORE Act program
Ice Flyers Erase Early Deficit, Stay Unbeaten On Teddy Bear Night
December 2, 2023
By Bill Vilonam Ice Flyers Correspondent
When Gary Graham coached the Ice Flyers to their first championship 10 years ago, there wasn’t this kind of rivalry with Peoria.
There is now, of course.
For more photos, click or tap here.
That’s why the Ice Flyers 7-4 victory against the Rivermen Friday night, after the game was tied 3-3 at second intermission, carried extra meaning for the players and the crowd of 3,877 at the Pensacola Bay Center on Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Seven different players scored and the Ice Flyers had a 47-23 edge in shots in a game that started the wrong way for the home team, but ended with Pensacola keeping its unbeaten record (7-0) on home ice.
“I wasn’t part of it before,” said Graham, smiling afterward about the matchup with Peoria. “I’ve seen it first hand now. They tried to get us off our game early with the physicality side of things.
“And I thought our guys did a really good job of taking some punishment, going on the power play and basically making them beat themselves.
“Any time you can score seven goals with seven different guys, that doesn’t happen often. I thought the guys did a good job keep sticking with it.”
The Ice Flyers were eliminated from the playoffs last year by Peoria. They also won their most dramatic SPHL title against Peoria with a last-second goal to clinch the championship. This weekend’s pair of games are the only two in Pensacola this season.
The Ice Flyers trailed 2-0 midway through the first period. And then the game changed.
“It’s a big game for us. We don’t like them and they don’t like us. It’s a great rivalry,” said the Ice Flyers Mitch Atkins, named the game’s No. 1 star Friday with a goal and two assists.
The third period became the most eventful.
Less than four minutes into the period, veteran Peoria captain Alec Hagaman, who was part of the Ice Flyers last championship team in 2021, was thrown out of the game on a match penalty for slew-footing. The penalty is called when a player either kicks, grabs or knocks another players’ feet from behind.
It gave the Ice Flyers a 5-minute power play. Less than 90 seconds into the power play, Ice Flyers captain Garrett Milan scored on a one-timer shot from near the face-off circle after a perfect feed from Mitch Atkins.
It gave the Ice Flyers a 4-3 lead.
“I saw it out of the corner of my eye. The referee didn’t see it, but the linesman saw it,” Graham said. “A lot of times slew footing happens behind the play, because players are smart, they know where the ref’s looking.”
Seven minutes later, Malik Johnson put the Ice Flyers up two goals with his quick wrister.
But Peoria got a shorthanded goal with 5:07 remaining and now the game had a different kind of feel. That is until Atkins had the pivotal goal with a defender draped on him, who he shed and caused to take out Peoria goaltender Brendahn Brawley. Atkins regained control of the puck and made a whirl around move to wrist the puck into the open corner of the net.
“We came out (of Ice Flyers end) with a lot of speed,” Atkins said. “Once we got in the (Peoria) zone, Bondee (Ivan Bondarenko) has such a great vision and he made a great seam pass.
“It jumped my stick and I felt if I wrapped it the other way there wouldn’t be a lot still in the net. It was a fun goal and a good pass by Bondee to open things up there.”
Fittingly, Bondarenko scored the Ice Flyers final goal on an empty-netter while killing a penalty. Peoria pulled Brawley with 1:52 remaining to get a 6 on 4 situation. But when Rivermen defenseman slipped and fell inside the blue line, the puck was free and Bondarenko sealed the game.
Peoria led 2-1 at first intermission. The game began with a crowd-pleasing fight at the 7:40 mark between the Ice Flyers Sean Gulka and Spencer Kennedy. Both traded a flurry a punches for nearly a minute as the crowd roared and both teams saluted.
The Rivermen then got a pair of goals four minutes apart from Braydon Barker and Kennedy, two players who recently joined the team.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Barker, who played last season for Peoria, got his first goal this season on an assist from long-time veteran Alec Hagaman. The goal occurred with 10:12 left in the period.
Kennedy, who began the season in Roanoke, scored his first goal for Peoria with 6:58 left. Both Barker and Kennedy were playing in their third game for the Rivermen.
“They are a veteran group,” Graham said. “They capitalized on the very few chances they had. We made a couple mistakes and… boom it’s in the back of net. They are a team that can score very quickly, and we knew we had to keep the pace with them.”
But the Ice Flyers answered 27 seconds after Kennedy’s goal when Lucas Herrmann got his third goal of the season. The moment the goal lamp was lit, the stuffed animals were tossed across the ice from all sides as the signature part of Teddy Bear Toss Night for the first Ice Flyers goal in the game.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Peoria Rivermen vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Drivers Getting A Road Construction Break Until Monday
November 24, 2023
Florida drivers are getting a little break from road construction during the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be no construction related lane closures on state roads through 11 p.m. on Sunday. The lane closure restrictions include both construction and maintenance activities.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
United Way of West Florida Celebrates New Headquarters
November 22, 2023
United Way of West Florida proudly celebrated the opening of its new headquarters recently, symbolizing a significant step in the organization’s mission to unite and serve the communities of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. This achievement coincides with the anticipation of United Way of West Florida’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
The new headquarters, strategically located to enhance accessibility and engagement, symbolizes United Way of West Florida’s commitment to uniting and supporting communities across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. As the organization prepares to commemorate its 100th year of service, this new facility stands as a testament to its enduring dedication to creating a lasting impact in the region. In attendance for this evening were the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce, Cat Country 98.7, United Way of West Florida Board Members, sponsors, local non-profits, and community members.
Laura Gilliam, President/CEO of United Way of West Florida, expressed her enthusiasm for this significant development, stating, “The opening of our new headquarters is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines our work. We are thrilled to have a centralized hub from which we can continue our mission of empowering individuals and improving lives. As we approach our 100th anniversary, we are inspired by the decades of impact and energized to shape an even brighter future for our communities.”
The upcoming 100th anniversary represents a remarkable milestone for United Way of West Florida, highlighting a century of service, partnership, and resilience. The organization looks forward to commemorating this achievement by renewing its commitment to addressing the most pressing needs in the region and empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
The new office is located at 7100 Plantation Road, Suite 18
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