Written by Kristopher Clark

NORFOLK, VA – River Rymsha’s goal just 31-seconds into overtime lifted the Norfolk Admirals to a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Icemen at the Norfolk Scope Friday night.  The Icemen rallied to tie the game four separate times before falling in overtime.  Despite the loss the Icemen collect a standings point on the road. 

The Admirals used their first power play to assume a 1-0 lead in the game.   Ryan Salkeld delivered a shot at the top of the crease that was initially stopped by Icemen goaltender Adam Carlson.  However, Salkeld nudged the puck off the rebound softly underneath Carlson’s pad and Roman Ammirato tapped the loose puck into the net behind Carlson

The Icemen evened the score after winning a battle for the puck on the left-wing boards.  Dajon Mingo sent a pass across the ice to a wide-open Dalton Thrower on the right wing.  Thrower unleashed a heavy slapshot that ripped into the Norfolk net to tie the game at one. 

Later in the period, Norfolk retook the lead with Roman Ammirato’s second of the evening. The puck rolled into the right corner in the Jacksonville defensive end and was dug out from a scrum by Zach Franko who fired a pass into the slot what was put past the blocker of Carlson to give Norfolk a 2-1 lead.

The Icemen countered just 1:01 into the second period when Chase Lang received a pass in the slot and flexed a shot past goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos for the tying tally. Norfolk reclaimed the lead on a goal from Zach Franko, his fifth of the season. Jacksonville turned the puck over entering the Norfolk zone which led to an odd man rush the other way. Ammirato skated into the Jacksonville zone on the left side and slid a pass across to Franko who roofed the shot over the glove of Carlson to give Norfolk a 3-2 lead.Jacksonville responded once again and tied the game at three goals apiece. The Admirals turned the puck over entering the Jacksonville end which led to a rush the other way for the Icemen. Everett Clark fed his brother Emerson with a pass and skated in on the left side and fired a shot short-side over the shoulder of Sakellaropoulos.For the fourth time of the night, Norfolk regained a one-goal lead. Josh Holmstrom intercepted an Icemen clearing attempt which allowed Norfolk to keep the puck in the Jacksonville end. Holmstrom skated into the right corner and sent a pass to the right point for Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez fed a pass across the ice to Phil Hudon at the left point who teed off a slap-shot that soared over the glove of Carlson to give Norfolk a 4-3 lead.Jacksonville once again responded with a goal of their own from Chase Lang on the powerplay. Following a wild scramble in front of the net, Lang poked at the puck to steer it slowly across the goal line to tie the game up for fourth time and eventually force overtime. River Rymsha scored the game-winning goal just 31 seconds into the extra session. Rymsha skated into the Jacksonville end, deked around the defender, and went backhand to forehand and wristed a shot past Carlson to give the Admirals a 5-4 win.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday at the Norfolk Scope.  Game time is slated for 7:35 p.m.  Fans can catch all game broadcasts at www.mixlr.com/jaxicemen or watch the game online at ECHL.TV

Flexible ticket packages and discounted group tickets are on sale now.  Contact 904-602-7825 for more information. 

The 2019-20 Jacksonville Icemen Season is Presented by Community First Credit Union

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