COLUMBUS RIVER DRAGONS at MISSISSIPPI SEA WOLVES
River Dragons Down Sea Wolves 9-5
by Wesley Barnett
Biloxi, MS - Sunday afternoon in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Mississippi Sea Wolves host the Columbus River Dragons for their final regular season home game.
The first 10 minutes of the contest went back and forth, neither team finding the back of the net. Assisted by Austin Daae and Josh Pietrantonio, Jay Croop started it off for the Thunderbirds. Sequoia Swan scored shortly after bringing the lead to 2. A clear out pass brought Joe Sheppard out of the goal to play it. His pass was intercepted and quickly fired into the net for a quick score. Making it 3-0. In his first game following a two game suspension, Justin Barr took shot a deflection off his shoulder which bounced into the net for the first goal for the Sea Wolves making it 3-1 to end the first period.
Matt Stoia carried the momentum from the final minutes of the first period into the second with a one timer goal bringing the score to 3-2. The River Dragons would then begin their offensive clinic. Jay Croop and Cody Wickline net an even strength goal each to make it 5-2. After a game misconduct penalty from the Sea Wolves Justin Portillo and a Lucas Helland cross check, the River Dragons would score 2 back to back power play goals. Just when the 2nd period was coming to an end, Jay Croop netted his 3rd goal of the evening bringing the total to 8-2.
Nolan Slachetka continued the offense for the River Dragons stretching the lead 9-2. The Sea Wolves would refuse to go quietly. Stoia would answer with his 2nd goal of the night followed by goals from Dmitry Kusnetsov and Lucas Helland to end the night 9-5.
Joseph Sheppard started the night saving 10 shots on 13 attempts. Austyn Melin would take over in the second period saving 27 shots on 33 attempts. Hunter Virostek saved 38 shots on 43 attempts.
Columbus River Dragons went 3/9 on power plays. Mississippi Seawolves 0/7.
Croop Leads River Dragons to Victory
by Tom Callahan
Biloxi, MS - Jay Croop posted three goals and an assist to lead the Columbus River Dragons offense in a 9-5 victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves on Sunday afternoon at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum.
Columbus surged out to a 3-0 first period lead on goals by Croop, Sequoia Swan and Josh Pietrantonio. Mississippi would respond with one before the break, and then made it 3-2 just 26 seconds into the second period on Matt Stoia’s first of two on the game.
From there, however, the River Dragons exploded for five goals in the second, finishing the period with an 8-2 lead and putting the game out of reach for the Sea Wolves.
Austin Daae and Ryan Hunter each posted three assist games, while Pietrantonio and Moore each scored once and added a pair of assists in the win.
Notes: - Rookie goaltender Hunter Virostek won his second straight start to begin his pro career. He stopped 38 shots for the win.
- Croop’s hat trick was his first of the season.
- The nine goals in the game by the River Dragons is the team’s second-highest output all year, falling short of the 11 goals against the Baton Rouge Zydeco on February 16, 2024.
- The game marked the fourth time this season Columbus scored three power play goals in a game, tying the season high.
- The River Dragons close the season series with the Sea Wolves 11-0-1.
- Rookie Hugh Anderson scored his first professional goal with a power play marker in the second period.
The River Dragons will now round out the 2024 FPHL regular season this week with three straight games against the Carolina Thunderbirds, starting on the road Thursday and Friday and returning home Saturday, April 13 at 7:05 pm. It’s Fan Appreciation Night with plenty of prizes and giveaways, plus it’s the final Chick-fil-A Midland/Kissin’ 99.3 Family Four Pack Night! Go to RDragons.com for more information.
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