COLUMBUS, GA – “Hockey Night on the Chattahoochee” started rough with both teams looking to settle unfinished business from the River Dragon’s 4-2 win the previous night against the Blue Ridge Bobcats. 
With just 55 seconds played, Justin MacDonald scored the River Dragons first goal, setting the tone for a Dragons-dominated first period, with the assist made by #Kyle Moore and #Jordan Popoff. This also marked Justin MacDonald’s 600th career goal.
After a tumultuous battle, #Josh Pietrantonio sniped the Dragons 2nd goal with an assist by Justin MacDonald and Austin Daae at 18:23, capitalizing on a River Dragons power play.
The 1st period ended with Columbus leading the Bobcats 2-0.
As Blue Ridge left the ice at the end of the 1st period, the Bobcat’s Josh Newberg refused to comment on what was a highly contentious 20 minutes of game play.
As the 2nd period revved up, the River Dragons Ryan Hunter scored with an assist by #7 Justin Macdonald and #15 Kyle Moore at 3:29 of game play.
At 6:14, Nolan Slachetka added to the Columbus lead with assist by #Alexander Jmaeff and #19 Hunter Bersani, followed shortly thereafter with a heated slugfest between Egos Dolkart (Blue Ridge) and Nathan Balkwill (Columbus). The Bobcat’s Andrei Ivanov also exchanged blows with the River Drangon’s #18 Nathan Balkwill.
At 9:27, Justin Macdonald increased the River Dragons lead over Blue Ridge with an assist by #88 Ryan Hunter.
The remainder of the 2nd period was riddled with hard hits and pointed words until 40 minutes of game play concluded, with the River Dragons leading the Blue Ridge Bobcats 5-0.
The River Dragons started the 3rd period firing on all cylinders when #19 Hunter Bersani peppered onto the River Dragons lead with a power play goal after 1:31 of gameplay, capitalizing on the assist by #91 Carter Shinkaruk to further lead Blue Ridge 6-0.
At 17:36, Carson Andreoli scored on the assist by Austin Daae, closing out the River Dragons lead at 7-0 over Blue Ridge.
Taylor Joseph marked his first career shutout versus the Bobcats, making 31 saves.
While celebrating his first career shutout, River Dragons#30 Taylor Joseph had this to say when asked how he felt as he left the ice with his team:
Use CodePHN15 Richard Fuller earns the chair with his first game report for PHN. Well done.
“It’s amazing. It’s nice to get the monkey off the back. Great group of guys to do it with, they played awesome. Gotta give them credit. It was a great game overall by everybody.”
Coach Bechard added, “We stayed with the game well. Everyone was pushing, pushing, pushing all night. We just caught them with some quick puck movement and the guys did well putting the puck on net.”
Columbus will play its next game at home against the El Mira River Sharks on January 12th. Blue Ridge will play again on the road versus the Mississippi Sea Wolves tomorrow night in Biloxi.
Story by Richard.Fuller@prohockeynews.com
PHOTOS by Toni.Hill@prohockeynws.com
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