JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sunday was Fan Appreciation and Award Ceremony Night for the Jacksonville Icemen, who faced the Orlando Solar Bears. For both teams, this was their last game of the 2025-26 season, having been eliminated from the post season playoffs. Prior to the game, Jacksonville held its annual Pre-Game Award Show honoring players from this year’s team. Awards were given to; Patrick Bajkov for the Unsung Hero Award, Peter Tischke for Defenseman of the Year, Taos Jordan for the Community Engagement Award as well as the Rookie of the Year, Lordanthony Grissom for Fan Choice Award, and the MVP Award went to Bennett MacArthur. Jacksonville took a 7-5 victory, with Craig Martin scoring a hat trick to close out the season for the Icemen.

It was Adam McMaster who opened up the scoring for Jacksonville at 4:22 into the first period, scoring on a three-on-two, for his 21st goal on the season. Orlando would counter back with goals from Massimo Lombardi at 11:38 and Keegan McMullen at 15:44, to make it 2-1. Craig Martin netted his first goal of the game, unassisted at 17:14, to even the game up to end the first period.

Headed into the the second period tied at two, Jacksonville scored three back-to-back goals to take a 5-2 lead. Jed Pietila scored at 1:28 on a shot from the left circle, blasting it past Dominic Basse in the net for Orlando. Basse had come in to replace Samuel Richard in net. Colby Ambrosio scored at 4:25 on a high slot pass from Taos Jordan. Craig Martin scored his second of the night, blasting a one-timer from the slot on a pass from David Jankowski. With less than two minutes left in the period and down by three, Orlando once again answered back, scoring two quick goals a minute apart. Ethan Szmagaj scored at 18:12 on a rebound shot to beat a sprawling Cameron Rowe in net for Jacksonville. Jared Lukosevicius scored his goal exactly 60 seconds later on a right-side pass from Luciano Wilson, to make it 5-4.

In the third period, Orlando’s Aaron Luchuk tied the game up at 11:48, on a rebound shot on a delayed penalty, with Basse jumping onto the bench for the extra attacker. Tied at 5-5, Jacksonville’s T.J. Friedmann gave his team the go ahead goal at 18:48, on a back hand feed from behind the left side of the net, from Sasha Telguine. This was Telguine’s first professional career point. Orlando pulled their netminder in the last minute of the game for the extra attacker. This allowed and empty net goal by Craig Martin with 15 seconds left in the game, for his third goal of the game and 20th on the season to secure the victory for Jacksonville, and send some hats onto the ice.

Jacksonville finished the season with 69 points, placing 5th in the South Division, while Orlando finished 7th with 63 points. As the Jacksonville players exited the ice, Icemen Head Coach Sean Teakle shook the hands with and gave a hug to each of his players to show his gratitude. Jacksonville finished the last part of its season strong, accruing 17 points in its last 23 games. They made some major trades in January and February, with a very different-looking team than the one that started at the beginning of the season. Hopefully the team can carry that momentum into next season. See you then!

Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Andrew Fielder, for highlights from the game.

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