Jacksonville Icemen ready to begin 2022-23 ECHL hockey season Saturday against Orlando

Just like old times.

For Jacksonville Icemen head coach Nick Luukko, a split second of scanning the faces around the rink confirmed that his second year on the First Coast is already feeling a lot like year one.

"Those guys were a huge part in building the culture that we wanted to set forth at the beginning of last season, and to have this many returners is awesome for us," the second-year coach said. "At the start of training camp, it was like picking up where we left off last year, just that continuity and familiarity with each other."

The Icemen hit the rink for season number six at 7 p.m. Saturday, when they take on the Orlando Solar Bears at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena to raise the curtain on a new season of ECHL hockey.

Awaiting the crowd during the next season — a season that upon its completion will make the Icemen the second-longest tenured hockey franchise in Northeast Florida history — will be a mix of the new and the old.

There's a new division rival, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, backed by the same ownership group — including Icemen chief executive officer Andy Kaufmann and president Bob Ohrablo — that also heads up the Jacksonville club. ECHL rules, unlike the NHL, permit an ownership group to operate more than one franchise.

There are new opponents on the schedule, including the Trois-Rivieres Lions' first visit to the First Coast.

And there are new players arriving by way of the Icemen's affiliation with the NHL's New York Rangers and the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack, including goaltender Parker Gahagen, defenseman Luke Martin and second-stint Jacksonville forward Cristiano DiGiacinto.

But there's also a lot that isn't new, and for a team coming off its best-ever season since arriving on the First Coast in 2017, that may not be a bad thing.

"Right from day one, guys have been dialed in," Luukko said. "I think everyone's got a feeling of unfinished business from last season."

More than a dozen players on the Icemen's season-opening roster have previously skated for the club, unusual in a league where year-to-year turnover is typically heavy. That list includes currently-injured goaltender Charles Williams, who ranked eighth among ECHL goaltenders with a 2.66 goals-against average last year, and five of their eight highest-scoring attackers from 2021-22: Brendan Harris, Ben Hawerchuk, Derek Lodermeier, Luke Lynch and Ara Nazarian.

Once more, defense reigns as the Icemen's strong point.

"We've got that year of experience under our belts," said defenseman Brandon Fortunato, who scored 25 assists in 39 games during his first season in Jacksonville. "We're more knowledgeable now."

Jacksonville recorded the ECHL's top regular-season defensive record in the 2021-22 season, limiting foes to 185 goals in 72 games, and advanced deeper into the Kelly Cup playoffs than ever before. The Icemen swept the Atlanta Gladiators in the opening round before losing the South Division final series to the Florida Everblades.

"We have pretty high expectations for his year," Fortunato said. "We have a sour taste, remembering that second round against Florida. We believe we're a better team and we believe we have a lot more to show and a lot more to give."

More to show. More to give. And, Luukko said, the plan is "preaching more of the same."

"We really like the way we're set up in our D-corps and our forwards," Luukko said. "We take a lot of pride in getting back and protecting the house, protecting that front and keeping pucks to the outside."

Saturday's regular season opener marks the third game on the ice for the Icemen, who already split a pair of preseason exhibitions last week against the Ghost Pirates. Luukko said those games highlighted areas that still need work, pointing to two close-range goals allowed to Savannah skaters in the Oct. 14 exhibition.

"We've been getting the system down, getting everyone on the same page, just like working together as a unit," said forward Christopher Brown, who served as team captain for much of 2021-22 before his call-up to the AHL.

Icemen officials are preparing for the possibility of a sold-out arena on Saturday, continuing a trend for the club. Jacksonville's average attendance of 6,405 ranked third in the league last year, behind only Toledo and Fort Wayne.

"It's been a long summer and guys are ready to get back at it," Fortunato said. "We're excited to defend our home rink on Saturday night, sold-out crowd and stuff. That's what we love, and I know we'll be ready to go."

Season-opening Jacksonville Icemen roster

Goaltenders: Parker Gahagen, Olof Lindbom.

Defensemen: Garret Cockerill, Brandon Fortunato, Jacob Friend, Victor Hadfield, Luke Martin, Jacob Panetta, Tim Theocharidis.

Forwards: Easton Brodzinski, Christopher Brown, Cristiano DiGiacinto, Brendan Harris, Travis Howe, Zach Jordan, Derek Lodermeier, Ryan Lohin, Luke Lynch, Ara Nazarian, Matt Salhany, Alex Whelan.

Injured reserve list: F Ben Hawerchuk, G Charles Williams.

Reserve: F Jake Hamacher, D Louka Henault.

Clayton Freeman covers high school sports and more for the Florida Times-Union. Follow him on Twitter at @CFreemanJAX.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Icemen prepares to open 2022-2023 ECHL hockey season