The Jacksonville Icemen started their 2018-19 season off on the right foot, beating the South Carolina Stingrays in their season opener Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Arena.
The team won 4-2 in front of a sold-out crowd, with Blake Kessel, Garet Hunt, Cody Fowlie, and Alexis D’Aoust scoring one goal each. Fowlie, Everett Clark, Wacey Rabbit, Matt Ustaski, Jake Randolph, and Jack Glover each logged one assist. Goaltender Mikhail Berdin logged 24 saves and also assisted on Fowlie’s goal.
Kevin McKernan and Jake Kamrass accounted for the Stringrays’ two goals.
The game was tied 1-1 entering the third period. South Carolina took the lead on Kamrass’s goal before the Icemen managed a string of three unanswered goals to finish the game.
And on Sunday afternoon, the team announced it would add to its already-talented roster by signing NHL and AHL veteran forward Kris Newbury.
Newbury, 36, has over 900 games of professional hockey experience. He most recently played for the Fischtown Pinguins in Germany.
He’ll join the Icemen as they get set for the second game of their season. The team will face the Orlando Solar Bears this Friday at 7:30 PM at Veterans Memorial Arena.