Huntsville Havoc Spoil Ice Flyers Season Opener
October 21, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
The Ice Flyers knew their season-opener Saturday night would provide a gauge, facing a veteran team that reached the league’s championship series a year ago.
The results were mixed.
Amid the positive elements with a group of rookie players, the Ice Flyers couldn’t answer the Huntsville Havoc’s second period lead and wound up in a 4-1 loss, before a crowd of 6,032 for the season debut at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The crowd and the energy were among the best for an opening night in franchise history. Included in the crowd was former Ice Flyers great Adam Pawlick, one of the franchise greatest players, who began a new element with a drum beat before the game.
“It was a great showing from our fan base again,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “What an environment for our guys to see. We obviously know the elephant in the room… we have a lot of new players this year and I think that was a great example of what this town is and how exciting it is to be an Ice Flyer and play here.
“I thought everything was great on that side of things. I loved our first period. I thought with only having a couple days with practice for a lot of these guys, I thought we came together pretty quickly.
“What I didn’t like, we had two wide open, back-door goals in the first period that should have been goals. A two on one in the second period and we don’t get a shot off. We started trying to get too cute with the puck and we talked about this last year. We are not going to put up with that this year. We have to be a team that constantly shoots and gets to the net.”
The game’s defining moment occurred seconds after the Ice Flyers had killed off a penalty. As Troy Button exited the penalty box, the Havoc’s Jack Jaunich skated into the Ice Flyers zone and got a wrist shot through traffic above the faceoff circles that found the net.
That goal with 15:05 left, “I think someone must have skated in front of (Ice Flyers goaltender Kevin Resop) and that definitely let the air out of the sails a little bit.”
With four minutes remaining, his team trailing 3-1, Graham pulled Resop for an extra attacker. The Ice Flyers got some chances, but eventually the Havoc got a goal on an empty net with 1:12 remaining.
The Ice Flyers will have this week to practice and refocus for back-to-back games next week at Huntsville, then back home against Birmingham. The Havoc beat Birmingham in overtime 5-4 on Friday night.
Graham said he was encouraged by most of what he saw Saturday and will continue to get some things worked on during this week of practice.
Here’s a few elements about the game.
FIRST PERIOD
The game’s first two goals occurred just 21 seconds apart. The Havoc scored first when Jaunich gathered a rebound in front of the net, moved right and flicked the puck over a sprawling Resop with 13:35 left.
Soon after the ensuing faceoff, Tyler Adams scored his first pro goal on a rebound to tie the game.
And then, the fans were energized by a terrific fight between the Ice Flyers’ newcomer Kolby Johnson and Huntsville’s Dominick Procopio. Both landed haymakers, but Johnson landed more and eventually knocked Procopio to the ice with a punch and then got the crowd going even louder.
With 6:14 left, Ice Flyers newcomer Natan Vertes wristed a shot that seemed a sure goal, until Havoc goaltender Brian Wilson made the save of the game with his glove to thwart Vertes. Another newcomer Greg Smith also was turned away by Wilson on a point blank shot with 2:22 left.
Wilson finished the game with 32 saves.
SECOND PERIOD
Huntsville scored the only goal of the period on a rebound shot by Doug Elgstam with 8:13 remaining. The two-on-one opportunity the Ice Flyers had that Graham reference happened less than a minute later, but ended without a shot.
The period had only one penalty.
THIRD PERIOD
The Ice Flyers Cameron Cook nearly scored a shorthanded goal when he got a breakaway less than three minutes into the period. But again, Wilson turned away his backhand shot and Huntsville then responded with its third goal
GAME NOTABLES
The Ice Flyers honored their former service dog-in-training, Ranger, who is now the best pup friend of a young special needs boy. He was there with his parents and Ranger, part of the partnership the Ice Flyers have with Canine Companions.
Adam Pawlick led the Ice Flyers to two SPHL championship and was the league’s top scorer during 10 years ago during that season. He returned to begin a new tradition the Ice Flyers have started with a drum beat to begin the game.
NEXT PUCK DROP
- WHO: Ice Flyers at Huntsville Havoc
- WHEN: Friday (Oct 25), 7 p.m.
- WHERE: Propst Arena, Huntsville, Ala.
Triumph Oil Spill Grant To Re-Establish Automotive Services Academy At Tate High School
October 20, 2024
An Automotive Service Academy will be created at Tate High School, thanks to a Triumph Gulf Coast grant.
The Triumph Board voted to approve a grant of up to $617,227 to Escambia County Public Schools to re-establish the Automotive Service Academy at Tate High School.
Triumph funds will be used to renovate and equip the former Auto Body building with modern equipment and hands-on labs for the Automotive Service Academy.
“This Triumph grant provides our students with opportunities to grow in the classroom with hands-one opportunities and allows us to expand the programs we can offer our students here on campus,” Tate Principal Laura Touchstone said. “It gives us the opportunity to give back to the community. Obviously, there is a need in the community for automotive, and by us having that academy, we are preparing our students for the workforce.”
Students will troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair vehicles, as well as provide routine maintenance on a variety of modern automobiles. This project will have a classroom academic component, but the primary learning environment will be the academy’s automotive service shop and will guarantee completion of 225 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certificates by the end of the 2029-2030 academic year.
Triumph Gulf Coast is a nonprofit corporation organized to oversee the expenditure of 75 percent of all funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state that resulted from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
NorthEscambia.com graphic.
ReImagine Cantonment Blesses Hundreds With Food, Clothing And Hope
October 20, 2024
The hearts and lives of hundreds of area residents in need were touched during the ReImagine Cantonment outreach Saturday at the Florida Children’s Home on Chemstrand Road.
The faith-based event included a 20,000 pound food giveaway, lunch, fishing lessons with free fishing rods, free tablets, baby diapers, HIV testing, clothing, free haircuts, free laundry detergent, free pillows and more. Absolutely everything was free. There were also free children’s activities, including train rides, inflatables, face painting, games, popcorn, and a coloring contest with three participants winning a new bicycle.
ReImagine Cantonment is a project of Doers of the Word Ministry and is sponsored by numerous churches and other organizations, including NorthEscambia.com. Previously, it was held at Carver Park in Cantonment.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Firefighters Battle McDavid Wildfire; Forest Service Discourages Outdoor Burning
October 20, 2024
The Florida Forest Service (FFS) and Escambia County Fire Rescue battled an equipment blaze and resulting wildfire near McDavid Saturday afternoon.
The fire was in a wooded area about 4 p.m. near Cotton Creek off the 1500 block of North Pine Barren Road, about a mile south of Highway 164.
A Forest Service helicopter that just happened to be flying across the area spotting the fire, which involved equipment known as a feller buncher along with about three acres, Florida Forest Service Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Joe Zwierzchowski of the Blackwater Forestry Center told NorthEscambia.com. He said the helicopter made 32 water drops on the fire. Each drop was about 300 gallons, or 9,600 gallons total taken from a pond in the area.
The McDavid and Walnut Hill Stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, along with a tractor and crews from the Forest Service responded to the fire from the ground. The wildfire was reported contained by about 5:30 p.m., and the equipment fire was extinguished a short time later.
A feller buncher is a harvester used in the logging industry to cut and bunch trees. The machine cuts down trees, holds them and places them on the ground.
While the cause of the fire was not immediately known, Zwierzchowski was quick to urge area residents to refrain from any outdoor burning.
“As dry as it is, we need significant rainfall before any burns outside,” he said. “A quick shower or two won’t be enough. We need a good steady rain first.”
There is no chance of rain in the local forest over the next week.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary School Names Students Of The Month
October 20, 2024
Byrneville Elementary School recently named their September Students of the Month.
They are:
Peanut Butter Challenge Month: Here’s How To Get Involved
October 20, 2024
The Peanut Butter Challenge, an annual jar collection for local food pantries hosted by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension, is continuing through the ned of the month.
Launched in the Florida Panhandle counties in 2012, the challenge is how held across the state. The 2023 Peanut Butter Challenge collected a total of 27,769 pounds of peanut butter from 44 Florida counties. Last year, 1.013 jars, or over 1,410 pounds of peanut butter were collected in Escambia County.
Last week, the Escambia County Commission proclaimed October as Peanut Butter Challenge month.
Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated to the following locations throughout Escambia County now until Oct. 31:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Hwy. 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 N. “W” Street, Pensacola
- Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 10650 Gulf Beach Hwy., Pensacola
- Gilmore Services, 31 E. Fairfield Dr., Pensacola
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor, Pensacola
County Extension Director Nick Simmons, Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Murilo Morata, and Extension Agent Dorothy Lee with a Peanut Butter Challenge proclamation from the Escambia County Commission. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle School Soars with State PBIS Recognition
October 20, 2024
Ernest Ward Middle School is taking flight as one of three Escambia County schools honored for its positive school culture. The school was named a bronze Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Model School for the 2024-2025 school year.
PBIS is a program to increase academic performance, increase safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish positive school cultures.
Ernest Ward Middle and Blue Angels Elementary were named bronze schools, and Navy Point Elementary was honored as a platinum school.
UWF Cruises Past Chowan for Third Straight Win
October 20, 2024
by Bill Vilona, UWF Correspondent
The scheduled mid-morning trip Saturday to the stadium with UWF’s football team was hampered by a stalled bus in the hotel parking lot.
The game itself, however, worked out much smoother for the Argos.
With impressive efficiency, No. 23-ranked UWF produced touchdowns on its first four possessions, while its defense delivered another smothering performance in a 35-6 victory against Chowan University at the Hawks’ Garrison Stadium.
The Argos (4-2), who ended September with consecutive losses, now have a chance to sweep October next Saturday at home, as they continue their push for a potential post-season position.
Minus a couple blemishes, it was a win that brought smiles. Even a team photo afterward.
“We missed two field goals, we missed a wide open touchdown on a fourth-down call that we schemed up pretty good, so that’s 13 points right there that should be on the board for us… a little frustrated about that, but I’m very proud of how our guys played,” said UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles, speaking on the post-game radio interview with Will Kennedy, voice of the Argos.
“I thought they did a good job of playing for 60 minutes the whole time,” Nobles said.
Five different players scored touchdowns, including senior Zac Offord, who produced the first touchdown of his UWF career with a nice end zone catch from quarterback Marcus Stokes on a 24-yard pass in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
What also stood out was UWF amassed 285 yards rushing, led by TJ Lane with 96 yards and a second-quarter touchdown. Jay Sharp scored on an 11-yard run to cap a nine-play drive in the second quarter.
“Those guys have been ready all week and did a good job of running the football well in practice,” Nobles said. “I’m proud of those guys. We built up a little bit of depth with Jamontez (Woods) out and Jay Sharp a little banged up, but he’s getting a lot better. So, excited about the running game and how we ran the ball (Saturday).”
The Argos defense held Chowan (2-4) to minus-4 yards rushing in the first half and just 38 yards for the game. UWF had 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception as part of a dominant defensive effort.
“That defensive line has done a phenomenal job of whoever is there, staying ready, and making plays,” Nobles said. “Those guys had relentless effort. They do a phenomenal job getting after the quarterback and making it uncomfortable for him.”
The game had some emotional attachment for Nobles. He was UWF’s quarterback in the inaugural 2016 season when the Argos lost at Chowan (35-28) in a loss that ultimately cost UWF a winning record in the first year of playing football.
That trip also included travel challenges. In Saturday’s case, the team’s equipment truck arrived on time, but the team was late arriving, and it altered a pregame warmup schedule.
“Our guys were resilient,” Nobles said. “We packed every player on one bus, had five coaches (travel separately) to get here. We didn’t get into our normal pregame routine. We did as much as we could. I’m proud of the guys for the way they handled it. They didn’t blink at all and they handled this trip well.”
The Argos scored the game’s first points in nearly a blink.
After forcing Chowan into a three-and-out to start the game, UWF took advantage of a short punt, got the ball at the Hawks 42 and scored on their third snap when Stokes hit Da’Mani Brown on a 39-yard pass in the end zone.
After Chowan answered with a field goal, UWF closed the first quarter when Corey Scott caught a 19-yard pass from Stokes. Lane’s touchdown with 5:40 left in the second quarter followed a 38-yard punt return by Virgil Lemons, after he reversed field and raced to the Chowan 11.
Stokes finished completing 10 of 22 passes for 148 yards. He also had 67 yards rushing, matching the total for redshirt freshman Keeshaun Glanton, who had his most extensive playing time this season.
In the second half, UWF offense was slowed by a fumble and failed fourth down conversions, but the defense ensured Chowan didn’t gain an edge.
The Argos travel all night from Murfreesboro, North Carolina, located near the coastal edge of the state near the Virginia line.
They will begin preparations Monday for Shorter, one of two remaining home games. UWF is now 3-1 in the Gulf South Conference, after beginning the game in third place in league standings.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Shorter University Hawks vs. UWF Argos
WHEN: Saturday (Oct. 26), 4 p.m.
WHERE: PenAir Field on UWF campus
Photo: Scott Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Legendary WKRG Broadcaster Mel Showers Has Died
October 19, 2024
Longtime WKRG news anchor Mel Showers has died. The legendary broadcaster was 78.
Showers worked at WKRG 5 for 50 years and was the station’s main anchor from 1980 until his retirement in 2019.
He was later inducted into the Alabama Broadcasting Hall of Fame and was named Journalist of Distinction by the National Association of Black Journalists.
Courtesy photo.
Day Of Caring Projects Completed at Jim Allen, Tate, Lipscomb
October 19, 2024
Volunteer groups fanned out across Escambia County Friday for the United Way of West Florida’s 31st Annual Day of Caring.
Day of Caring is a community-wide initiative that connects volunteers and resources with local agencies and schools needing support. Escambia and Santa Rosa counties Hundreds of people worked together to complete all kinds of projects that provide additional capacity to the organizations and institutions that keep our community strong.
Since 1993, United Way of West Florida has coordinated more than 28,000 volunteers to complete projects across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
About 850 volunteers took part in Friday’s Day of Caring, including volunteers at Jim Allen Elementary and Tate High schools.
A team from International Paper in Cantonment volunteered at Jim Allen Elementary School. They put a new coat of paint on the school’s basketball games, four square games and installed new basketball nets in a playground refresh.
Nearly 20 dedicated volunteers from the local Publix rolled up their sleeves to assist in a campus beautification project at Tate High School. Their efforts focused on revitalizing the front entrance by excavating overgrown plants and weeds, transforming the space in between the Jennings building into a welcoming environment for students and staff alike.
“A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the amazing volunteers who participated. Their hard work and commitment have made a lasting positive impact on Tate and exemplify the power of community collaboration,” Tate High School Assistant Principal Paul Lovely said.
At Lipscomb Elementary School, a team from Navy Federal Credit Union used paint to transform the school, adding new life and vibrancy to the campus.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
