Columbus, GA – The Pee Dee Ice Cats defeated the Columbus River Dragons in regulation on Friday night, ending the Dragons’ 11-game win streak, 5-3.

Tyler Roy was put in the cage for the River Dragons, while Sean Kuhn manned the crease for the Ice Cats.

The River Dragons went scoreless in the first period.

Vadim Frolov landed the first goal of the night for the Pee Dee Ice Cats at 18:29.

Despite Divyne Apollon being penalized with a two-minute minor for tripping, Patriks Marcinkevics scored the short-handed goal for the Pee Dee Ice Cats at 19:55.

The first period ended with the Columbus River Dragons trailing the Pee Dee Ice Cats, 2-0.

The second frame was an absolute battle.

Joel Texmo found himself in two altercations – first at 4:04 with Pee Dee’s Divyne Apollon, and again at 14:00 with Charlie Bedard.

Finally, at 18:21, Alex Storjohann buried one for Columbus, cutting the Ice Cats’ lead down to 1 goal.

The second frame of regulation ended with Pee Dee ahead, 2-1.

The final frame of regulation included two goals by the River Dragons and three by the Pee Dee Ice Cats.

At 6:43, Patriks Marcinkevics buried one for the Ice Cats, but was answered by Cody Wickline to bring the River Dragons back within one goal of tying the game.

At 18:29, Patriks Marcinkevics completed the hat trick, scoring in a moment of defensive disarray put forth by the River Dragons.

At 19:21, Alexander Jmaeff answered for Columbus, bringing them back within one.

At 19:52, Houston Wilson scored on an empty net for Pee Dee, cementing the win for the Ice Cats and ending the River Dragons’ win streak.

Tyler Roy produced an 87.71 SV% for the River Dragons, saving 24 of 28 shots, compared to Sean Kuhn’s 90.9 SV% and 30 saves on 33 shots fired by the River Dragons.

The game ended in regulation with the Pee Dee Ice Cats leading Columbus, 5-3.

The night’s Three Stars of the Game included Patriks Marcinkevics (PD), Houston Wilson (Pee Dee), and Tyler Barrow (CRD).

Marcinkevics produced three goals, and Wilson tallied two assists and a goal for the Ice Cats.

Barrow also produced three points, assisting three times for the River Dragons.

Both squads will finish their weekend series in Columbus on Saturday night, where the River Dragons will host their annual Military Appreciation Night.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill

Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons finished their sweep over the Baton Rouge Zydeco on Saturday night, claiming victory in regulation, 6-1.

Trevor Babin, returning from his suspension following a brawl with the Pee Dee Ice Cats last weekend, manned the pipes for Columbus. Edward Coffey covered the crease for the Zydeco.

The first period went scoreless.

Matthew Bazarin buried the first goal of the night, in what would turn out to be the only score for the Zydeco, at 5:51 in the second frame.

Not to be outdone at home, the River Dragons went all in until Alex Storjohann fired back for Columbus at 7:23.

Ryan Hunter and Jestin Somero poured on the gravy with goals scored at 10:36 (with a PPG) and 15:44, respectively, closing the second frame with the River Dragons leading 3-1 over Baton Rouge.

In the third frame, Alexander Jmaeff, Tyler Barrow, and Scott Docherty mercilessly rubbed salt into the Zydeco’s wounds, scoring an additional three goals.

The contest closed with the River Dragons ahead in regulation, 6-1.

The game’s Three Stars of the Night included Tyler Barrow, Trevor Babin, and Alex Storjohann.

Barrow, having scored a goal and assisting twice, has scored 5 points this weekend.

Trevor Babin produced a 96.77 SV% for Columbus, stopping 30 of 31 shots fired by the Zydeco.

Alex Storjohann has also produced 5 points this weekend with 1 goal and 4 assists against the Zydeco.

Kyle Moore has also produced 5 points this weekend, and Ryan Hunter has tallied 4 points on the Zydeco.

The Columbus River Dragons prepare to square off against the Rock Lobsters on Wednesday at the Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia.

Puck drop is scheduled to take place at 10:35 am.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill

Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons extended their win streak to nine games after defeating the Baton Rouge Zydeco in regulation Friday night, 8-5.

Tyler Roy was put in the cage to start for the River Dragons, while Edward Coffey manned the pipes for the Zydeco.

To start the contest, Tyler Barrow went to the box for two minutes following a Pre-Game Warm-Up Violation.

Nonetheless, Barrow scored the night’s first goal at 9:02.

At 11:52, Kyle Moore buried a second goal for the River Dragons, making the play off of Chiwetin Blacksmith and Alexander Jmaeff.

With Columbus ahead 2-0, Baton Rouge fired back in a hurry.

Blake Keller put one past Tyler Roy at 13:29, followed quickly by Tyler Larwood at 15:09.

The first period ended with the Columbus River Dragons and Baton Rouge Zydeco tied, 2-2.

77 seconds into the second frame, Cody Wickline was slapped with a two-minute minor for High Sticking, putting Columbus on the penalty kill.

Fresh out of the box at 3:30, Wickline took a pass from Kirk Underwood and lured Zydeco goaltender Edward Coffey out of position, then found Tyler Barrow waiting at the corner of the net, ready to chip it in.

Seven minutes later, Blake Keller answered for the Zydeco, evening the score again to 3-3 at 10:34.

Not long after, Ryan Hunter put the River Dragons ahead of Baton Rouge, scoring a PPG at 14:46 to close the second frame with Columbus in front, 4-3.

5:41 into the third period, Nick Ketola shattered the River Dragons’ lead, tying it again at 4-4.

Seventeen seconds later, Ryan Hunter buried the River Dragons’ fifth goal of the night, then hit the hat trick goal at 6:37, pushing Columbus to a 6-4 lead over Baton Rouge.

Broadie Thornton tallied a seventh goal for Columbus at 10:23 before Jake Cox put one in the cage for Baton Rouge at 14:20.

To finish things out, Kyle Moore found Alexander Jmaeff at 19:00, who went on to score the empty-net goal.

The game concluded in regulation with the River Dragons ahead, 8-5.

The night’s Three Stars of the Game included the River Dragons’ Ryan Hunter (with three goals) and Tyler Barrow (with two goals), and Blake Keller, producing two goals for the Zydeco.

Tyler Roy achieved an 81.48 SV% for Columbus, managing to keep the River Dragons ahead of the Zydeco, locking in the win.

Both squads will remain in Columbus on Saturday night to finish their weekend series on Valentine’s Day.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill

Columbus, GA – The Columbus River Dragons extended their win streak to 8 games after defeating the Pee Dee Ice Cats in regulation at home Saturday night, 6-3.

Trevor Babin stood between the pipes for Columbus, while the Ice Cats gave Parker Rutherford the nod to man the cage for Pee Dee in what turned out to be a highly physical contest.

The first period was riddled with penalties against both squads as they felt each other out.

Tyler Barrow, Cody Wickline, Skate Skalde, Alex Storjohann, and Jestin Somero each found themselves in the box for Columbus, while Chance Adrian, Jake Jurgeneit, Divyne Apollon, Patriks Marcinkevics, and Trevor Lord landed in the box for Pee Dee within the opening twenty minutes.

Kirk Underwood put the River Dragons on the board with a PPG at 1:57, claiming the lead for Columbus in the first period.

The second frame came with several calls against Pee Dee, offering the River Dragons the chance to capitalize on pivotal power play opportunities.

Chance Adrian, Dzianis Zaichyk, Domenic Della served penalties, and HC Gary Graham were penalized for Delay of Game at 6:18 and an Unsportsmanlike Conduct at 15:02, ultimately leading to three PPG’s for Columbus.

Tyler Barrow gave the River Dragons a 2-0 lead at 6:18, but was answered by Pee Dee’s Dominiks Marcinkevics at 8:48.

The match was leveled out by Dzianis Zaichyk at 12:17, tying the game at 2-2.

Tyler Barrow and Brodie Thornton each scored an additional PPG at 15:02 and 16:14, respectively, before Cody Wickline added to the River Dragons’ lead at 18:22.

The second frame closed with the Columbus River Dragons ahead, 5-2.

The final twenty-minute stretch was peppered with several altercations.

Pee Dee Ice Cats’ HC Gary Graham was removed from the game at 2:10 for Unsportsmanlike Conduct, following a disagreement with the officials.

At 2:52, Tyler Barrow scored the Hat Trick goal, unassisted.

At 5:40, Patriks Marcinkevics scored what would be the final goal of the night for Pee Dee, putting the Ice Cats at a 3-point deficit.

At 15:07, the flood gates were opened. Domenic Della Civita was slapped for Roughing at 15:07, while Patriks Marcinkevics was simultaneously called for Slashing.

Within seconds, nearly everyone on the ice was involved with an altercation.

Columbus’ Goaltender Trevor Babin was penalized for Leaving the Crease and Slashing, while Skate Skalde and Matthew Horan was hit with a 5- minute major for Fighting, and a Game Misconduct for Fighting After the Original Altercation.

Pee Dee Ice Cats’ Nicholas Magill-Diaz, Jordan Popoff, and Divyne Apollon were also hit with a 5-minute major for Fighting, and a Game Misconduct for Fighting After the Original Altercation.

The contest closed in favor of the Columbus River Dragons in regulation with a final score of 6-3.

Trevor Babin faced 30 shots, saving 27 of them, to earn a 90.0 SV% for Columbus.

The night’s Three Stars of the Game were Tyler Barrow, having produced a Hat Trick tonight, Brodie Thornton, and Scott Docherty.

Thornton produced four points for the River Dragons – one goal and three assists.

Docherty produced two points for Columbus, assisting twice.

Kyle Moore also produced two assists.

The Columbus River Dragons prepare to take on the Baton Rouge Zydeco on Friday night at home.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:35 pm.

Photos by Toni Rae Hill