Olauson has two goals in FireAntz's win
By Thomas Pope
Assistant sports editor

 

Emery Olauson rediscovered his shooting touch just in time for a break in the Fayetteville FireAntz's schedule.

Olauson, who had 24 goals in the regular season last year, hit the bull's-eye twice Friday night, helping the Antz dispose of Louisiana for the second time in two nights. The 7-2 victory moved them to 13-9-0 and kept them one point behind Huntsville for the Southern Professional Hockey League lead, and they don't play again until Dec. 26.

"All you can do is work hard and work through it," Olauson said of netting just three goals through Fayetteville's first 21 games. "You worry about it when you're not getting your chances. Right now, I'm sitting third in the league in shots and I don't know why the puck wasn't going in before tonight.

"Luckily enough, my teammates have been scoring and we're 9-1 in our last 10 games. Would I like to chip in more? Yeah. But where I'm not quite pulling my weight, everyone else is pulling it for me."

The IceGators (6-15-0) were outgunned from the get-go, falling behind 4-2 on Antz goals by Chris Leveille, Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn, Rob Sich and Jesse Biduke.

Versteeg-Lytwyn, added to the roster by coach Tommy Stewart for Thursday's 5-3 victory, also notched a pair of assists. He and Steve Cooke fed Olauson for goals that sandwiched Brett McConnachie's eighth of the season.

"We should be producing like we did tonight on a regular basis," Olauson said of his line. "It's always nice to bring guys like (Versteeg-Lytwyn) to the locker room and the ice. He's a nice player, and it's lucky for us that Tommy found him."

Louisiana also proved to be just what the doctor ordered for a Fayetteville power play that has been a weakness. Just 2-for-8 with the man advantage Thursday night, Friday's duel at the Crown Coliseum saw the FireAntz score four times on its six opportunities.

Sich's goal with 1:11 left in the first period was one, coming when he uncorked a shot just a flash before being knocked off his feet. It was the third of the seven in a tough SPHL debut for goalie Jimmy Spratt, who was appearing in only his second professional contest.

His more-experienced counterpart, Guy St. Vincent, was solid, turning back 33 of 35 IceGators shots to improve to 9-6-0. He said the forthcoming five-day respite before practice resumes comes at an auspicious time.

"Some guys being together so long and seeing each other every day, a break like this is kind of nice," he said. "It'll let some things flare down, and we can come back after Christmas refreshed and ready for the second-half grind."