[FAYETTEVILLE,  N.C.] The Fayetteville FireAntz of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) defeated the Huntsville Havoc in the first-round of the SPHL playoffs 2-0 in a best-of-three series.  They await their next opponent, the winner of the Knoxville/Richmond series, and it will be determined tomorrow night as the two clubs square off in Game 3 in Knoxville.

Game 1- Friday, March 30th (@ Fayetteville):  The #3 seed Fayetteville FireAntz hosted the #4 seed Huntsville Havoc on Friday night at the Crown Coliseum.

In a back and forth 1st period the Havoc outshot the FireAntz 13-11 but Fayetteville netted the only goal.  Jarrett Robertson (1) took a breakout pass from Marc Norrington, after Bryan Dobek won the draw in the defensive zone, and broke in down the left wing.  Robertson outskated the Havoc defenseman and stuffed it past Matt Carmichael on the short side, giving the FireAntz a 1-0 lead that the club would carry into the intermission.

In the 2nd period, after goaltender Chad Collins took a tripping penalty to put Huntsville on the man-advantage, Bill Monkman took a cross-crease pass and buried home the game-tying goal at 5:44.  The FireAntz answered back, less than three minutes later on a power play of their own, with a tic-tac-toe play from Tim Velemirovich to Josh Welter who found SPHL MVP Rob Sich (1) wide open on the doorstep.  The FireAntz led 2-1 going into the break.

The 3rd period continued to be a tightly played contest.  Tristan Senior, who had five goals in four games against the FireAntz in the regular season, tallied on the power play to knot the score at two at the 9:58 mark.   The game was on its way to overtime until Trevor Krasiewicz was called for  high-sticking Sich at 17:32.  Then Sich (2), on the power play, carried the puck from the left corner and beat Carmichael, after outwaiting the Huntsville defense, for the go-ahead goal at the 18:35.

The FireAntz held on in the last 1:25 to their 3-2 lead and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.   Goaltender Chad Collins turned aside 40 of 42 shots in the victory.

Huntsville outshot the FireAntz 42-31.
FireAntz lead the series 1-0.

Game 2- Saturday, March 31st (@ Huntsville):   The clubs traveled overnight to Huntsville, Alabama to play game two of their series, a must-win for Huntsville.

Both teams got going early as SPHL Rookie of the Year Tim Velemirovich (1) took a pass from Josh Welter and scored at the 3:37 mark to give the FireAntz the early advantage.   It was short-lived, however, as the Havocs Bill Monkman tied the game less than a minute later.  The clubs traded goals again, Dan Buccella shorthanded, and Mike Clarke (1) on the power play.  It was 2-2 at the end of the first period.

Huntsvilles Craig Bushey scored at the 2:31 mark to take a 3-2 lead.  Rookie Jarrett Robertson (2) scored for the second consecutive game, his first two professional playoff games, to knot the game at 3 going into the 3rd frame.

Buccella gave Huntsville the lead for the third time in the game, netting his second, at 3:43.  With the FireAntz down a goal, but on the power play, Clarke (2) lit the lamp for the second time in the contest, once again pulling the club even, at 4 a piece.  The game would remain tied through the end of regulation.

With the game knotted at 4, in overtime, Velemirovich (2) pounced on a rebound of an Adam Meyer shot and banged it past a sprawling Matt Carmichael for the overtime, and series, winner.  The FireAntz won the game 5-4 in overtime and swept the best-of-three series 2-0, ending the season for the Huntsville Havoc.

Both teams had 31 shots.
FireAntz Win Series 2-0.

3 Stars of Series:

Sich/Welter/Velemirovich line:  4 Goals, 6 Assists, 10 points, 2 GWG, 1 OTG
Mike Clarke:  2 Goals, 2 Assists, 2 GTG, 2 PP Goals
Jarrett Robertson:  2 Goals

Noteworthy
            •             With the playoff series victory over Huntsville, the FireAntz have moved to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in team history. 

The FireAntz await the winner of the Knoxville/Richmond series that will be completed on Tuesday, April 3rd.  The series is tied 1-1 and Game 3 will be in Knoxville.  Dates for the 2nd round of the playoffs are still yet to be determined.  Stay tuned to the FireAntz website at www.fireantzhockey.com  for updates and more information.