River Dragons Regular Season Champs With Win Over Bobcats

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Columbus, GA –

2,720 fans came to support their hometown Columbus River Dragons as the Columbus Civic Center kicked off the Jerome “Boom Boom” Bechard 24 Hour Hockey Classic.


Within the first three minutes of the game, Justin MacDonald and Austin Daae put up two points to give the River Dragons an early lead over the visiting Blue Ridge Bobcats.

The first period closed with the River Dragons completely in control, holding the Bobcats to only 9 SOG.

During the second period, both benches seemed primed and ready for a tough physical contest.

Sequoia Swan scored the Dragons’ third goal at 5:24 off a precision pass by Cody Wickline directly in front of the Bobcats’ net.

Blue Ridge attempted to entice Columbus into committing infractions, succeeding twice. Kirk Underwood was penalized with a 2-minute minor for slashing and Nathan Balkwill two minutes for roughing.

At 7:03, Vlasov Vladislav denied the River Dragons a shutout, scoring from an assist by Nicolas McHugh and Daniel Martin.

The second period concluded with the River Dragon’s ahead, 3-1.

The final frame of regulation was filled with hard hits and pointed words amongst the players, but the Dragons continued to pull ahead.

At 8:15, Josh Pietrantonio buried the Dragons’ fourth goal of the night.

At 10:25, Blue Ridge answered back when  Jakob Volf shoveled the rock into the net for the Bobcats, but the River Dragons sealed the game with Justin MacDonald scored an empty-net goal at 18:28.

Tonight’s win for the Dragons clinched their status as  the regular season champions, allowing them the home-ice advantage throughout the FPHL Commissioner’s Cup Playoffs.

The 24 Hour Classic continues at midnight at the Columbus Ice Rink, with six teams competing in a single elimination tournament for the first-ever Jerome Bechard Cup.

Finals will be held at 2 pm at the Columbus Ice Rink, followed by the Columbus Legends game at 4 pm at the Civic Center, and ending with the second-of-two series between the Blue Ridge Bobcats and the Columbus River Dragon’s at 7 pm.