By Joey Lachman
(Pictured from right to left: Seniors Kevin Holman, Tyler Young, Cam King, Logan Breen, and Danila Mikheev)
WESLEY CHAPEL- It was Senior night at AdventHealth arena Saturday night, and the Ice Bulls put up one heck of a fight in their final home game in front of an adoring crowd. The packed house sent off the Ice Bulls' eight seniors with a warm and endearing reception pregame. Before the game, the players were out to greet fans and sign autographs, a sign of the joy and pride our fans have for the team and their graduating players. There was a special sort of buzz around the arena before the game as many of the fans and players relished the atmosphere of the last home game of the season.
Embry-Riddle University however, had ideas of their own, quickly silencing the home crowd with a goal less than a minute and a half into the first period. That goal would be the first of four Eagles shots that would find the twine in the first period, sending us to the first intermission with a score of 4-0 Eagles.
USF was down but not out as the Bulls would go on to claw back and dominate the last 2 periods. “[our] Captain and Coach reiterated that we needed to get back to fundamentals, we weren't really moving our feet in the first period.” said senior forward Zach Parker.
Coming out of the locker room in the second period USF looked more composed and seemed to simplify their game by getting pucks in deep, chasing them down, and producing shots on the net. The first one of those shots found the back of the net when Alden Spratt fired a screamer past the Eagle’s goaltender Michael Morris. The Arena erupted in a joyous frenzy as the Ice Bulls put themselves on the scoreboard.
The Bulls outshot Embry-Riddle 17-6 in the second period, showing their back-to-basics strategy was shifting the momentum in their favor. “[our strategy was] Getting pucks deep, being harder on the puck, getting those turnovers, and then getting shots on net,” said senior captain Keith Moss.
Freshman Andrew Ward added to USF’s tally with a goal just minutes after Spratt’s. The crowd lifted the Ice Bulls to keep grinding away as it was clear to see how much their supporters inspired them to skate on.
The Ice Bulls came out swinging in the third, looking to continue their ways in the previous period. They did. Once again USF was able to keep much of the game in the Eagle's defensive zone and rattle off shots on goal. Senior Andrew Miranda netted a goal giving the Ice Bulls and the home fans hope.
Through steady defensive work and a will to drag the puck up the ice, the Bulls shifted Embry-Riddle into their own zone, forcing them to defend for much of the last two periods. However, defend they did as the Eagles would only allow one goal out of the 18 attempts by the Ice Bulls in the final period.
It was still an incredible night for the Ice Bulls and their fans as they finish their home season with a gritty and prideful performance, showing their adoring fans another awesome night at the AdventHealth Center Ice Arena. “[I want to say] How grateful I am for the organization, for the love, [and] for all the fans that came out, I love this team,” said Moss.
From the pre-game festivities to the heartfelt senior send-offs, this Ice Bulls Senior night was one to remember.
[Credit to @USFHockeyClub on Twitter for the image]
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