Columbus, GA – The Pee Dee Ice Cats finished their sweep over the Columbus River Dragons, claiming their second victory of the weekend on Saturday night in overtime, 4-3.
In front of a record-high crowd of 7,870 Columbus Hockey fans, the Columbus River Dragons hosted their annual Military Appreciation Night against the Pee Dee Ice Cats.
Prior to the night’s FPHL contest, the Fort Benning Doughboys held an inter-squad game. Players consisted of active duty and veteran infantry and armor soldiers of the United States Army.
In a close contest, the Infantry defeated the Armor, 6-5.
Setting the stage for the River Dragons matchup with the Ice Cats, the MCOE Army Band played the National Anthem. They were followed by a spectacular display of gallantry and fortitude, as four Airborne and Ranger Training Battalion soldiers repelled from the rafters to deliver the Official Game Puck to Captain Kirk Underwood of the River Dragons.
With the Anthem played, the ceremonial puck drop done, and fans in their seats, Hockey Time on the Chattahoochee was on its way.
Trevor Babin started in the crease for the River Dragons, squaring off against Breandan Colgan in the cage for the Ice Cats.
The first twenty minutes was a battle.
After 13 shots made by Pee Dee and 11 shots by Columbus, Ryan Hunter tallied the opening frame’s first and only goal at 14:10, scoring on the power play following a Cross Checking penalty by Pee Dee’s Nicholas Magill-Diaz at 12:41.
The first period closed with Columbus ahead, 1-0.
During the first intermission, veterans with the Chattahoochee Valley Warriors, a hockey team built for veterans of the United States Armed Forces, whose mission is “Healing through Hockey”, played a 10-minute 4-on-4 scrimmage. Alex Herakovich scored the only goal during the scrimmage, while Jack Ridenour and Bryan DeCapite closed it out with some playful fisticuffs, before returning to the night’s regularly scheduled contest.
The second frame came loaded with action – two fights, a goal, and two minor penalties peppered in.
1:06 into the frame, Alexander Legkov tied the game.
Four seconds later, Jordan Popoff and Alexander Jmaeff squared off to settle a dispute from Friday night’s matchup. Each were slapped with a 5-minute major for Fighting.
At 10:04, Georges Laraque – known to be an enforcer in the NHL, participating in the night’s game on a one-game Celebrity contract – lured Pee Dee’s Divyne Apollon into dropping the gloves, but Scott Docherty swept in to keep Laraque out of trouble, trading blows with Apollon on Laraque’s behalf.
At 12:24, Jordon Popoff was put back in the box for two minutes for Cross Checking, before Kirk Underwood was slapped with a two-minute minor for High Sticking at 14:42.
The second frame closed with the game tied, 1-1.
The third period was an absolute rollercoaster.
At 2:06, Noah Robinson put the Ice Cats ahead, 2-1.
At 4:58, Joel Texmo answered for the River Dragons, tying the game.
At 6:35, Houston Wilson reclaimed the lead for Pee Dee.
For the majority of the period, the River Dragons remained patient, making several attempts to even the score.
Trevor Babin left his crease with two minutes remaining, offering Columbus an extra attacker.
Pee Dee pushed relentlessly, making several attempts on the empty net, but River Dragons defenders were there to protect their un-tended goal.
Then, with 29 seconds remaining in regulation, Josh Colten landed the game-tying goal, to send the contest into overtime.
3:46 into the five minute 3-on-3 overtime period, Alexander Legkov hit the game-winning goal for Pee Dee, silencing the capacity crowd with a top-shelf laser beam.
The night’s Three Stars of the Game included the Pee Dee Ice Cats’ Alexander Legkov and Houston Wilson, and the River Dragons’ Josh Colten.
Legkov produced two goals on three shots. Wilson buried one goal, and assisted once as well.
Josh Colten scored the game-tying goal, sending the contest to overtime.
Trevor Babin spent 57:58 in the crease for Columbus, producing a 90.9 SV% on a total of 33 shots.
Breandan Colgan, formerly a River Dragon, produced a 90.63 SV% for Pee Dee.
The River Dragons look to end their two-game losing streak at home against the Biloxi Breakers on Friday, February 27.
Puck drop is scheduled to take place at 7:35 pm.
Photos by Toni Rae Hill
