Ernest Ward JV Wins; Varsity Falls in Tight Match Against Beulah Middle (With Gallery)
February 4, 2025
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles faced off against the Beulah Middle School Bears Monday night in Walnut Hill.
The Eagles’ junior varsity squad secured a hard-fought victory, winning in three sets –25-15, 21-23, 15-10. EWMS came out strong in the first set, but Beulah responded with a narrow win in the second. The Eagles regrouped in the deciding frame, taking control to seal the match.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In the varsity matchup, Ernest Ward started with a dominant 25-14 first-set win. However, Beulah battled back, winning the next two sets 25-17 and 15-13 to claim the victory.
NorthEscamiba.com photos, click to enlarge.
Basketball District Tournaments Begin Today For Tate And Northview
February 3, 2025
The boys and girls teams from both Tate and Northview will begin district tournament play next week.
Girls Rural Class District 1
- Quarterfinals, Tuesday, Feb. 4
- No. 6 Northview at No. 3 Central
- No. 5 Baker at No 4. Laurel Hill
- District Semifinals, Thursday, Feb. 6
- No. 1 Jay hosts Laurel Hill/Baker winner
- No. 2 Paxton hosts Central/Northview winner
- District Championship, Saturday, Feb 8
Boys Rural Class District 1
- Quarterfinals, Monday, Feb. 3
- No. 6 Northview at No. 3 Paxton
- No 5 Laurel Hill at No. 4 Central
- District Semifinals, Wednesday, Feb. 5
- No. 1 Baker hosts Central/Laurel Hill winner
- No. 2 Jay hosts Paxton/Northview winner
- District Championship, Feb 7
Girls 6A District 1
- Quarterfinals, Tuesday, Feb. 4
- No. 6 Tate at No. 3 Crestview
- No. 7 Gulf Breeze at. No. 2 Milton
- No. 5 Navarre at No. 4 Pace
- District Semifinals, Thursday, Feb. 6
- No. 1 Niceville hosts Pace/Navarre winner
- Milton/Gulf Breeze winner vs. Crestview/Tate winner
- District Championship, Saturday, Feb 8
Boys 6A District 1
- Quarterfinals, Monday, Feb. 3
- No. 5 Tate at No. 4 Niceville
- No 7 Pace at No. 2 Crestview
- No. 6 Navarre at No. 3 Milton
- District Semifinals, Wednesday, Feb. 5
- No. 1 Gulf Breeze hosts Niceville/Tate winner
- Crestview/Pace winner vs. Milton/Navarre winner
- District Championship, Friday, Feb 7
Pictured: The 6A Tate Lady Aggies took on the 1A Northview Lady Chiefs last month. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Cheerleaders Win Runner-up At State, Heading To Nationals
February 2, 2025
The defending state champion Tate Aggies cheerleaders took the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading state runner-up spot on Saturday.
The Aggie cheerleaders will compete in nationals this week. They will depart Wednesday and being competition on Friday in Orlando. Both the junior varsity and varsity squads will complete n traditional and gameday at nationals.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Bounce Back For Saturday Night Win
February 2, 2025
Despite facing a 3-1 deficit heading into the final frame, the Ice Flyers mounted an impressive comeback to force overtime, though ultimately fell short in a 9-round shootout Friday night.
Alex Wilkins opened the scoring for Fayetteville, but the Ice Flyers evened the score when Matt Wiesner benefited from an unusual bounce in the first period.
Marksmen forwards Khristian Acosta and Dalton Hunter propelled Fayetteville to a 3-1 lead with back-to-back goals, scored just 12 seconds apart, to end the second period.
Jake Hamilton gave the Ice Flyers a boost with his sixth goal of the season, cutting the deficit. Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira tied the game 3-3 with a power-play goal to close out regulation.
Neither team managed to break through in the overtime period, sending the game to a shootout that would ultimately require nine rounds to determine a winner.
The shootout remained scoreless through six rounds until Ice Flyers forward Doug Elgstam finally broke through, sneaking one past Marksmen goaltender Ryan Kenney. However, the celebration was short-lived as Ryan Nolan quickly responded for Fayetteville to even things up. The marathon shootout finally came to an end in the ninth round when John Moncovich secured the victory for the Marksmen.
The Ice Flyers will host the Fayetteville Marksmen on Saturday for game two of their three-game series.
Scoring Summary
First Period
FAY 1, PEN 0
10:11 Alex Wilkins (1) – Unassisted – PP
Fayetteville capitalized on a power play to score the game’s first goal.
FAY 1, PEN 1
17:14 Matt Wiesner (6) – Cayden Cahill
A shot by Matt Wiesner ricocheted off the glass and bounced off the back of the Marksmen’s goalie, Ryan Kenney, to tie things up.
Shots on goal: FAY 11, PEN 18
Second Period
FAY 2, PEN 1
17:48 Khristian Acosta (3) – Alex Ambrosio, John Moncovich
Fayetteville took the lead with Khristian Acosta’s shot on a 2-on-1 rush.
FAY 3, PEN 1
18:00 Dalton Hunter (14) – Unassisted
12 seconds after Acosta’s goal, Dalton Hunter weaved around the Ice Flyers defense and sent a shot past Brody Claeys to extend the Marksmen’s lead to two.
Shots on Goal: FAY 10, PEN 15
3rd Period
FAY 3, PEN 2
13:05 Jake Hamilton (6) – Cayden Cahill
Jake Hamilton’s well-placed shot found its way through traffic and into the back of the net, giving the Ice Flyers the momentum boost they needed for their third period comeback.
FAY 3, PEN 3
15:05 Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira (5) – Nick Pryce
The Ice Flyers tied things up with Jonathan Bartuccio-Pereira getting a much needed goal on a powerplay opportunity.
Shots on Goal: FAY 3, PEN 14
Overtime
None
Shootout
Ice Flyers – Doug Elgstam
Marksmen – Ryan Nolan
Marksmen – John Moncovich
Total Shots: FAY 30, PEN 52
Ice Flyers Rally Night Third Period Lead Evaporates In OT Loss Against Roanoke
February 1, 2025
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers correspondent
The Ice Flyers gained a point Friday, but left with an empty feeling.
They carried a 2-0 lead into the third period, but gave up a power play goal in the first five minutes, then had Roanoke tie the game with 1:14 left and the Rail Yard Dawgs followed with an overtime goal on their first puck possession for a 3-2 win at the Pensacola Bay Center.
It was the Ice Flyers fifth overtime loss this season, matching the most in the league. But this one occurred after the Ice Flyers had seemed to withstand a barrage of Roanoke scoring chances earlier in the game.
The loss left a crowd of 4,140 exiting with disappointment on Rally Foundation Night, sponsored by Gulf Winds Credit Union, that raised thousands of dollars. The organization is part of Rally Gulf Coast, which helps children with cancer, along with their families, who live along the Gulf Coast region.
Wearing specialty jerseys designed by some of the children battling cancer, the Ice Flyers started strong.
Nick Pryce scored just 2:17 into the game, a split-second before the Ice Flyers power play expired. Midway through the period Ivan Bondarenko provided a 2-0 lead that stood all the way into the third period.
The teams will rematch Saturday at the Bay Center on Mardi Gras Night, which always attracts a mass crowd.
In one of the rare times this season, the Ice Flyers were outshot by a wide margin, 40-26, but Ice Flyers goaltender Brody Claeys came up with big saves throughout the first two periods and several in the third.
The Ice Flyers were seeking their first three-game win streak of the season. Instead, they settled for getting at least one point in six of their last seven games.
Here’s a quick recap.
FIRST PERIOD
Just 17 seconds into the game, the Ice Flyers had a power play. Roanoke’s Carson Gallagher was whistled for tripping.
As he was set to break from the penalty box, Pryce got a pass from Michael Herrera, made a great deke in the crease area and slid the puck on a backhand past veteran SPHL goaltender Austyn Roudebush. The 31-year-old Roudebush is playing his seventh season in the SPHL, five of those with Roanoke.
Gallagher, meanwhile, wound up being the game’s No. 1 star after he scored the tying and winning goal.
Later in this period, Houston Wilson was one of four Ice Flyers to hit a post with his shot and have the puck carom away.
With 10:47 left, Bondarenko worked past a Roanoke defender, moved in on goal and flicked a shot into the upper corner to give the Ice Flyers a 2-0 lead.
With 6:29 left, Claeys made a pair of big saves in the same sequence to keep the score the same.
SECOND PERIOD
No scoring, but plenty of action.
The biggest occurred with 8:22 remaining when Cayden Cahill was awarded a penalty shot when he broke free and was tripped by Bryce Martin with a clear path to the net. On the penalty shot, Cahill made a great move, but Roudebush stretched his leg and thwarted the tap-in shot with his skate up against the goalpost.
That play would prove decisive.
The Ice Flyers were whistled for two separate penalties in the final seven minutes of the period.
THIRD PERIOD
Roanoke’s Austen Swankler scored his first goal with the team on a one-timer during a power play that was perfectly set up with a cross pass from Nick Ford that Swankler blasted into the net with 15:28 left.
It was one of the few times the Ice Flyers have allowed a power play goal on home ice. Their 90.2 kill percentage entering the game was the best in the league.
The Ice Flyers killed another penalty with 4:19 left, but less than 30 seconds later with 1:44 left, Gallagher tied the game. It happened at the same time Roudebush was skating off the ice for an extra attacker.
That deflating moment led into another for the Ice Flyers. They gained the face off in overtime, carried the puck into the Roanoke end, but once the Rail Yard Dawgs gained possession, their chance proved decisive when Gallager rifled a shot into the net just 52 seconds into overtime.
GAME NOTABLES
The Ice Flyers wore specialty Rally Foundation uniforms with the jerseys designed by kids involved with the Rally Gulf Coast and Rally Foundation. There was a live auction after the game on the arena concourse with game-worn jerseys.
In a special scene, kids involved with Rally Gulf Coast and parents sat on the benches during warmups as players greeted the kids during their pregame routines.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
Tate Boys, Girls Basketball Earn Wins Wednesday Night
January 30, 2025
Boys
Tate 67 Washington 64
Girls
Tate 71 Escambia 37
The Tate Lady Aggies defeated Escambia 41-37 Wednesday night. Brelynn Morris scores a dozen points for Tate, while Amerie McGee added 11. Tylor Malone and Sam Williams each had eight points, while Sarah Mitchell recorded two points.
Tate Volleyball Honored With Philanthropic Award For Breast Cancer Research Benefit Games
January 29, 2025
Tate High School volleyball has been honored with the 2024-2025 Sideout Foundation Philanthropic Achievement Award.
The Aggies have raised over $10,000 for the foundation, which dedicates the majority of donations to their own metastatic breast cancer research. In addition to research, Side-Out allocates a portion of their funds to high-quality support services for cancer patients and their families, as well as college scholarships for students.
The Aggies have hosted a Dig Pink game for many years, last hosting the Pace Patriots in a Dig Pink game last October.
For a photo gallery for October’s game, click here.
Pictured above and below: The October 2024 Dig Pink game for the Sideout Foundation at Tate High School. Pictured inset: The award banner received by the Lady Aggies. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Drops Senior Night Games To Miller (With Gallery)
January 28, 2025
The Northview High School boys and girls basketball teams dropped games to T.R. Miller Monday night after the Chiefs celebrated senior night.
For a boys game action photo gallery, click here.
Northview girls basketball honored seniors
- Madeleine Atallah
- Aaliyah Fountain
- Taliyah Johnson
- Madison Levins
Northview seniors boys recognized were:
- Beau Daw
- Luke Diamon
- Demonte Ewings
- Tyler Gilmore
- Zykel Jones
- Robert Mitchell
- Brayden Reaves
- Zi’don Smith
- Brian Yoder
In boys action, Miller defeated Northview 55-14, while the Northview girls fell 64-18.
NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ice Flyers Finish Best Weekend With Series Win Against Marksmen, Gain In Standings
January 20, 2025
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
In summoning a resolve and determined effort, the Ice Flyers just celebrated their best weekend of the season.
They answered three times Sunday with tying goals, then took over the third period for a 6-3 win against the Fayetteville Marksmen to win the three-game series, gain five points, and change the vibe throughout the Pensacola Bay Center.
It was something that had been missing until now.
“It’s a huge step in the right direction with these guys,” said Ice Flyers team captain Jake Hamilton, who twice brawled in Saturday’s blowout win to fire up the crowd and teammates, then helped defensive effort Sunday.
“This is the time to start jelling together and that time is starting to happen now,” Hamilton said. “The hockey gods are taking our side with some of the puck luck and some of these timely goals.
“The biggest thing I am proud with this group is we’ve learned to battle adversity. We learned to battle bad reps and we learned to battle from behind.
“Hockey is not a perfect game. That’s what makes it entertaining too. You never know what is going to happen. Just how we responded has been night and day from the team we used to be.”
The Ice Flyers produced a pair of tying goals in the first period, added another in the second period, then followed a go-ahead goal by Sam Dabrowski with 9:46 remaining to seal the game with two empty net goals in the final three minutes.
“Obviously, we knew it was a big weekend for us… three games all on home ice,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “We haven’t played great on home ice, we want to reward the fans. Friday night (an OT shootout loss), I thought we deserved a better outcome.
But we played well enough to get a point that night. And we set that goal right away. We wanted to get five out of six points. What’s rewarding for me is that we are going to have to set some goals to make the playoffs down the stretch.
“That was a goal they set … to get five of six points, but as simple as that may sound, it’s not easy, right? You still have to go out and work hard and it’s never easy to beat any team in this league. We are trying to keep everything in segments here and keep (players) hungry, because that’s what we have to do.”
In winning Sunday, the Ice Flyers moved just one point behind the Macon Mayhem to escape last place in the Southern Professional Hockey League standings. They are now six points behind the Evansville Thunderbolts for eighth place – the final playoff spot – and will play at Evansville on Friday and Saturday.
“It puts us back in the hunt and that’s what it’s always been about for me,” said Ice Flyers goalie Brody Claeys. “We have some much talent in that locker room. There are so many guys who can play hockey at an extremely high level and coach (Graham) has all the right details for us and it’s really been about executing.
The Ice Flyers will leave early Tuesday, likely in advance of a potential winter storm for Pensacola, traveling to Evansville where they will work out on Wednesday and Thursday before playing back-to-back games. They will complete a vital road trip by facing first-place Huntsville Havoc next Sunday.
A quick recap of the latest win.
FIRST PERIOD
The Ice Flyers twice got tying goals in the opening period and headed to intermission with the game tied 2-2.
Fayetteville’s Alex Gritz began his three-goal night with a wrist shot through some traffic with 13:55 left.
The Ice Flyers Matt Wiesner answered on a rebound that occurred from a wrap-around attempt with 8:38. On the play, the puck caromed free off the goaltender’s pads and Wiesner had an easy finish into the open net.
But a minute later, Gritz had a two-on-one situation down the left side, chose to shoot and the puck skirted through Claeys pads into the net.
The Ice Flyers got an equalizer with their first of two power play goals in the game. Blake Tosto gained the rebound off Ivan Bondarenko’s one-timer attempt from the other faceoff circle and buried the second chance with 4:50 remaining.
SECOND PERIOD
Gritz completed his hat trick for the Marksmen seven minutes into the period for a 3-2 lead at the time. Again, it was a 2-on-1 situation where Gritz’ wrister eluded Claeys and into the net.
The score remained that way until 3:04 left in the period when Bondarenko again helped the tying goal with a pass to Doug Elgstam, who uncorked a one-timer past Ryan Kenny, trying the game a third time.
A minute later, multiple penalties ensued from the game’s only true scrum. The Ice Flyers’ Sam Dabrowski was whistled for shoving a Marksmen player from behind after the dust settled. It gave Fayetteville a power-play to end the period, but the Ice Flyers penalty kill thwarted any good look and went into intermission deadlocked again.
“I think we really added some grit that we needed, and it has gone a long ways,” Claeys said. “We have a lot of guys who have just bought in and wanted it more than the other team.”
THIRD PERIOD
Just one second after the Ice Flyers Doug Elgstam emerged from the penalty box, the Ice Flyers finished a penalty kill as Sam Dobrowski gained the puck off the boards and created a two-on-one situation. He rifled a wrist shot into the net with 8:46 remaining for the team’s first lead.
Fayetteville called timeout with 3:02 remaining and the Marksmen opted to pull their goaltender for an extra attacker. The Ice Flyers twice one puck battles and finished the play with empty net goals. Tosto scored his second goal with 2:44 remaining and Bondarenko finished his big night with the final one with 48 seconds left.
Graham credited Houston Wilson for his effort in creating Tosto’s goal.
“He has relentless pursuit of forecheck,” Graham said. “That is what he brings to the table. He is relentless forechecker, Houston was able to get u there and caused the chaos.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Evansville Thunderbolts
WHEN: Friday-Saturday (Jan. 24-25), both games at 7:05 p.m.
Ice Flyers Rout Fayetteville For Best Home Win Of Season
January 19, 2025
by Bill Vilona, Ice Flyers Correspondent
The customary center-ice salute the Ice Flyers provide their loyal fans extended into a post-game, victory lap of thanks.
On a Saturday night when the arena was nearly filled, a hat trick was produced, fists were flying and goaltenders were fighting, the Ice Flyers were able to cherish their 7-1 victory against the Fayetteville Marksmen, which delighted a crowd of 7,798 at the Bay Center.
Complete with the annual Wiener Dog Race Night, this crowd surpassed the one on December 28 against Peoria (7,325) for the largest in franchise history on a non $5 ticket night weekend.
That game didn’t result in a win. This one became an Ice Flyers showcase.
“We have talked a lot behind closed doors about how blessed we are… with our (struggling) record and fact we haven’t been able to get the job done and to have the fans show up the way they have,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham.
“I have seen in countless hockey markets where (fans) just give up on you. And our fans have been there through thick and thin. They have been supporting the players. The guys deserve all the fans respect, because they are coming hard to work every day.
“Will we make mistakes? Absolutely, but I can tell you all their hearts are in the right place.”
This game started well. A 2-0 lead at first intermission on goals by Michael Herrera, who finished the hat trick with his third goal in a wild second period.
But it also ended well. Even with a 6-1 lead at second intermission, the Ice Flyers didn’t allow Fayetteville to get an early third period and got 18 saves from backup goaltender Cody Karpinski.
“I thought that was the best 60-minute game that we have had all year,” Graham said. “We were down to four defensemen. Bondo (Ivan Bondarenko) went back and played (defense) and (players) battled the whole way. Fayetteville kept coming, they kept competing and working.”:
All of which leads into Sunday’s weekend series finale against Fayetteville at the Bay Center. Fayetteville (18-12, 2 OT losses) began the night tied with Knoxville in third place in the SPHL standings.
The Ice Flyers (9-18, 4 OT losses) will be trying to get five points of a possible six from the weekend.
“Both teams are in good shape. I expect some fireworks,” Graham said.
There were plenty of such explosions Saturday. The second period featured five goals, including three in a span of less than a minute. It included Ice Flyers captain Jake Hamilton twice dropping the gloves at center ice. The period also had the rarity of a goaltender brawl between the Ice Flyers starting goaltender Brody Claeys and Fayetteville’s Mason Beaupit.
Normally, goaltender fights, rare as they are, don’t include game misconducts. Both were assessed that penalty, after they skated out to center ice and quickly tossed some punches.
In the final minute of that period, Fayetteville’s Ryan Nolen was assessed a match penalty for a cross-checking. That will bring a suspension.
These teams combined for 93 penalty minutes on 10 infractions apiece.
A quick recap:
FIRST PERIOD
With Michael Herrera leading the way, scoring a pair of goals, this became one of the Ice Flyers’ best opening periods.
At one point, they had a 17-4 edge in shots on goal, finishing with an 18-8 edge at intermission. Both of Herrera’s goals provided a delayed reaction.
His first one with 11:59 left in the period came from a bounce on the boards. As he entered inside the blue line with a defender trailing, he let a wrist shot go into the far corner of the net.
Six minutes later he was leading a rush with Sam Dabrowski taking a shot that Herrera perfectly deflected into the net.
There were only two minor penalties in the period, one by each team. It was saved for later.
SECOND PERIOD
Cayden Cahill scored the first of his two goals less than seven minutes into the second period. On the ensuing faceoff, the Ice Flyers Hamilton and Fayettville’s Elias Thompson squared off briefly at center ice, but the officials separated them after a punch or two apiece.
And then it was on. Eleven more penalties followed in a series of fights that included the goalies.
But the biggest moment on the scoreboard occurred when Fayetteville’s lone goal was answered just eight seconds later by Cahill to give the Ice Flyers a 5-1 lead with 4:19 left in the period.
“What I liked the most was we scored the next shift after they scored that goal,” Graham said. “That really set the tone. Because sometimes in that second period, we get a little bit of adversity, and we lose momentum.
“Bang! next shift and that’s when Cayden scored. That was the biggest shot of confidence through the whole group. It was the timing of the goal just to see the quick response.”
THIRD PERIOD
The Ice Flyers Lucas Jirousek scored his first pro goal at near midpoint of the period to cap the scoring. There were only two penalties in the period, enabling the game to end in just under three hours.
GAME NOTABLES
The Ice Flyers keep setting participation records with their annual Wiener Dog races. Saturday’s event attracted a record 125 dogs, requiring five separate heats to determine the final 20 in the championship race and the remainder in the consolation race.
Ivan Bondarenko recorded his 170th assist in the second period, pushing him into third place all-time points in Ice Flyers history, ahead of Adam Pawlick.
WANT TO GO?
WHO: Fayetteville Marksmen vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
