PENSACOLA, FLA. – The Ice Flyers hosted an exciting Country Night event presented by Cat Country 98.7, as they faced the Evansville Thunderbolts in front of a lively audience of 4,427 fans on Friday evening.
The Ice Flyers took an early lead in the game, with Tyler Burnie finding the back of the net just past the 15-minute mark in the first period. Zack Jones quickly followed up with another goal, bringing the score to 2-0 as the first period concluded.
In the second period, the Thunderbolts intensified their efforts, leading to Connor Tait’s goal that cut the deficit. Joey Berkopec later scored, leveling the match before the teams headed into the final period.
The third period showcased a tense back-and-forth battle, with Evansville firing 11 shots on goal compared to Pensacola’s 8. Despite their efforts, neither team could break the tie, resulting in a thrilling overtime period that also ended without a score, prompting a shootout to determine the winner.
In the shootout, Scott Kirton from Evansville struck first. Unfortunately for the Ice Flyers, they missed their initial three attempts. However, Billy Girard IV stepped up, successfully stopping two of Evansville’s next shots. Myles Abbette then scored for the Thunderbolts on their fourth try. Sam Rhodes managed to score, but the Ice Flyers’ final shot from Zack Jones was stopped, sealing the victory for Evansville.
Excitement continues as both teams will face off once again on Saturday night, with a nearly sold-out crowd expected for Wiener Dog Race Night. Fans also have the opportunity to bid on autographed goal pucks from the game through DASH.
The Ice Flyers aim to bounce back in their next match, maintaining the high energy and engagement seen from the fans in this thrilling matchup.