Evansville becomes just second team to beat ECHL’s best at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.
Records:Â Â Evansville: 19-24-6-1; Missouri: 41-7-2-1
Goalies:  MO – Summerhays (L), 4-8-1-0, 24 saves
EVN – Greenham (W), 6-5-1-0, 31 saves
Scoring:
1st Period: 1. EVN – Leveille 19 (HImelson, Harrison, 3:34)
2nd Period: 2. MO – Cullity 3 (Johnston, T. Ludwig, 12:06)
3rd Period: 3. EVN – Humphries 1 (unassisted, 5:45)
INDEPENDENCE, MO – The short-handed Evansville IceMen did something only one other team has done this season on Sunday. The IceMen beat the Missouri Mavericks 2-1 at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena. It was only Missouri’s third home loss in 27 games.
The IceMen found the back of the net early in the game, when Andrew Himelson’s shot from the point deflected off of a stick in front of Mavericks goaltender Steven Summerhays 3:34 into the first period. Evansville outshot Missouri 15-8 in the frame, but was unsuccessful on a four-minute power play when Jesse Root’s stick came up and caught Alex Wideman. Wideman did not return.
The Mavericks tied the game when Patrick Cullity fired a shot through a screen over the glove of IceMen goalie Scott Greenham at 12:06 of the second period. The two goalies took a beating with several collisions at the net, but both teams continued to struggle on the power play. The teams skated into the third period tied 1-1.
Evansville benefitted from a Missouri blunder on a delayed IceMen penalty 5:45 into the third period in what turned out to be the game-winning goal. With Summerhays pulled for an extra attacker, Tyler Barnes’ shot from the point was blocked by IceMen defensemanSpencer Humphries. When Barnes tried to recover, he swept the puck all the way down the ice into his own net.
Suddenly in the lead, the IceMen killed the sixth Mavericks power play and hung on to the 2-1 victory. Greenham stopped 31 shots in the win.
The IceMen head to Cincinnati Tuesday to complete the four-game road trip, before returning home February 26-27 for two games against the Atlanta Gladiators for Pink the Rink Weekend. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on www.evansvilleicemen.com and ECHL TV. Game time is scheduled for 7:35pm EST (6:35 in Evansville), and pregame coverage will begin at 6:20pm CST.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Fri. 2/26 – Atlanta at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center
                        Pink the Rink Weekend – Paint the Ice
Sat. 2/27 – Atlanta at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center
                        Pink the Rink Weekend – Jersey Auction
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PINK THE RINK
The IceMen invite you to Pink the Rink Weekend February 26-27 at the Ford Center! For just $5, purchase the opportunity to paint the name of a loved one on the ice following Friday night’s game. An exclusive ticket special for the weekend includes a goal zone ticket to both Friday and Saturday night’s games and name on the ice for just $35. The IceMen will be wearing specialty jerseys both nights which will be auctioned off Saturday night after the game. All proceeds from the painting of the names and the jersey auction will go to Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. Both games start at 7:15 pm against the Atlanta Gladiators. Call 812-421-GOAL (4625) for more information.
MARCH BOOK DRIVE
The IceMen will be hosting a book drive for three games in March. The team will be collecting new or gently used beginner to teen books Friday March 4th and Saturday March 5th when Evansville hosts the Tulsa Oilers and again Sunday March 6th when the IceMen take on the Wichita Thunder. Bookmarks will be handed out for every book donated, and anyone with a bookmark can present it at the Ford Center Ticket Office for a discounted ticket to the IceMen game Wednesday March 9th. All of the books will be donated to Evansville Hangers.
DOMINO’S 4-GAME HAT PACK
Choose any four IceMen home games and get a FREE limited edition IceMen hat and a large 1-topping Domino’s pizza, starting at only $17 per ticket. Call the IceMen front office at 812-421-GOAL (4625) for details.
Visit us at www.evansvilleicemen.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @EvvIceMen for more information about your hometown professional hockey team.
