Surge Give IceGators First Loss In Shutout

Lafayette, La.—Just six days after recording their first shutout of the season, the Louisiana IceGators found themselves on the opposite end of a shutout.  The IceGators gave up three goals in the first six minutes of Friday night’s home opener en route to a 5-0 loss to the Mississippi Surge.  Surge goalie Mathieu Dugas stopped all 34 of Louisiana shots to record his first clean sheet of the year.

The IceGators now hit the road for a trip down I-10 to play the Pensacola IceFlyers at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

“I think we thought it was going to be an easy night,” IceGators head coach Kevin Kaminski said.  “Our preparation was awful.  It all started with our morning skate.  We weren’t crisp, and our execution was bad.

“I told the guys the Surge were going to be hungry,” Kaminski continued.  “”The wanted it more than we did tonight.”

The Surge opened the game by taking a 3-0 by the 6:00 mark of the first period.  Mitch Bruijsten and Reid Edmondson both scored in the fourth minute of play.  Jordan Peddle tacked on a short-handed goal with 14:00 remaining in the period.

The IceGators had an opportunity to end the shutout midway through the third period when Bret Peppler drew a penalty shot.  However, Peppler’s attempt was unsuccessful.

Mississippi added two more goals in the game’s waning minutes.  Edmondson scored his second goal with just under eight minutes remaining.  Justin MacDonald added another goal with nearly four minutes left in the game.

Kaminski says Friday night’s blowout is not only an ego check for his squad, but also a reminder that the team cannot rest on its laurels.

“You can’t take a night off,” Kaminski said.  “Every team in this league is good.  We have to stay humble and not be satisfied.  We have to be greedy, and the guys know they have to earn it every night.  We’ll see what we’re made of [Saturday] night.”