Game Recaps 12/1/24

COLUMBUS RIVER DRAGON at MISSISSIPPI SEA WOLVES

Sea Wolves Score Early, Can't Hold Lose 5-2

by Jon Kliment

Biloxi, MS - The Sea Wolves came into a Sunday afternoon game looking for a winning formula after struggling out of the gate. Having pulled to within a goal last night the importance of starting on time was not lost on Mississippi.

Just 2:24 into the game Brendan Hussey blasted a shot from the far side past Sammy Bernard that hit the back of the net to give the Sea Wolves a 1-0 early lead. Though the call had to be reviewed and was shown to be correct Mississippi rode the momentum and buried another 2:15 later after a scramble in front of the net Tanner Coleman found the rebound and tucked it behind Bernard for a 2-0 lead for the Sea Wolves. The second goal of the game appeared to awaken Columbus as they came back rifling shot after shot before a pass across the front of the net from Kyle Moore to Alex Jmaeff was tucked past Samuel Best at 6:48 to take the lead down to 2-1. 

It took a full period ten minutes and one second for the next goal to find the back of the net and it was Columbus Ryan Hunter as Noah Hippolyte-Smith was tied up with a Columbus defenseman that everyone thought was coming to blows, the River Dragons sent a stretch pass down the ice to Hunter who was able to beat Best to tie the game at 2-2.

Columbus continued to pour on the pressure in the third as Ryan Galvin scored just 3:29 into the period. Kyle Moore and Cody Wickline added insurance markers late to give Columbus a 5-2 win.

Best stopped 30 of 35 in the loss.

The Sea Wolves return to the Coliseum next Friday night at 7:05 pm to take on the Columbus River Dragons again. Get your tickets on Ticketmaster, the Ticketmaster app, or by stopping by the box office.

RIVER DRAGONS SCORE FIVE UNANSWERED TO BEAT SEA WOLVES

by Tom Callahan

Biloxi, MS - Kyle Moore led the way with a goal and two assists as the Columbus River Dragons beat the Mississippi Sea Wolves 5-2 on Sunday afternoon.

Mississippi built a 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the game on goals from Brendan Hussey and Tanner Coleman, but that turned out to be the high-water mark for the Sea Wolves.

Alexander Jmaeff responded for Columbus at 6:48 of the first period, getting the River Dragons back within a goal by the end of the first period.

The River Dragons tied it in the second on Ryan Hunter's first goal of the season, and then poured on three more in the third period from Ryan Galvin, Moore, and Cody Wickline to wrap the scoring.

Sammy Bernard made a season-high 43 saves for the win as the River Dragons improved to 7-0 on the road this season.

The same two teams rematch next weekend, playing in Mississippi Friday and then back in Columbus on Saturday night at 7:05 pm ET. Tickets are on sale now through the Civic Center Box Office and online at TicketMaster.com.