AUGUSTA, GA – When players at the single-A level get the call to head to a higher league, they are usually gone for a weekend, maybe a week before being sent back with a pat on the back and a “thanks for helping us out”.
In the case of Augusta RiverHawks forward Lucas LaBelle, he got the call from the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. After a 12-week absence from Augusta, LaBelle returned on March 1st and scored the game-winning goal in his first game back as the RiverHawks defeated the Fayetteville FireAntz 4-1 at the James Brown Arena. It turned out to be a huge night for Labelle as he added an assist and even made a save backing up goalie Peter Skoggard in the Augusta net.
The opening period was pretty quiet by standards as just one goal was scored and one penalty was whistled. Augusta’s Jason Price was called for slashing at the 14 minute mark. Less than a minute later, Fayetteville’s Jesse Biduke finished off a setup from Mike Forgie by beating Skoggard for the game’s opening goal. The host RiverHawks poured 16 shots on FireAntz goalie Mike Brown but he was able to stop all of them, letting his team take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Less than a minute into the middle period, the FireAntz found themselves short-handed when Josh McQuade went to the box. It took Augusta a little over a minute of time on the man advantage to make them pay as Brendan Taylor put the puck past Brown to tie the score. That was it for scoring in the period but the 1,825 fans at the game were entertained when Augusta’s Branden Kosolofsky and Fayetteville’s Anthony Pisano engaged each other in a fight.
As the final period opened, the game’s outcome was still in the balance but things changed quickly. Just 1:58 in, LaBelle scored an unassisted goal to break the tie and put the RiverHawks ahead to stay. Skoggard and Brown kept the score that way until the 14:06 mark when Augusta’s Justin Levac scored his first goal at the James Brown Arena to push the lead to two. Defenseman Ed Snetsinger finished off the scoring in the final minute when with Brown pulled for an extra attacker, he sailed the puck from his own zone into the empty net.
Augusta out-shot Fayetteville 40-27 in the contest with Skoggard making 26 saves to earn the victory while Brown stopped 37 shots in a losing effort.
Augusta%27s Branden Kosolofsky (39) pins Fayetteville%27s Anthony Pisano against the boards.
Fayetteville goalie Mike Brown (33%2C black) fends off Augusta%27s Lucas LaBelle (9) and Drew Baker (6).
Augusta%27s Curtis Megginson (4%2C white) bodies Fayetteville%27s Jesse Biduke away from the puck.
Augusta goalie Peter Skoggard has an easy time with a aerial puck.
FireAntz goalie Mike Brown (33%2C black) readies to snare the puck away from an Augusta player.
Augusta%27s Jesse Echternach (11%2C white) battles Fayetteville%27s Matt Smyth for the puck.
Augusta%27s Lucas LaBelle (9%2C white) fires a shot at Fayetteville goalie Mike Brown as Justin Levac (44) waits for a rebound.
Augusta%27s Lucas LaBelle (9%2C white) plays goalie on a shot by Fayetteville%27s Kyle McNeil.
Contact the photographer at stephanie.simpers@prohockeynews.com
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