'Let the big dog eat': How this Peoria Rivermen star made his way back from the ECHL

PEORIA — Jordan Ernst would do anything to win a ring with the Peoria Rivermen.

And he almost had to, just to get here.

The high-scoring left wing returned from the ECHL for the first time this season — with just enough games remaining to qualify him for SPHL playoff participation — as he tries to pick up where he left off here three years ago.

The Rivermen, meanwhile, could not pick up where they left off Sunday as a 3-2 loss to Quad City snapped their league-high 15-game home winning streak before 2,669 at Carver Arena.

JM Piotrowski and Kasey Kulczycki scored the Peoria goals, the latter his third goal in just two games since joining the Rivermen.

Quad City got the game-winner from Ben Duperreault at 10:43 of the third period to hand goaltender Eric Levine and the Rivermen a rare loss on home ice.

BOX SCORE: Quad City 3, Rivermen 2 | STANDINGS: SPHL 2021-22

'Never too old to have fun': Peoria Rivermen blowout win filled with records, milestones

Peoria is 23-3-1 at Carver Arena, tied for the league record in single-season home wins, which the Rivermen set in 2018-19.

Ernst had an assist for the second straight game Sunday, and the Rivermen will count on him for scoring heading into the postseason.

If he's as determined on the ice as was in his journey back to Peoria, he'll be just fine.

"It was a classic saga," Ernst said. "I didn't know if I was going to make it."

Planes, trains and automobiles

The 6-foot, 190-pound left wing scored six goals and added five assists with a minus-3 rating in 42 games with ECHL Tulsa this season.

"The coach told me (last week) he'd made a trade to get a guy coming down from the AHL, and he started explaining waivers to me," Ernst said. "I told the coaching staff I wasn't interested in that, that I just wanted to go to Peoria in the SPHL."

Tulsa was in Salt Lake City at the time. Ernst left his hotel and took an Uber to the airport to fly to Tulsa, via St. Louis. But Ernst discovered when he arrived at the airport he brought his equipment bag but forgot his luggage.

Back he raced to the hotel, collected his bag, raced back to the airport and got through security in time for the flight. But the flight was then delayed because of mechanical issues with the plane.

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"An hour, then another 90 minutes, then we de-boarded and waited for another plane to be flown in," Ernst said. "I missed my connecting flight in St. Louis. By the time I got there, I had to get a hotel — and that wasn't cheap. There wasn't time to go to Tulsa. So my dad drove in and picked me up, drove me up to Peoria and I got there just in time to get on the bus and go to the game at Quad City.

"I played that game, then the next day drove to Tulsa, packed my things there and got my car and drove back to Peoria.

"It's worth it to me. This is where I want to be."

Let the big dog eat

There is an unfinished story for Ernst here. He scored 21 goals in 45 games with a Rivermen team that was in first place in the SPHL in 2019-20 when the pandemic hit and the season was canceled in early March.

Peoria opted out of the next 2020-21 season, so Ernst joined Rivermen captain Alec Hagaman and defenseman Nick Neville in Pensacola under a special agreement with the league that allowed them to play there while Peoria retained their rights.

They won a championship with those Flyers, then Hagaman and Neville returned to Peoria for this season. Ernst initially signed with the Rivermen, too, but won a job with ECHL Tulsa and has spent the entire season there.

Until now.

"I hated the way the season ended here in that COVID year," said Ernst, a colorful Rivermen player who declares "Let the Big Dog eat!" when he scores a goal. "That ring with Pensacola, it was bittersweet for me. As it was happening, I was thinking how much I wanted to do that here in Peoria, with (Rivermen coach) Jean-Guy Trudel."

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Ernst, 24, a Mokena native, has played 93 games in the ECHL with Kansas City and Tulsa. He's a next-level player and the Rivermen are hoping he helps them take a final step to a long-awaited SPHL title.

"I know the culture here," Ernst said. "Jean-Guy gets my mind in the right spot. I'm here to regain a little confidence. When I showed up here, it felt like a dream.

"And I know exactly how I want it to end."

River Readings

The loss was costly for the Rivermen, who remained in second place. To finish first, the Rivermen must win their last two games while SPHL leader Knoxville loses its last two in regulation. To finish second, the Rivermen — who are one point ahead of Huntsville — likely have to win their final two games. Peoria's magic number to assure at least a third-place finish is two points. ... The most likely Rivermen first-round playoff opponents appear to be Pensacola, Evansville or Roanoke. ... Quad City defenseman Cody Walsh was assessed a major boarding penalty — but not ejected — when he took out veteran Rivermen winger Mike Gurtler in the game's third minute. Peoria scored a power play goal on that infraction. ... Rivermen center JM Piotrowski had a goal and an assist.

Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria Rivermen hockey: How this star made his way back from the ECHL