Ice Flyers Get 4-2 Win Saturday Against Macon Mayhem
February 4, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers’ Malik Johnson skated back to center ice, after chosen as the game’s No. 1 star, tapping his heart to acknowledge the supportive crowd.
This was the desired capper to the weekend, the kind of celebratory scene with former stars and the current team that followed the Ice Flyers 4-2 win Saturday against the Macon Mayhem, thus delighting a sellout crowd of 8,049 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
With two memorable nights on the Ice Flyers 15th anniversary weekend, which was paired with the $5 ticket weekend, the Ice Flyers filled the building from floor to ceiling and honored former players who helped forge the franchise legacy that includes four championships.
But most importantly to this team, a win ensued that was much needed.
“It was cool, it was an awesome weekend,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham referring to the experience presented by back-to-back sellouts. “The (former players) came in (locker room) before the game and got ‘em pumped up. We made them more a part of it (Saturday), behind closed doors, more of an intimate setting with our team.”
After Macon scored the game’s first goal with 11:01 left in the first period, the Ice Flyers tied it less than two minutes later when team captain Garrett Milan scored off a faceoff from an in-traffic assist from Houston Wilson.
This was more than just a tying goal. It was Milan’s first goal in 11 games. And it set a tone for what followed.
“It was great to see Garrett score that first goal,” Graham said. “He’s needed that bad. He has been working his tail off, he’s been battling through some nagging injuries, and he’s been a warrior.
“He puts a lot of pressure on himself… that’s what a captain does when times aren’t going good. I know I’ve been hard on him, too. So to see him finally get that monkey off his back and go to the net hard and get rewarded…. I think it was good for our team to see our captain doing that.
“He was out there finishing checks. He led with his actions on the ice, and I thought the rest of the team really followed his lead.”
Yes, they did.
Four minutes after Milan’s goal, fellow Ice Flyers veteran Ivan Bondarenko finished a perfect pass from Taylor Egan in the slot to give the Ice Flyers a 2-1 intermission lead. Bondarenko then bowed in salute of Egan as the players embraced.
The Ice Flyers almost had a 3-1 lead before the period ended. With 3:41 remaining and a timeout that followed what first appeared on the videoboard replay of a rebound goal, the officials looked extensively at their replay available in the penalty box area. And it was affirmed just as ruled in real time on the ice that it wasn’t a goal.
“When you look at the camera view — and a lot of times you see this in the NHL too — it looks like (puck) is crossing the line, but it’s a depth issue. (The puck) wasn’t across and (officials) had another view they used, and I knew it wasn’t a goal.”
What was a clear goal, however, scored in dramatic fashion by Johnson, occurred early in the second period.
He won a race to the puck on a breakaway against Macon’s diving goaltender who was well out of the crease. Johnson then gained control and with a trailing defender easily tapped the puck into the net for a 3-1 lead.
“He’s one of the fastest guys in the league and it was a good anticipation read on his part,” Graham said. “He read the chip that was happening, and he just beat the goalie to it.”
After the Mayhem added suspense with a shorthanded goal early in the third period, the game stayed 3-2 until the Ice Flyers Nick Leitner fired into an empty net with two seconds remaining.
Macon gained a 6 on 4 situation with their goaltender pulled, after the Ice Flyers were whistled for too many men of the ice with 50.6 seconds later. But the Ice Flyers didn’t allow Macon a clean shot and sealed the game.
“The main thing was Garrett and (Joseph) Widmar did a good job on the (penalty kill) holding the blue line. We just didn’t let (Macon) get into the zone,” Graham said.
Overall, Graham was pleased with his team’s response that followed a deflating 1-0 loss Friday night against first-place Birmingham.
“I thought we came right out of the gate and started putting more pucks at the net,” he said. “I thought the first goal (by Milan) symbolized what we wanted to start doing more and that is just crashing the net.”
When the final horn sounded, 10 former Ice Flyers players came onto the ice with wives and girlfriends for a team photo with the current players. They locked arms in a poignant scene that ended the special weekend.
The Ice Flyers will now be on the road next weekend at Huntsville, while Pensacola celebrates its Mardi Gras weekend of parades. They finished Saturday, however, with their own good times rolling.
“It was rocking. It was exciting,” Graham said. “Obviously, we couldn’t blow the lid off it (Friday night). You don’t want to get shut out on Teddy Bear toss night and you don’t want to get shut out in front of 8,000 fans, but unfortunately that happened. It was disappointing for the guys.”
But the response Saturday became a gratifying end.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Huntsville Havoc
WHEN: Friday-Saturday (Feb. 9-10) 7 p.m. both games.
WHERE: Propst Arena, Huntsville, Ala.
Tate Cheerleaders Win FHSAA State Championship; Jay Places Fourth
February 4, 2024
The Tate High School Cheerleaders won the FHSAA Small State Championship Saturday in Lakeland. This was their third state title.
The Jay High School Cheerleaders tied for fourth place in their division.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com.
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
Tate Boys Soccer Beats Navarre 3-0 For District Championship
February 1, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies boys soccer team won the District 1-6A championship Wednesday night.
Tate defeated Navarre 3-0 at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
Graphic courtesy Tate Soccer for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Girls Golf Team Named FHSAA Class 3A 2023 Academic Team Champions
January 29, 2024
The Tate girls golf team has been named the FHSAA Class 3A 2023 Academic Team Champions.
With a cumulative team GPA of 3.876, team members are: Eva Grissom, Lilly Hardy, Jordan Smith, Talia Smith, and Kara Wine. They are coached by Melinda Wyatt.
The FHSAA Academic Team Champion recognition program honors teamwork not only in competition, but in the classroom as well. The program recognizes teams in each of the Association’s sanctioned and recognized sports, naming an Academic Team Champion in each classification based on GPA.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
2024 Northview Baseballl Roster Announced
January 29, 2024
The Northview Chiefs have named their 2024 baseball team.
The roster is:
- Robbie Bodiford
- Jack Boutwell
- Jackson Bridges
- Luke Chavers
- Ayden Crabtree
- Taylor Curtis
- Kobi Fiorenti
- Tyler Gilmore
- Brayden Gindl
- Gage Harrison
- Nate Jones
- Kelan Jurey
- Dane King
- Rylan Minor
- Easten Odom
- Jase Portwood
- Colby Pugh
- Brodie Rhodes
- Wyatt Scruggs
- Grayden Sheffield
- Brady Smith
- James Smith
- Will Strawbridge
- Jayden White
2024 Tate Lady Aggies Softball Rosters Announced
January 28, 2024
…………………….
Tate softball has announced their 2024 Lady Aggies roster. Play begins with a Pre-Season Classic at Tate February 13 and 15. The regular season begins February 20 as the Lady Aggies host Crestview.
VARSITY
- Kate Balagbagan
- Olivea Latner
- Kylea Gibbs
- Elizabeth Mcvay
- Lacy Wilson
- Tristen Showalter
- Amburleigh Laird
- Blakely Campbell
- Kara Wine
- Aubree Jordan
- Jordan Smith
- Carlyn Ham
- Peyton Womack
- Kaylie Mitchell
JUNIOR VARSITY
- Kinzlee Biggs
- Peyton Wilson
- Jordyn Banks
- Madison Smillie
- Aubree Gorum
- Kacie Tolbert
- Carmen Morris
- Keanna Smith
- Chloe Engle
- Olivia Messer
- Paisley Smith
- Kierstyn Phillips
- Kingsley Wann
- Tatianna Yahle
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tate Cheerleaders Win Regional Championship, Jay Takes Runner-up; Both Advance To State Finals
January 27, 2024
The Tate High School Cheerleaders won the Region 1 Championship and will advance to the state finals on Saturday, February 3 in Lakeland.
Tate took first place in the FHSAA Region 1 Small Varsity division at Port St. Joe High School.
The Jay Royals cheerleaders were named the Region 1 Runner-Ups and will also advance straight to the FHSAA State Finals in Lakeland.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders Sweep Gulf Breeze High School Cheer Competition
January 21, 2024
It was a clean sweep Saturday for the Tate High School Cheerleaders at the Gulf Breeze High School Cheer Competition.
- 1st place gameday
- 1st place traditional
- Best pyramid
- GAMEDAY GRAND CHAMPION
- 1st place gameday
That was the last competition for The Tate JV and Freshmen cheer teams. The Varsity will head to the the FHSAA Regionals next Friday.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Have Another Special Saturday Crowd On Mardi Gras Night, But Fall In OT Against Macon
January 21, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
For so much of Saturday night, the good times rolled and reverberated through all levels of the building on the annual Mardi Gras Night.
Unfortunately for the Ice Flyers and their loyal fans, there was silence at the end.
In another gut-punch to a team struggling for a turnaround, the Macon Mayhem got a tying goal with less than four minutes left in regulation play, thwarted an Ice Flyers power play late in overtime, then won the shootout for a 3-2 victory before a crowd of 7,032 at the Pensacola Bay Center.
“I feel bad for the boys, they deserved a better outcome,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “We put a lot of effort out there and can’t find a way of winning games. We keep finding ways of losing games. Again, we dominated the play, dominated the scoring chances, we were disciplined, won the special teams battle.
“You do everything you are supposed to do to win hockey games.”
Right now, it just hasn’t happened. The Ice Flyers sustained their ninth loss in the past 10 games. Macon (8-18, 5 OT losses), battling to get out of last place in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings, rebounded after a 7-3 home loss Saturday against Roanoke – the team the Ice Flyers will face next week on the road.
But the element which has continued to shine all season for Pensacola is the crowd support at the Bay Center. This was the third consecutive Saturday home game where the Ice Flyers have drawn crowds of 7,000-plus fans for a non-discounted game. It has never happened before in the 15-year history of the franchise.
It began with the 7,159 on Dec. 30, then a new franchise record of 7,243 a week ago.
“It has been great,” Graham said. “The thing is, we went on that record streak here (9-0 start at home) early on in the year, and now we can’t get the job done, which is disappointing. We spoiled the fans a little early on, and now we’re not coming through, so it’s always disappointing when the crowds are great, and you want to play great in front of them.
“I do think our team has played good these last couple games. We’ve played hard. For three straight (home games), I feel like the guys have really given the effort and I hope the fans recognize that.”
Once again, the Ice Flyers had to battle from early adversity.
Macon scored just 19 seconds into the game and before much of the crowd had even settled into seats. The Mayhem’s Michael McChesney deked his way past an Ice Flyers defenseman and wristed a shot past goaltender Kaden Fulcher, who was playing his first game back for the Ice Flyers since November when he was called up to the higher level ECHL.
At one point in the opening period, the Ice Flyers had an 11-1 edge in shots on goal and finished the period with a 14-6 advantage without a goal.
That changed with 12:45 remaining in the second period when Lucas Herrmann got a terrific pass from Reggie Millette and got the shot past Macon goaltender Jimmy Poreda, who wound up stopping 34 of 36 shots, along with all five attempts in the overtime shootout.
“He came up big for them,” said Herrmann. “I thought we had a lot of good chances on him. This week we just have to work on bearing down and getting more stuff to the net.
“Coach (Graham) was preaching that after the game that we needed to start funneling more pucks and crashing the net harder when we’re on a skid like this. We have to create our own luck.”
Midway through the third period, Herrmann’s older brother, Zac, gave the Ice Flyers a 2-1 lead and sent an explosive roar through the crowd when his slap shot from inside the blue line on a power play chance went through a screen in front of Poreda and into the net.
“Our power play has been moving around really well lately, and it was nice to see one finally go in there,” said Lucas Herrmann.
But Macon tied the game with 3:54 left in regulation play when Mayhem newcomer Lane King scored his first goal for the team after a shot block bounced his way.
“Their tying goal was a tough break for us,” Lucas Herrmann said. “We had a really good shot block there and just an unlucky bounce. But I thought we did a lot of good things tonight and we do appreciate the crowd. I wish we could have pulled that out for them.”
The Ice Flyers were in position to pull it out when Macon’s Billy Jerry was whistled for a holding penalty with 1:14 left in the overtime. The Ice Flyers had several good looks, several hard shots, but Poreda made the stops.
And then in the five-player shootout, Macon’s Alex Laplante, the team’s first shooter, wristed a shot through Fulcher’s pads. All five Ice Flyers shooters were thwarted to end the game.
“Guys are here to do a job. If you’re paid to be offensive, you put those guys out there on the ice… and we have some guys with dry spells right now,” Graham said. “We’ve got to try and change some things up and maybe move some lines around.
“I hate doing that, but at this point as a coach, you have to entertain all things to get the team going in the right direction.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
WHEN: Friday-Saturday (Jan. 26-27), both games at 6:05 p.m. CST.
WHERE: Berglund Center, Roanoke, Va
