Havoc Denied in Shootout
- reekinhavoc
- Jan 31
- 2 min read
Havoc Denied in Shootout
By Laura Pitts – Reekin’ Havoc Podcast
Huntsville (AL) – Playing one of their most controlled and concise games of the season, the Huntsville Havoc still came up just short, dropping a 2–1 shootout decision to the Peoria Rivermen on Friday night (Jan. 30) at Propst Arena.
With just 2:25 into the game, Lincoln Erne redirected the puck at the edge of the crease, getting Huntsville on the board with an early 1-0 lead. Josh Kestner and Phil Elgstam assisted with the goal.
Huntsville maintained a tight, defensive stance against Peoria, denying them a response in the opening period.
Peoria evened the score at 13:07 of the second period when Zac Sirota found the back of the net on an unassisted tally.
The third period led to a contested defensive zone matched evenly on both sides with no score, leading to overtime.
Neither team scored during overtime, as the Havoc controlled the pace with smart, disciplined play along the boards and in their defensive zone, sending the contest to a shootout.
After several rounds of back-and-forth attempts in the shootout, Peoria’s Griffen Fox put the game away with a high wrist shot past Wilson, giving the Rivermen a 2–1 shootout victory.
The tightly contested matchup further highlighted Peoria’s reputation as the SPHL’s most defensive team, as the Rivermen have allowed fewer than two goals per game this season.
Havoc’s Brian Wilson controlled 32-of-33 shots on goal, while Peoria’s Gonnor McAnanama made 39 saves. Huntsville went 0-for-2 on the power play.
The night wasn’t all hockey, as fans also took part in the annual birthday celebration for Havoc mascot Chaos, complete with a party of mascot friends from sports organizations and colleges throughout Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.
The Havoc return to the Roto-Rooter Ice at the Propst Arena tonight for another matchup with the Peoria Riverman, with fans celebrating “Youth Jersey” night.
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