Last Minute Gift Idea: Florida Hunting And Fishing Licenses, Park Passes Are 50% Off
December 21, 2023
Florida is offering a 50% discount on annual state park passes and FWC Gold Sportsman hunting and fishing licenses under the “Great Outdoors Initiative” under an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis. These savings will continue to be available through the holiday season until Jan. 13, 2024.
“Florida has award-winning recreation lands, and I’m proud to see Floridians exploring our great outdoors,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “A lifetime hunting and fishing license or annual park pass at a large discount makes a great Christmas gift for the whole family. Excitement for the great outdoors has been passed on through generations of Floridians and I am proud to continue supporting these family traditions.”
Tthe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will discount the annual resident Gold Sportsman license, five-year Gold Sportsman license and Lifetime Sportsman license by 50%. Also, the Department of Environmental Protection will offer a 50% discount on annual state park passes.
The following FWC Gold Sportsman licenses, which include the saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, and hunting privileges and all associated permits, are discounted by 50% and will be available at the following rates, plus applicable fees:
- Annual Gold Sportsman – $50.75.
- 5-year Gold Sportsman – $247.75.
- Lifetime Sportsman’s License
- Age 4 or younger – $201.50.
- Ages 5-12 – $351.50.
- Ages 13 and older – $501.50.
Florida State Parks Annual Passes will have a 50% discount and are available tat the following rates:
- Family Annual Pass – $60, plus tax.
- Individual Annual Pass – $30, plus tax.
To buy a pass or to find a park near you, visit: www.floridastateparks.org/.
To find more information on fishing and hunting licenses in Florida, visit: myfwc.com/license/recreational/ and to purchase a license, visit: License.GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Ice Flyers Seek To Reverse Road Fortune As Schedule Hits Holiday Peak
December 21, 2023
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
The schedule allowed the Ice Flyers to have an extended break before the holiday portion of their season.
Now, the quest is to make the most from it.
After losing consecutive games for the first time last weekend at Quad City, the Ice Flyers had a full week to recharge and get a pair of practices before Saturday’s game in Huntsville, Ala. against the Huntsville Havoc. A shorter break then ensues before the Ice Flyers play five games in eight days, including three at the Pensacola Bay Center as part of a Christmas-New Year’s flurry of contests.
“It’s not sitting well with our group right now and we have to figure some stuff out,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham, prior to his team leaving Friday for a practice in Birmingham, before the game at Huntsville. “Our road game has just not been good this year. You can’t hide from it.
“We had some hard conversations after (last) Friday night’s game. You have to have an attitude when you go on the road and we have to find it somehow.”
The Ice Flyers are 3-7 on the road and have been outscored 41-21 in those games. But their unbeaten home record (8-0) has buoyed them into a second-place tie with the Birmingham Bulls (22 points) as the Ice Flyers near the one-third point of their 56-game schedule in the Southern Professional Hockey League.
Following the losses on back-to-back nights against Quad City in Moline, Illinois, several Ice Flyers players traveled to visit with their families who they won’t see at Christmas. Graham traveled back to Fort Wayne, Indiana to be with his wife and family for a few days.
He took a side trip to Chicago last Sunday, then began refocusing on the schedule ahead Monday and throughout this week.
“I talked to (Ice Flyers owner) Greg (Harris) about a month ago about this and seeing the schedule, and the fact we didn’t have a Thanksgiving break and we don’t have a Christmas or New Year’s break, we decided to do it,” Graham said. “Typically, in the past, the teams I have coached, I try to look at the calendar for the whole year and see if there’s a little bit of time where you can give a break.
“It was a rare thing in our schedule where we only had the one Saturday game and it made sense for us to try and a have a break. It’s cool if guys can see families, but it’s really more about a recharge, a little extra rest for the body.
“It stinks that we didn’t play well (last week). You never want to go into a break not playing good hockey. It probably weighs more on the head coach than it does the players.”
The Ice Flyers will follow Saturday’s game at Huntsville with another road game, this one Dec. 22 in Macon, Ga. against the Macon Mayhem. They will faceoff against Macon the following night in Pensacola in the first home game in three weeks.
The Ice Flyers then will play home games Dec. 26 and Dec. 30 against the Birmingham Bulls and play in Birmingham on Dec. 29. It will be a quick turnaround each time between games.
“We are going to start getting into the thick part of the season when games are going to start coming at you in a hurry,” Graham said. “With our group, it has taken a little longer to figure out the road thing and I am starting to get a little impatient. Because my job is to find solutions.
“For us on the road, we have to be more patient. We have to understand that it’s okay for us to win a low scoring ugly game on the road. We don’t have to entertain our fans. It can be an ugly win, we just need the points. Just getting the message across to the group is very important.”
Another evaluation will occur Saturday in Huntsville as Graham looks at his roster and players he can count upon for the rest of the season.
The Havoc (8-8, 2 OT losses) have 18 points and reside in sixth place right now. This is a team Graham knows will present the same kind of challenges as the first two meetings.
“They have good goaltending and they play the game the right way… they don’t beat themselves,” he said. “They work hard away from the puck. The two times we played them, they were very stingy defensively both nights. They are a hard-working team.
“Overall team defense and special teams are always huge on the road and we haven’t been good at either one of those lately. We have to change that right away.”
WANT TO FOLLOW?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Huntsville Havoc
WHERE: Propst Arena, Huntsville, Ala.
WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.
NEXT HOME GAME: Dec. 23 vs. Macon Mayhem at 7:05 p.m.
Northview Improves With Win Over L.E.A.D. Academy
December 19, 2023
The Northview varsity boys improved to 2-5 on the season with a 49-38 win over L.E.A.D. Academy of Pace Monday night in Bratt.
Senior Jacob Spence had a double double for the Chiefs, with 16 points and 2 rebounds. Luke Diamond added 17 points. The chiefs also had 10 points from Jikeir Hudson, four from Austin Mincshew and two from Jarrett Bodiford.
The Northview Chiefs will travel to take on the Baker Gators Tuesday night to close out action before the Christmas break.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Lady Aggies Softball Holds Winter Camp (With Gallery)
December 17, 2023
Tate Lady Aggies Softball held their annual Winter Camp Saturday.
For more photos, clikc or tap here.
In addiition to learning new softball skills, participants enjoyed “Pizza with the Players” and receivd a shirt.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All Star High School Football Game Is Friday Night
December 14, 2023
It’s East vs. West as local high school seniors battle to see who’s the best in the Pensacola Sports’ High School All-Star Series Football Game! This event showcases top players from Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Escambia County High Schools. Student athletes are nominated by their coaches and every player gets a chance to shine in their final high school game. Join us for an unforgettable night of football talent and community spirit.
- What: Pensacola Sports High School All-Star Series Football
- When: Dec. 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Booker T. Washington High School
- Tickets: $10 general admission and $5 for students - Tickets available here
2023 All-Star Football – West Team
- PHS DeQuan Gaddy OLB/CB
- Northview Wyatt Scruggs DB/WR
- Northview Joe Wright V MLB/RB
- Northview Devin Kelly CB/WR/RB
- Escambia Santwon Burnside Slot/RB
- Escambia Tadarius Wright DB/WR
- Escambia Trevion Killette DB/WR
- Escambia Lillas Legree DL/OL
- Escambia Anthony Hall QB
- Pine Forest Corey Odoms OL
- Escambia Cam Mayo WR/DB
- Escambia Lejon Williams LB
- Escambia Jaylon Harris LB
- Escambia Messiah Everheart DE/DT
- Escambia Ryan McVay DE/DT
- Escambia Josh Jackson WR/DB
- Escambia Jashawn Williams OL
- Washington Kendrick Burrell TE/WR
- Washington Connor Johnson OL
- Washington Aveon Riley DL
- Washington James Brown RB/SLOT
- Catholic Ryland Bragg OL
- Catholic Desjon Robertson DT
- Catholic Turner McLaughlin LB
- Catholic Cortney Clark DE/TE,H
- Catholic Jacob Lacour OL
- West Florida John Nicholas QB
- West Florida Tre Knott Corner/S
- West Florida Logan Weeks Center/G.T
- West Florida Cole Willis K/P
- West Florida Marquez Jones RB/KO
- Tate Edward Obrien TE
- Tate Jackson Clarke K/P
- Tate Andre Colston RB
- Tate Clayton Philly OLB
- Tate Labron Baldwin OG
- Tate Trey Edwards OT
- Tate Jaxson Moore C
- Tate Jayvon Lenius CB
- Tate Nathan Shimek SS
- Northview Jacob Spence TE/OL
- Northview DJ Lions DL
- Washington Luke Sate
2023 All-Star Football – East Roster
- Crestview Maddox Reeves DT/OL
- Crestview Michael Foley C/OL
- Crestview Braden Hood DB/WR
- Crestview Isaiah Brooks OT/OG
- Crestview Ahmad Thomas DB
- FWB Bam Davis LB
- FWB Jeremiah Norman C
- FWB Eric Scott DL/OL
- Baker Dustin Clark OL/C/3T
- Jay Brock Stout RB/CB
- Jay Eli Stephens OL/DL
- Jay Tucker Nowling WR
- Pace Jackson Ward LB
- Pace Chase Taylor LB
- Pace Brayden Gates FS
- Pace Carson Wright SS/WR
- Gulf Breeze Gavin Quenneville S/WR
- Gulf Breeze Luke Denby C/G/T
- Gulf Breeze Shamane Walker DL/DT
- Navarre Hunter Pfiester QB
- Navarre Charlie Cottrell Center
- Navarre Braydon Brown TE/H
- Navarre Nate Hanson WR
- Navarre Jaxson Spalla OL
- Navarre Cameron Pollard OL
- 2023 All-Star Football – East Roster
- Crestview Maddox Reeves DT/OL
- Crestview Michael Foley C/OL
- Crestview Braden Hood DB/WR
- Crestview Isaiah Brooks OT/OG
- Crestview Ahmad Thomas DB
- FWB Bam Davis LB
- FWB Jeremiah Norman C
- FWB Eric Scott DL/OL
- Baker Dustin Clark OL/C/3T
- Jay Brock Stout RB/CB
- Jay Eli Stephens OL/DL
- Jay Tucker Nowling WR
- Pace Jackson Ward LB
- Pace Chase Taylor LB
- Pace Brayden Gates FS
- Pace Carson Wright SS/WR
- Gulf Breeze Gavin Quenneville S/WR
- Gulf Breeze Luke Denby C/G/T
- Gulf Breeze Shamane Walker DL/DT
- Navarre Hunter Pfiester QB
- Navarre Charlie Cottrell Center
- Navarre Braydon Brown TE/H
- Navarre Nate Hanson WR
- Navarre Jaxson Spalla OL
- Navarre Cameron Pollard OL
- Choctaw Jesse Winsletter QB
- Milton Malik Cobb RB
- Milton London Snellgrove DL
- Choctaw Jashawn Armstrong OLB
- Choctaw Jonathan Boyd Safety
- Choctaw Justin Whidbee Safety/P
- Rocky Bayou Gideon Rossell RB/OLB
- Rocky Bayou Cam DeWitt ILB/TE
- Milton Kaden French LB
- Milton Manuel Kimmons DL
- Milton Jamarion Hadnot DL
- Milton Jaydon Leverett WR
- Milton Ethan Diamond QB
- Milton Landon Pulliam K/P
- Milton Carson Wolfe OLB
- Niceville D.J. Robinson RB/LB
- Niceville Landon Campbell C/DL
- Niceville D.J. Shorts RB/LB
The Top Five Star Parts Of The Ice Flyers Early Season
December 10, 2023
By Bill Vilona Ice Flyers Correspondent
The Ice Flyers are now two months into their season. Time to take some quick stock.
When the team returns late Saturday from Illinois, after back-to-back games Friday and Saturday against the Quad City Storm, the Ice Flyers will have completed nearly one-third of their schedule.
It’s been a special start, so far, beginning with an unbeaten home record (8-0), current second-place position in the SPHL standings and crowd support.
Here are five elements that have stood out.
HOME PERFECTION
You can’t surpass unbeaten, right? At 8-0 at the Pensacola Bay Center, the Ice Flyers have won games with crowd-pleasing dramatics, including multiple wins after trailing in the first period. This team has always found an extra gear at the right time on home ice.
It is something that coach Gary Graham repeatedly discussed in media interviews and during the preseason gathering with Ice Flyers fans on the importance of playing well at home.
The team is between a 21-day gap this month between home games. Here is how Graham reflected after last Saturday’s big win against Peoria.
“We are confident in this building, but we don’t even talk about that stuff around here,” he said. “We haven’t talked about the standings. I honestly told the guys this first third of the season we are just trying get our identity.
“Trying to get guys going, trying to figure out who is going to be playing with who and what works. I like where we’re at with our depth and most importantly it’s the character.. of the group. That is the fun thing to watch.”
ATTENDANCE, COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Ice Flyers have attracted 38,897 fans for their first eight home games. That’s the most in the league, just ahead of the Huntsville Havoc. Their 4,862 per-game average is the third-best in the league, but already ahead of last year’s surge of attendance numbers.
Equally important, the Ice Flyers have spent quality time off-ice with supporters in a variety of charitable projects and other fun events like bowling with fans last Sunday.
“That is one of the reasons I wanted to come back (to coach),” Graham said. “I have seen what (Ice Flyers owner) Greg (Harris) has done over the last 10 years. When I interviewed for the job, I did some research on the team.
“(To) lead the league in attendance and lead the league in charitable donations… and when you see a team do that, it is something I can get on board with because I like to do stuff with my own personal business back home in the community (Fort Wayne, Indiana).
“When I ask guys to do that stuff, immediately guys raise their hand to volunteer. We recruited a good group of guys who want to get out do that stuff in the community and obviously that is something Greg really cares about.”
CAPTAIN’S HELP
Center Garrett Milan is playing in the same big impact way as he’s done throughout his Ice Flyers career. One difference, however, that Graham has liked is how teammates have been more immediate in rushing to his defense when trouble ensues on the ice and pushing and shoving begins.
“He’s a little pit bull. That is what I like about him,” Graham said. “He’s got jam. When I watched the film on last year’s season, I just saw this number 10 and he’s buzzing around and all of a sudden he has three guys on him.
“And I talked to the guys a lot during the summer when I was recruiting them and I said, ‘Hey, we can’t leave our captain in these isolated situations with three guys around him. We have to get in there like a wolfpack and back him up.’
“I think our identity has been that this year with guys like (Sean) Gulka and Malik (Johnson) and others who have been willing to take that side of things, where our skill guys don’t have to worry about that stuff as much.”
MULTIPLE PRODUCTION
The Ice Flyers went into the weekend with three of the league’s top five scorers. Milan leads the way with 6 goals and 12 assists (18 points) – second most points in the league, followed by newcomer Brett Mecrones (11 goals, 6 assists) at No. 4 and veteran Ivan Bondarenko (3 goals, 14 assists), who is No. 5 in scoring.
“We just have a lot of good guys in the room, lot of guys knowing their role and playing their role really well to the T,” said winger Dallas Comeau. “We have a good group, we have a very skilled and top-of-the-league group. And I think when we come together like we did (Saturday) we can take the league on.”
BOUNCE BACK
In their 16 games so far, the Ice Flyers have not lost back-to-back games. The most significant part the sequence occurred after an 8-1 loss at Birmingham – the worst margin of defeat – on Nov. 24 was followed by a 1-0 win at Macon on Nov. 26.
“Any time your group can show resiliency, that’s important,” Graham said. “Every game is part of the process the whole season. Getting them to just believe and trust each other is big.
“We are a team that is still learning. That starts with me and on down. I think the more cool and calm we present ourselves, myself being leader and on down, we handle adversity better. Just trying to ride those highs or lows and make sure it stays more even keel.”
Northview Earns First Win Of The Season 46-47 Over Elberta; Tate Tops Navarre
December 9, 2023
Tate 65, Navarre 62
The Tate High Aggies boys basketball team beat Navarre on the road 65-62 Friday night.
The Aggies will be at Pine Forest on Monday, December 11.
Northview 47, Elberta 46
The Northview High School boys basketball team earned their first win of the season 47-46 Friday night on the road at Elberta.
Leading scorer Luke Diamond had 11 points for the Chiefs, Jacob Spence added nine. Also for Northview, Jarret Bodiford and Austin Minchew added five each, while Austin Dunsford contributed six. Rhett Madden had two for NHS.
Northview will host the Jay Royals next Tuesday, December 12.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Makayla Golson Signs With Millsaps College
December 5, 2023
Northview High School’s Makayla Golson signed Monday to play softball at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six UWF Football Players Named To D2 CCA All-Super Region 2 Team
December 3, 2023
For the second-consecutive season, the UWF football program had six selections voted on to the Division 2 Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Super Region Two team as announced by the organization on Thursday.
Wide receiver John Jiles, offensive linemen Jacob Bruce, defensive lineman John McMullen and linebacker Gael Laurent were First Teamers, and offensive lineman Nymonta Doucoure and defensive back Quincy Milhomme were selected to the Second Team.
Jiles is among the most exciting wideouts in the country, ranking second in the NCAA in receiving yards (1,209), receiving ypg (109.9) and receiving TD (16). The First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection from Wake Forest, North Carolina has six 100-yard receiving games and has caught at least one touchdown in nine games
Bruce has started all four years at offensive tackle and earns his third-consecutive all-region honor, becoming the first 3-time honoree in program history. The Gainesville, Florida product has been part of an offensive line that helped UWF rank 17th in the country with 258 yards passing and 35th with 178.7 rushing yards per game. The Argos were 22nd with 437 yards of total offense this season. Doucure moved from tackle to guard in the fourth game and finished with an 85 percent grade in nine contests this season.
Laurent led the team with 63 tackles, including 42 solos, four tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass break-ups. The Miami, Florida standout finished his career with 154 stops, 24 TFL and 13 sacks in 44 games.
McMullen has been a dominant force in the offensive backfield all season. The GSC Defensive Player of the Year ranks second in the country with 13 quarterback sacks and set a UWF record with 22 tackles for loss. In a career that included time at Northern Michigan and UWF, McMullen ended his college playing days with 227 tackles, 68 TFL, 33 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
Milhomme was also an all-conference pick who starred in the secondary for the Argos. He started six of the final nine games at safety and ended his junior season with 32 tackles, 27 solos, three pass break-ups and two interceptions.
The first team selections will advance to the All-America ballot with top vote-getters from the other three super regions. The teams are voted on by the nation’s NCAA Division II sports information directors. The All-America teams will be announced on December 14.
Photo: Emily Miller.
Ice Flyers Rally In Third Period To Stay Unbeaten At Home On Rally Gulf Coast Night
December 3, 2023
The celebratory chants were a little louder inside the home team locker room. The music played a lot longer, too.
The Ice Flyers’ latest home ice win Saturday night became the best one.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Trailing 2-0 with less than 14 minutes remaining, the response was an extra gear, big saves and a clutch power-play goal by Dallas Comeau with 1:47 remaining that lifted the Ice Flyers to a gratifying 3-2 victory against the Peoria Rivermen to sweep the two-game series at the Pensacola Bay Center.
“They are obviously huge rivals, and it was awesome seeing the resiliency of this group,” Comeau said. “When we come together, we can make mountains move and it was awesome.”
The Ice Flyers (11-5-0) are now 8-0 at home after the win on Rally Foundation Night to benefit Rally Gulf Coast. The Ice Flyers, who wore specialty Rally Foundation uniforms, won’t play at the Bay Center again until two days before Christmas, but it’s been a joyous holiday-like time at home so far for this team.
They turned a lull into an energized crowd roar Saturday, especially after Nick Leitner’s tying goal with 6:44 remaining was followed by the furious final minutes.
“It was amazing,” said Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger, who stopped 28 of 30 shots. “Probably one of the most fun games I’ve been a part of, as far as I can remember.
“Just after every goal, if you saw me, I was going nuts. It’s why we play the game, right? Stuff like this is worth all the memories. This was definitely special.”
Mundinger was definitely special Saturday. After Peoria (8-4-1) scored two first period goals in the final three minutes, both after turnovers in the Ice Flyers zone, he made huge saves in the second period, then in the third to keep the score as it was and help enable the comeback to happen.
“Second period we were just holding on for dear life,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “Thank God, Dinger played a great game. He really gave us a chance. I really thought he should have been number one star, because without him making some big saves… in second period if that thing gets down 3-0 it could be curtains.
“I thought that was our worst period of the season. They took our confidence away from us in the second period.”
But the Ice Flyers got it back and the crowd into the action when Sean Gulka pounced on a loose puck in the crease area and chipped it up into the net to cut the deficit.
“That was the ice breaker we needed,” Comeau said.
Earlier in the game, Gulka brawled with Peoria’s Tristan Trudel, son of Peoria head coach Jean-Guy Trudel.
“I thought that really got (Rivermen) fired up,” Graham said.
Gulka’s goal was followed by linemate Leitner’s tying goal.
“That line was huge,” Graham said. “They played bull in a China shop hockey, because it’s a big line for us and two of our biggest wingers are on that line.”
With 2:51 remaining, Peoria was whistled for a delay of game penalty, giving the Ice Flyers only their second power play of the game. This time, they struck gold.
“A big face off win by Mitchy (Mitch Atkins) and nice shot by Zac (Herrmann) and I just got loose in position on that power play and was able to find the back of the net (on rebound),” Comeau said. “It was just electric in there (Bay Center). It was awesome in the third period. I was only a small piece of it.”
The Ice Flyers now have a 21-day gap between home games. Their next home game is Dec. 23 against Macon.
For more photos, click or tap here.
In the first intermission, Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris helped raise thousands for Rally Foundation by showing off his own hockey skills. After easily converting goals from the red line, Harris went to the other end, took off his shoes and went barefoot on the ice to send pucks end to end into the net.
Joining him were long time Ice Flyers sponsor Troy Rafferty, part of the Levin Papantonio Raffery Law Firm and Capt. Terrance Shashaty, commanding officer of Naval Air Station-Pensacola.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Quad City Storm
WHEN: Friday and Saturday (Dec 8-9), 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Vibrant Arena, Moline, Illinois.
