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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

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

Oilers earn point against surging Mavericks in OT loss

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Tulsa Oilers defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka (21), Kansas City Mavericks defenseman Marcus Crawford (15)

The Tulsa Oilers faced a challenging match against the Kansas City Mavericks on December 20, 2024, at the BOK Center. Despite a strong performance, including a debut goal from Jeremie Biakabutuka and a five-game point streak for Michael Farren, the Oilers succumbed to a 3-2 overtime loss, earning a hard-fought point in the contest.

Kansas City Mavericks forward Casey Carreau (22)

A scoreless first period despite chances on both ends.  It was even paced with even effort for both teams.

Tulsa Oilers forward Connor Roulette (34)

Goal by Conner Roulette: Breaks the deadlock at 5:29 with a two-on-one feed from Michael Farren, making the score 1-0 for the Oilers.

Response from Mavericks: Daniel Giroux scores at 13:40, tying the game 1-1.

Tulsa Oilers goalie Vyacheslav Buteyets (30)

Debut Goal by Jeremie Biakabutuka: Scores a power-play one-timer just 1:06 later, putting the Oilers back ahead 2-1.

Kansas City Mavericks forward Cam Morrison (9)

Kansas City pulls their goaltender, resulting in a crucial goal by Casey Carreau with just 1:35 left in regulation, tying the game 2-2 and forcing overtime.

Kansas City Mavericks goalie Jack LaFontaine (1)

Game-Winning Goal: Casey Carreau scores 2:32 into overtime, sealing the 3-2 victory for Kansas City.

Kansas City Mavericks forward Casey Carreau (22)

Contact the photographer: Les.Stockton@prohockeynews.com

PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Koch’s Overtime Goal Seals 3-2 Win Over Everblades

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JACKSONVILLE, FL – Davis Koch’s goal at 4:46 of overtime lifted the Icemen a to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Everblades Saturday night at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.

After a scoreless first period, the Icemen struck first on a low angled shot by Brendan Harris that managed to clip past Florida goaltender Cam Johnson for the first tally of the game.

Later in the period, the Icemen added to their lead when a scramble for the puck unfolded in front of the net. Following an Icemen shot and save by Johnson, the puck emerged to the left circle through a wall of skates and players in front.   Ty Cheveldayoff scooped up the puck and cut to the slot and delivered a shot through traffic that found the back of the net past a screened Johnson to give the Icemen a 2-0 lead

The Everblades pushed back in the third, on tallies from Oliver Chau and a long-range shot from Anton Malmstrom to even up the score and eventually force overtime.

In the extra session, Liam Coughlin circled the Florida net and swung a pass in front to Davis Koch who buried the puck shortside for the game-winner to give the Icemen the 3-2 win.

With Jacksonville Icemen release

Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com

River Dragons Win 6-3 Over Maccasins

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Columbus, GA – More than 3,700 fans lined the Columbus Civic Center to look on as the River Dragons aimed at closing this weekend’s series with a win.

The teddy bears came raining down at 10:38 in the first period when Ryan Hunter scored on the power play, answering Monroe’s Ben Stefanini’s goal at 5:37.

Connor Lind pushed the River Dragons ahead, 2-1, on a power play at 15:20. The Moccasins struck back though, as Nathan Butler scored his first FPHL goal on the power play at 17:07.

The first frame finished, tied 2-2.

The second period was pretty evenly matched, with both the River Dragons and the Moccasins scoring once. Ryan Hunter marked his second of the night for the River Dragons at 13:38 and the Moccasins’ Helmer Oskarsson tied it back up at 10:04. The second period ended tied, 3-3.

In the third period, the River Dragons took off against a battle-weakened Moccasins lineup, scoring three times and splitting the weekend series with a win at home.

With just 40 seconds in, Hunter Bersani took the lead for the Dragons when he scored on an assist from Alex Storjohann. Jestin Somero chipped one in off of Connor Lind at 5:55, and Alex Storjohann scored the final goal of the night at 12:42.

Kyle Moore, Austin Daae, and Steven Klinck also marked points for the evening with an assst, while Nolan Slachetka achieved 2 assists.

Ryan Hunter was awarded the game’s first Star of the Game with 2 goals. Jestin Somero earned the second Star of the Game title with 1 goal and 2 assists, and Nolan Slachetka was the game’s third Star with 2 assists.

The River Dragons will play again at home against the Athens Rock Lobsters on Friday, December 20th at 7:35 pm.