Photo: Andrew Fielder for Inside The Rink

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Friday night at the Community First Igloo, the Jacksonville Icemen faced the Savannah Ghost Pirates for a single preseason game at the Icemen’s practice facility, prior to the commencement of the 2026-27 ECHL season. Savannah took a 7-4 win in an action-packed game featuring several fights and scuffles between players throughout the game, along with a hat trick for Savannah’s Liam McLinskey. With both teams just a few days into training camp, the preseason game gave the coaches an opportunity to assess their new players and the players an opportunity to prove why they belong on the team.

Less than three minutes into the game, Jacksonville’s Jaden Condotta and Savannah’s Skate Skalde dropped the gloves, setting the tone for the game. The lone goal of the first period came from Savannah’s Anthony Callin. The second period saw a flurry of goals, with Colby Ambrosio netting the first goal for Jacksonville at the 3:03 mark to tie up the game. Savannah quickly responded with a power play goal by Liam McLinskey, then Max Dorrington scored 48 seconds later on a Jacksonville turnover, giving the Ghost Pirates a 3-1 lead. Jacksonville cut the deficit 15 seconds later, when Jacques Bouquot tipped in a Trevor Griebel shot on an Icemen power play. A second power play goal by McLinskey gave Savannah a 4-2 lead. Newly announced Icemen captain Bennet MacArthur deflected a blue line shot from Condotta to make it 4-3, but Savannah’s Liam Gorman and Anthony Callin rounded out the period with goals to give the Ghost Pirates a 6-3 lead, and Callin’s second on the night.

Third-period action saw Brandon Yeamans score on a 2-on-1 rush, on a pass from Ashton Stockie at the 6:12 mark, to put Jacksonville within two. Liam McLinskey’s third goal on the night, sealed the 7-4 victory for the Ghost Pirates.

Jacksonville kicks off its season at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena on Friday, October 16th, against the visiting South Carolina Stingrays. Savannah starts its season at the Enmarket Arena on Friday, October 16th, against the Norfolk Admirals.

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