JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Icemen are skating into the playoffs!
“It’s playoff hockey,” head coach and director of hockey operations Nick Luukko said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s going to be a lot of energy, a lot of emotion. If we can get our crowds buzzed and get them into the game, I think it’s going to put us over the top.”
The Icemen will begin their quest for the Kelly Cup trophy Thursday by hosting their rival, the Florida Everblades in the first round.
“I think we know this team pretty well,” Icemen captain Christopher Brown said. “We’ve seen them a lot the past couple years. There’s a little extra riding on it, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The Icemen have a storied playoff past with the Everblades. In the past two seasons, the Everblades knocked the Icemen out of the postseason then went on to win the Kelly Cup.
“There’s obviously motivation because of the last couple years the way things ended so some unfinished business,” Luukko said.
But the Icemen will get straight to business Thursday in the opener of the best-of-seven series.
“We got to be firing on all cylinders from the start,” Luukko said. “Good details. Come out with a lot of speed, a lot of energy, and look to jump on them game one.”
Maybe the third time’s a charm in Luukko’s third season as head coach.
“To be able to get that momentum at home, especially with the crowds that we get,” Luukko said. “One of the best attendance in the league.”
This season the fans showed up and showed out at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena. The team set attendance records in overall and average attendance this season, averaging 8,768 fans a game.
“We love playing in front of these guys,” Brown said. “It’s a great community. They give us a lot of cheers so it’s a lot of fun.”
If the first round is anything like the regular season, the Icemen should advance. The Icemen finished second in the South division, while the Everblades trailed just behind in third place. But the opening round is just the beginning of a long playoff journey with a coveted trophy at the end.
“Definitely talking to the younger guys,” Brown said. “Letting them know what it takes to make the long run to be disciplined and to have fun out there. That’s why we play hockey, to have fun.”