Category Archives: AAHA

River Dragons Top Sea Wolves, 7-4

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Columbus, GA – After returning from a tough loss in Athens following transportation delays, the Columbus River Dragons returned home with a new energy to defeat the Mississippi Sea Wolves, 7-4.

Scott Docherty ripped through the Sea Wolves’ defensive efforts in the first 27 seconds of the night’s contest, setting the tone for a River Dragons’ offensive dominant evening.

55 seconds later though, Curtis Hansen fired back for the Sea Wolves to even up the score, 1-1.

Kyle Moore pushed the River Dragons ahead at 11:58, closing the first frame of play with Columbus ahead, 2-1.

Columbus and Mississippi both produced two goals in the second period, ending 40 minutes of hockey with the River Dragons in the lead, 4-3.

Philip Wong opened things up with a goal 55 seconds into the third period, tying the game before Alex Storjohann reclaimed the River Dragons lead at 9:44.

The game ended in regulation with the River Dragons claiming the night’s victory over the Sea Wolves, 7-4.

Justin MacDonald produced 5 points in today’s matchup, including a shorthanded goal at 16:57 in the second period. Ryan Hunter tallied 3 points tonight as well. Both have achieved a 4-game scoring streak for the River Dragons.

The Mississippi Sea Wolves will remain in Columbus Saturday for the River Dragons “Military Night”, which will include a pre-game inter-squad scrimmage, featuring the Fort Moore Marauders.

– Photos by Toni Rae Hill

Two Way Shutout Settled in Shootout

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Columbus, GA – Sammy Bernard and Josh Rosenzweig stood firm in net for their teams for 65 minutes before the contest was settled in shootout in favor of the Athens Rock Lobsters.

Sammy Bernard, goal tender for the Columbus River Dragons, made 31 saves through all three regulation periods plus a 5 minute overtime period, achieving a shutout for the River Dragons.

Likewise, Josh Rosenzweig posted a shutout for the Rock Lobsters, making 38 saves.

The Rock Lobsters had a total of 8 power play opportunities, including three 5-on-3 power play scenarios, but were unable to capitalize.

The River Dragons managed to kill all three of their 5-on-3 penalty scenarios (a season high), and were also given a total of 8 power play opportunities, but could not overcome the Rock Lobsters’ defense.

The contest was only settled when Filip Virgili was able to score, giving the Rock Lobsters a victory in shootout.

Of the seven times these teams have met, all but three have been settled post-regulation. Columbus has won twice in regulation versus Athens’ one regulation win, while Athens has achieved three overtime wins. The River Dragons have emerged victorious in overtime only once versus the Rock Lobsters, on December 20th, 2024.

The River Dragons have not gone scoreless through regulation since their 1-0 loss in overtime at the first game of the season against the Monroe Moccasins on October 18, 2024.

Columbus will play next in Binghamton against the Black Bears next weekend before meeting the Rock Lobsters again on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 in Athens.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill

Thunderbirds Overcome River Dragons, 5-3

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Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons lost in regulation against the Carolina Thunderbirds, 5-3.

The Thunderbirds took off running against the River Dragons in the first period, scoring twice. Although Columbus managed 9 shots on goal, Babik didn’t allow anything past him. The first frame ended with Carolina ahead, 2-0.

In the second, Alexander Jmaeff recorded his 200th pro point with an assist on Brian Dunford’s goal 31 seconds into the second period, closing the gap on the Thunderbirds 2-1. Nate Keeley responded for the Thunderbirds, extending their lead to 3-1.

For the remainder of the night, anytime the River Dragons advanced to a one-point deficit, the Thunderbirds responded quickly to widen their lead.

The Thunderbirds took an important win from the night’s contest, winning in regulation on the road, 5-3.

Kalib Ford, Jon Buttitta, and Gordon Whalen all achieved multi-point performances for the Thunderbirds to lock in their victory.

Both squads will play next against the Rock Lobsters. Carolina is scheduled to play at 4:05 pm on Sunday in Athens, while Columbus will have an additional week to rest and recover before hosting Athens on Friday, January 24.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill

River Dragons Waste Thunderbirds, 5-2

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Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons hosted the first of two games against the Carolina Thunderbirds, locking in the win in regulation, 5-2.


Trailing in the second period after Carolina’s Jon Buttitta scored the game’s first goal at 18:52 in the first period, Justin Macdonald and Alex Storjohann put the River Dragons ahead, 2-1. The second period concluded with a River Dragons lead that was never undone.

The River Dragons exploded in the third period. Austin Daae, Kyle Moore, and Chiwetin Blacksmith extended their lead to 5-1. Only Jan Salak managed to sneak past the Dragons, scoring a short-handed goal at 18:15, concluding the contest with the Dragons up, 5-2.

Columbus went 2 for 4 on the power play against the Thunderbirds, who lead the league in penalty kills.

This contest’s Three Stars of the Game were Alex Storjohann (1 Goal, 1 Assist), Chiwetin Blacksmith (1 Goal, 1 Assist), and Sammy Bernard (.933 SV%).

Chiwetin Blacksmith scored once and made an assist in his debut on the River Dragons roster.

Six River Dragons achieved multiple points during the contest –

Justin MacDonald, Kyle Moore, Alex Storjohann, Austin Daae, and Chiwetin Blacksmith each produced 1 goal and 1 assist, and Cody Wickline produced 2 assists.

The River Dragons will play the Thunderbirds again at home Saturday for the second night of their White Out Weekend at 7:05 pm.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Swamp Rabbits come from behind to win in shootout

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jake Flynn tied the game with 2:03 left in regulation to complete a comeback for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who, thanks to two goals from Colton Young and the game-winner from Brent Pedersen in the top of the fourth shootout, claimed the win against the Jacksonville Icemen, 5-4 past 67 minutes of hockey. The win gives the Swamp Rabbits two wins out of two games played in their current four-game road trip.

Icemen jumped out on a 3-0 run before the Swamp Rabbits answered to end the period. Derek Lodermeier kicked things off for the Icemen when an Ivan Chukarov shot made its way to Jacob Ingham, in net for the Swamp Rabbits. Ingham appeared to have the puck covered, but Lodermeier noticed the puck was loose and jabbed it past Ingham to give the Icemen a 1-0 lead at 7:35 of the first (Chukarov and Ty Cheveldayoff assisted).

Christopher Brown, the Icemen Captain, doubled his team’s lead 1:45 later when Logan Cockerill fed him a transition pass in the neutral zone entering the Swamp Rabbits third. Brown split the defense and fired a shot that went off of Ingham and in, giving Jacksonville a 2-0 lead at 9:20 left (Cockerill and Chukarov assisted). Moments later, Cooper Jones had a goal waved off due to a distinct kicking motion to put the puck in the net, but Brody Crane eventually got the third tally for the Icemen in the latter half of the frame.

With 5:49 left, Crane was sprung on a break by Garrett Van Whye, uncontested towards Ingham. Crane finished his attempt and tripled the hot Jacksonville start to 3-0 (Van Whye and Connor Russell assisted). Ingham was then removed from the Swamp Rabbits net and replaced by Dryden McKay. Shortly after the goalie swap, Colton Young ended the Icemen scoring run and got the Swamp Rabbits on the board. With 3:39 left in the first, Jake Flynn finished a complete lap around the attacking zone and dropped the puck off to Young on the left wall. Young let a snipe rip from the wing, blistering his shot over the shoulder of Matt Vernon manning the Icemen net to cut the deficit to 3-1 (Flynn and Carter Savoie assisted).

Brent Pedersen provided the only goal of the second frame, bringing the Swamp Rabbits within one in a period that showcased back-and-forth scoring chances. Pedersen eventually hit paydirt with 65 seconds left in the frame, burying a feed from in front Mason Emoff from behind the net in point blank range to bring the Swamp Rabbits within striking distance, trailing 3-2 entering the third (Emoff and Parker Berge assisted).

Jacksonville re-established their multi-goal lead early in the second, but the Swamp Rabbits mounted their comeback and found a way to force extra-curricular activity. On their only power play of the game, the Icemen kept the puck in zone thanks to Rob Calisti, who worked it down low to Chase Lang. Lang found Zach Jordan near the net and open, and Jordan tapped the puck past McKay to separate the Icemen with a 4-2 lead.

Down, but not out, Colton Young sparked a rally with his second goal of the game to pull the Swamp Rabbits back within one. With 12:15 left in the game, Parker Berge walked the blue line and rifled a long-range shot, deflected by Young in the slot, which arced over Vernon and in to make it a 4-3 game (Berge and Bryce Brodzinski assisted). Needing a goal late, the Swamp Rabbits got a boost from their young talent, with Jake Flynn stepping up in the moment. With 2:03 left, Flynn came close to the Icemen net, located a loose puck, and threaded it under the blocker of Vernon, squaring the game at 4-4 with his second of the year (Mason Emoff assisted). The remaining 2:03 of regulation wasn’t enough to determine a winner, prompting overtime for the fourth time this year for the Swamp Rabbits.

Both teams couldn’t solve the game in overtime, so a shootout was necessary to determine the winner. The division rivals traded blows in the first two rounds, with Colton Young and Bryce Brodzinski scoring, countered by Logan Cockerill and Brody Crane, respectively. Carter Savoie and Derek Lodermeier each couldn’t convert in the third round, prompting a sudden death round. In the top of the fourth, Brent Pedersen skated full bore towards Vernon’s net and buried his shot, therefore necessitating Davis Koch of Jacksonville to score to perpetuate the game. Koch was denied by McKay, who sealed the come-from-behind win for the Swamp Rabbits, 5-4 in the shootout.

Jacob Ingham didn’t register a decision, allowing three goals on nine shots in 14:11 of his start. Dryden McKay earned the win in relief, staving all but one of 14 tries on net in 52:49 of hockey, in addition to two of four shooters in the shootout (9-10-2-0).

The Swamp Rabbits continue their week-long road trip with a return to Orlando to rematch the Solar Bears. Puck drop on Tuesday, January 7th, is slated for 7:00 p.m. EST at the Kia Center.

With Greenville Swamp Rabbits release

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

River Dragons Fall to Bobcats, 2-1

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Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons lost to the Blue Ridge Bobcats, 2-1, in a heated exchange Saturday night.


The first period was generally an even matchup. Neither the River Dragons nor the Bobcats were able to generate any momentum. The first 20 minutes concluded scoreless, 0-0.

In the second period, Nicolas McHugh capitalized on a Blue Ridge power play, putting the Bobcats ahead 1-0 at 8:05, and helped keep the River Dragons from making any headway. The period concluded with a Bobcats lead, 1-0.

Carson Andreoli took advantage an early turnover, and scored what would become the game-winning goal only 24 seconds into the 3rd period.

The rest of third period exploded, with both teams getting slapped with penalties and offering each other several scoring opportunities until the game’s conclusion.

Columbus turned up the heat in an attempt to close the gap on Blue Ridge. At 9:05, Alexander Jmaeff scored on assists by Nolan Slachetka and Connor Lind, making it 2-1.

Although Columbus generated several good shots on Hunter Virostek’s goal, nothing solidified and the game ended in favor of the Blue Ridge Bobcats, 2-1.

Columbus went 0-6 on power plays during the matchup, and Ryan Hunter’s 6-game scoring streak came to a halt, as did Cody Wickline’s 5-game scoring streak.

Alexander Jmaeff has tallied his 198th pro point tonight.

Columbus travels to Biloxi to square off against the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Sunday, while the Blue Ridge Bobcats will face the Carolina Thunderbirds in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Tuesday.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill