Category Archives: NCAA

NCAA ice hockey

Penn State wins Admiral’s Cup

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Winston-Salem, NC: On Sunday, February 9,2025, the Penn State Nittany Ice Lions defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies in the ACCHL Championship game by a final score of 5-2. The ACCHL holds 3 weekends of Championship hockey at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex.

The first weekend featured the Premier Division, the highest of the D2 leagues supported by the ACCHL.

Quarterfinal games were held on Friday, with UNC-Chapel Hill defeating UNC-Wilmington 3-0. Virginia Tech defeated Rider 3-2 in the second game of the tournament. NC State was next up defeating Rowan 6-2. The final game of the evening saw number one ranked Penn State squeak by the University of Maryland 3-2.

Semifinal Saturday saw Virginia Tech escape with a 3-2 win over NC State. Penn State then defeated UNC-Chapel Hill by a score of 4-1.

On Sunday afternoon, Virginia Tech would take an early lead, but would fall to Penn State 5-2. Freshman Ben Grasser of Penn State would earn the MVP of the tournament.

Next up is the Elite level teams with play in games on Thursday, followed by the quarterfinals on Friday, semi-finals on Saturday, and the finals on Sunday.


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

Komets Down Blue Whales (Tulsa Oilers) in OT Thriller

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Ft Wayne Komets forward Alex Swetlikoff (90), Tulsa Oilers goalie Vyacheslav Buteyets (30)

TULSA, Okla. — The Route 66 Blue Whales (Tulsa Oilers) faced a heart-stopping challenge at the BOK Center on Friday night as they went head-to-head against the Fort Wayne Komets. In a close game, the Blue Whales ultimately fell 3-2 in overtime, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

Tulsa Oilers defenseman Mike McKee (24)

The night began with excitement as Mike McKee lit the lamp for the Blue Whales, banging in a shot that ricocheted off the left-wing wall and slipped past Komets’ goaltender Connor Unger with just 1:22 left in the first period. The home crowd erupted as Tulsa took an early 1-0 lead.

Tulsa Oilers defenseman Olivier Dame-Malka (40)

Building on their momentum, the Blue Whales doubled their advantage when Olivier Dame-Malka found the back of the net 6:54 into the second period. With two goals in his last three games, Dame-Malka gave Tulsa a comfortable 2-0 lead, and the atmosphere in the arena buzzed with hope for a victory.

Ft Wayne Komets forward Jack Dugan (8)

However, the Komets displayed resilience and began their comeback late in the game. Odeen Tufto ignited the rally with a power-play goal at the 5:09 mark of the third period, firing a blistering one-timer into the top corner to narrow the deficit to 2-1. As the clock ticked down, the Komets kept pressing, and Jack Dugan leveled the score at 2-2 with just 2:41 remaining in regulation. Dugan capitalized on a rebound, leaving the crowd stunned and forcing the game into overtime.

Ft Wayne Komets forward Jack Gorniak (20), Tulsa Oilers defenseman Mike McKee (24)

In the extra frame, the tension heightened with each pass and rush. Ultimately, it was Alex Swetlikoff who ended the matchup, scoring the game-winning goal just 2:54 into overtime. Tufto assisted on the play, capping an impressive performance with a point on all three Komets goals.

Tulsa Oilers forward Sean Olson (29)

Contact the Writer/Photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com

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