Ice Miners look to continue hot streak into February
The calendar turned to 2015 and so did the Keystone Ice Miners’ fortunes as the NAHL North Division team embarked on a season-turning run through January that the team hopes will continue as the calendar moves into February.
The team was floundering a bit as its inaugural season hit the halfway point after Christmas. The ownership group had withdrawn and streaky play led to a 13-14-3 record and 29 points through the halfway point of 30 games.
The Ice Miners began the turn-around with the “Alaska” series on either side of New Year’s Day with a sweep of Kenai River and a split with Fairbanks. Keystone holds a 9-1-1 record in the second half of the season, including a 7-1-1 mark in January and stands alone in second place after 41 games with 48 points and a 22-15-4 record.
The Janesville Jets remain in first place with 69 points (34-9-1), but the Ice Miners’ surge has given them some breathing room against the other teams seeking the remaining three playoff berths. The Soo Eagles, whom the Ice Miners host this weekend, are third with 43 points (21-20-1) and the Johnstown Tomahawks sit in fourth place with 42 points (19-18-4).
Coach Michael Gershon stressing “play in the back end” and goalies Nick Kossoff and Alex Blankenburg have provided a solid base at the Ice Miners’ end of the ice. Kossoff was honored as the NAHL Goalie of the Month for January after posting a 4-1-1 record, a 1.57 goals against average and .954 save percentage (167-of-175).
Brendan Jaquay scored a team-high five goals in the stretch, but all were early in the hot streak. The Colemans, A.J. and Jacob, lead the team in scoring with 11 points apiece, with A.J. netting two goals and Jacob one. Noah Batis and Matt Jones have four goals each, while Austin Romzek and Cameron Smith have netted four goals apiece.
The Ice Miners have 19 games remaining with home games against Soo (Feb. 6-7), Janesville (Feb. 13-14), Johnstown (March 18, March 27), and Michigan (March 20-21) and away games at Johnstown (Feb. 12, March 28), Fairbanks, Alaska (Feb. 20-21), Kenai River, Alaska (Feb. 27-28), Michigan (March 6-7-8), and Soo (March 13-14).
The Ice Miners have several promotions lined up to help boost attendance over the final two months of the season, starting tonight with “Connellsville Night.”
Valentine’s Day weekend games against the Janesville Jets will also hold game promotions. A $500 necklace will be raffled off on Valentine’s Day (Saturday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.), as well as a player date auction going on through Feb. 14.
The Keystone Ice Miners are offering a big time discount on tickets to the final four home games of the season in March. For just $40, fans get two tickets to each game, which is up to a 50 percent savings on our normal prices.