Ice Flyers Fall To Quad City Saturday NIght
March 16, 2025
by Bill Vilona Ice Flyers.com Correspondent
The Ice Flyers figured to have an edge in a quest to gain ground in their weekend series against the team ahead for the final playoff spot.
That’s what made Saturday’s 3-0 loss against the Quad City Storm so baffling to Ice Flyers coach Rod Aldoff.
“This was not the team I had seen since coaching them,” said Aldoff, who returned on February 21 for his third return behind the bench.
After coming back from a two-goal deficit to win Friday’s game, the Ice Flyers again fell behind 2-0 in the second period Saturday, only to come up empty in a deflating loss before a crowd of 4,491 at the Pensacola Bay Center on St. Patrick’s Celebration Night.
There was no four-leaf clover found. Just the opposite. The weekend split kept the Ice Flyers seven points behind the Storm for eighth place, but now with just seven games left in the regular season.
“We just didn’t have legs, we weren’t moving, we weren’t getting to pucks, we weren’t supporting the puck,” Aldoff said. “In the third period there were spurts that were better, but you can’t play one period or 10 minutes and win a game.
“First period (Friday) we had no legs, which I understood because we had a goofy schedule with very little ice and no games last week. I somewhat expected it might take a period to get into and we did. I expected much better legs (Saturday).”
Instead, they were outshot 15-7 in the first period and trailed 1-0. Less than five minutes into the second period, a game-defining sequence occurred.
Quad City defenseman Dillon Fournier was assessed a major penalty (5 minutes) and ejected on a game misconduct for a vicious cross-check against the Ice Flyers’ Sam Dombrowski, who crumbled against the boards.
But the five-minute power play became a turning point. The Storm’s Leif Mattison, the league’s second-leading scorer, got a zone-clearing pass from former Ice Flyers forward Weiland Parrish and turned a breakaway into a shorthanded goal for a 2-0 lead with 13:53 left in the period.
The crowd in the Bay Center groaned, and the Ice Flyers never found a spark.
In the third period, the Ice Flyers had several good looks but couldn’t get a goal, which forced pulling Ice Flyers goaltender AJ Ruskowski with 1:46 left. The Storm forced a turnover in the Ice Flyers’ zone and got an empty-net goal with 51.5 seconds left to end the game.
“I have not seen that (Ice Flyers) team play yet,” Aldoff said. “The rest of the games we’ve played, I’ve been impressed. The guys have pounded and worked. I thought the first weekend (Feb. 21-23 when he returned to coach) we deserved six points. The work ethic was there. The execution was there.
“(Saturday) we had nothing. We were spinning our wheels.”
The Ice Flyers will play three home games next weekend, beginning Friday against the Birmingham Bulls and ending with a Sunday game against first-place Peoria.
After losing six of their last seven games, the Ice Flyers will need to win six of their last seven and get help to have a realistic chance of overcoming Quad City.
“We’re not out of it,” Aldoff said. “But this was a four-point swing (Saturday).”
Here’s a quick recap.
First Period
Before getting tossed from the game, Fournier assisted on the first Quad City goal. He set up Nick Pennucci, who fired a wrist shot through traffic into the upper right corner of the net with 15:10 left in the period.
The Ice Flyers killed the only penalty in the first period.
Making his fourth start, Ice Flyers goaltender Ruskowski stopped 14 shots in the period dominated by the Storm.
Second Period
The Ice Flyers outshot Quad City 12-2 in this period, aided by the five-minute power play, but could not get a tying goal.
Fournier’s penalty was the only one of the period.
Third Period
There were several sequences where the Ice Flyers swarmed the net but could not get a rebound shot past Quad City goaltender Brent Moran, who stopped all 28 shots he faced.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Ice Flyers Final Weekend Home Games
WHO: Birmingham Bulls vs. Ice Flyers (March 21-22), Peoria Rivermen vs. Ice Flyers (March 23).
WHEN: Friday and Saturday games start at 7:05 p.m. The Sunday finale is at 4:05 p.m.
Century Voters Will Go The Polls Tuesday For Council Race
March 15, 2025
Voters in Century will head to the polls on Tuesday in a special primary election.
Three candidates will appear on the ballot for Century Town Council Seat 4.
Seat 4 on the council was left open in early January when Alicia Johnson was appointed interim mayor after Luis Gomez, Jr., resigned for health reasons. The candidates are:
NorthEscambia.com will publish a “meet the candidates” story by Monday with detailed questions and answers.
A candidate that receives 50% of the vote plus one on Tuesday will be declared the winner. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the special general election on April 29.
Polls will be open on election day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse at 7500 North Century Boulevard in Century. The election is nonpartisan and open to any registered voter that lives within the town limits. The voter registration deadline has passed.
One candidate, Ben Boutwell, qualified for the position of mayor. He was elected automatically, and that contest will not appear on either the primary or general ballot. [Read: Century's Next Mayor Ben Boutwell Is Ready To Get To Work]
Pictured top: (L-R) Century council candidates John Bass (submitted photo), and Kathryn Fleming and Lizbeth “Sparkie” Harrison (NorthEscambia.com photos).
East Kingsfield Closed Next Tuesday At Railroad Crossing West Of 29
March 15, 2025
East Kingsfield Road west of Highway 29 will be closed next Tuesday, March 18 as Escambia County public works crews resurface the roadway at the railroad tracks.
Traffic headed east on East Kingsfield Road will be detoured to Pompano Street. Westbound traffic on East Kingsfield Road will be diverted through a one-way lane closure. Motorists traveling west on East Kingsfield Road should use extra caution and follow road crew instructions and posted signs when traveling through the work zone. The road is expected to reopen by Wednesday, March 19.
Residents, pedestrians, local traffic and emergency vehicles will have access to properties within the work area at all times; however, there may be short periods when a driveway or entrance may be blocked temporarily as equipment and materials are moved during construction.
Nine Mile Road RV Fire Claims One Life
March 15, 2025
One person died in an RV fire Friday morning in Escambia County.
It happened about 11 a.m. at the Tall Oaks RV Park on West Nine Mile Road, behind the Walmart at Pine Forest and Nine Mile Roads.
Escambia County Fire Rescue arrived to find fight-wheel camper fire with the victim still inside. They were pronounced deceased on scene.
The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to investigation. The victim’s name and additional details were not released.
Photo by WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Man Acquitted Of 2024 Murder
March 15, 2025
A Molino man has been acquitted of a 2024 murder in Bellview.
An Escambia County jury returned the not guilty verdict in the trial of Alexander George Deloach for the second-degree murder of Napoleon Powell.
Powell was shot and killed on February 12, 2024, in the 7000 block of Moore Road.
Deloach remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond multiple other charges.
Man Critically Injured In Highway 4 Crash In North Santa Rosa
March 15, 2025
A 22-year-old Baker man was critically injured in a single vehicle crash on Highway 4 near Berrydale.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was the sole occupant of a pickup truck traveling east on Highway 4 when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway. The truck then collided with two culverts and overturned, ejecting the driver. FHP said the driver was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
The driver was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
File photo.
Northview Falls To T.R. Miller In Friday Night Battle
March 15, 2025
The Northview Chiefs couldn’t overcome an early deficit Friday night, falling 5-1 to the T.R. Miller Tigers in front of a home crowd in Bratt.
T.R. Miller struck first in the opening inning with a double to bring in a run. The Tigers extended their lead in the third with two RBI singles, making it a tough climb for the Chiefs.
Northview junior Braynt Mason delivered a strong performance on the mound, allowing just one earned run while striking out nine over five and two-thirds innings
Kelan Jury and Cole Davis each had a hit for Northview, with Jury driving in the team’s lone run as he went 1-3 for the day. The Chiefs played clean defense, committing no errors, with Luke Chavers leading the team with 10 fielding chances.
Northview will take spring break off before returning to action March 24 at Baker.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Ice Flyers Beat The Storm 3-2 Friday Night
March 15, 2025
The Pensacola Ice Flyers secured a much-needed win Friday night, battling back from a two-goal deficit to claim a 3-2 victory over the Storm in front of 4,807 hometown fans.
Former Ice Flyer Weiland Parrish started the scoring for the visiting Storm early in the 1st period.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Neither team found the back of the net for the remainder of the opening period as they headed to the first intermission with the Storm leading 1-0.
The Storm extended their lead with another early period goal off the stick of Brandon Stojcevski.
The Ice Flyers didn’t waver and battled back swiftly with three unanswered goals from Nick Pryce, Doug Elgstam, and Sam Dabrowski.
The score remained 3-2 the rest of the way as both teams traded chances in the third period, with the Ice Flyers ultimately securing their first home victory since February 1st.
Escambia County EMS Hosting Open House Rescheduled
March 14, 2025
UPDATE: DUE TO SATURDAY’S CHANCE OF SEVERE WEATHER, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL APRIL 12 FROM 12-4 P.M.
Escambia County EMS will host a free open house for the public on Saturday from 12-4 p.m.
“Escambia County EMS is excited to welcome everyone to our open house,” said EMS Chief Chris Watts. “We invite you to learn more about your EMS provider, participate in hands-on activities, and enjoy delicious chili prepared by our team. As we continue to evolve as an organization, we want to get to know the neighbors we serve daily. This is a family-friendly event with a lot of activities for the kids, so we invite the whole family to come out on March 15.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the EMS facility, check out brand-new ambulances and life-saving gadgets, participate in first responder demonstrations, learn hands-on CPR, enjoy fun activities for the kids, and be a judge in the EMS employee chili cook-off.
The event will be held at the Escambia County Public Safety building at 6575 N. “W” Street.
File photo.
Santa Rosa Couple Charged With Child Abuse
March 14, 2025
A 28-year-old mother from Pace and her 29-year-old boyfriend from Jay have been charged with child abuse after a baby was hospitalized with multiple injuries.
Jordan Moore, the mother, was charged with felony child neglect causing great bodily harm. She was released from the Sant Rosa County Jail on a $75,000 bond. Jesse Allen Smith was charged with felony aggravated child abuse. He remains in the Santa Rosa County Jail with bond set at $300,000.
The Pensacola Police Department alerted the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on January 8 after Moore brough the baby to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital for treatment. Authorities believe the abuse occurred between November 30, 2024, and January 7, 2025.
An arrest report states that hospital found the child was suffering from injuries that included a broken arm; recently broken ribs; healing broken legs; bite marks to an arm; two missing bottom teeth; and extensive old and new bruising to face, scalp, neck, chest, abdomen, sides, back, buttocks, arms and legs.
Moore told investigators that the injuries were likely sustained during accident and falls in December and January, according to the report, that Smith was not violent toward the baby. She also said he was only alone with her only for infrequent time periods.
She told the hospital that the baby may suffer from ‘Brittle Bone Disease”, but the hospital told deputies that test results for the disease were negative.
Another child told deputies that when they were along with Smith, he would pinch the baby’s nose with work tools, punch her in the mouth, and cover her nose and mouth to prevent her from breathing, the report states.
According to the report, the cell phone search revealed Moore took pictures of the baby’s various injuries since December. Investigators noted she only took the baby to the doctor on Dec. 5 — but not since then despite tracking other significant injuries and illnesses.
The report states cell phone records also showed that Smith had watched the baby multiple times by himself for long periods of time. Deputies noted a Dec. 22 text from Moore to Smith that read: “You purposely hit her head on the door. All I did was ask why you did that and then you threw her in the back seat. You act like you hate my kids and it hurts.”
The report also states that a phone search showed Moore had texted a family member several times from December into mid-January about the baby’s injuries. The family member acknowledged it appeared the baby was a victim of abuse and suggested that Moore not take her out in public over fears the Department of Children and Families would become involved.
Smith denied allegations of abuse, saying that he only playfully pinched her nose with his hand.
The report states deputies also interviewed the baby’s father, who lives out of state, and determined he had no part in the abuse.