Game Recaps for March 26

CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at COLUMBUS RIVER DRAGONS

CAROLINA TROUNCES COLUMBUS 7-2 IN SERIES OPENER

by Zak DeBeaussaert

Columbus, GA - The Carolina Thunderbirds were the more lethal team on Friday night, defeating the Columbus River Dragons by a score of 7-2.

After being swept in their previous visit to Columbus, the Thunderbirds looked to start fast very early and did so with a Tommy Tsicos goal chipped in off of a rebound given up by River Dragons netminder Jacob Caffrey 1:12 into the contest.

The Thunderbirds would continue to add onto their lead with Roshen Jaswal finding the back of the net at the 15:16 mark in the first period, and it would continue early in the 2nd with Josh Koepplinger scoring shortly after a successful penalty kill from Carolina.

A 3-0 scoreline for Carolina early in the second period started to be chipped away at when Jake Schultz centered a feed in front onto the tape of Ivan Bondarenko who sent it home to put the first blemish on Nick Modica's night. That feeling and momentum wouldn't last long though as 1:01 later, Tommy Tsicos found another goal to restore Carolina's 3-goal lead.

Carolina would continue the goal scoring with a David Brancik snipe near the end of the 2nd, and in the 3rd period a Fred Hein shot found its way in to give Carolina a 6-1 advantage.

Nick Mangone would get a consolation tally for Columbus blasting one in after a bounce off the glass behind Modica found it's way into prime real estate, but Carolina would get yet another goal, this time on the powerplay and Tommy Tsicos got a deflection past Caffrey for a hat trick and the game's final scoreline of 7-2.

Nick Modica was on his game in this one stopping 31 of 33 shots for his 4th win of the season. Jacob Caffrey suffers his first regulation loss of the season making 22 saves on 29 Carolina shots.

The same two teams go at it again tomorrow night with a 6:05 puck drop at the Civic Center. The game will be shown locally on WTVM News Leader 9 with pregame starting at 5:30. Tickets are still available for the game at the Civic Center box office or on TicketMaster.

3 Stars of the Game

Roshen Jaswal

Nick Modica

Josh Koepplinger

ELMIRA ENFORCERS at PORT HURON PROWLERS

Enforcers Stave off Comeback in 4-3 Win, Lead Hilliard Cup 4-2

by Jonathan Kliment

The Enforcers came into Port Huron after a rough series with the first placed River Dragons as Port Huron was looking to rebound from a sweep at home against Carolina. Both teams were looking to rise up after the FPHL announced the playoff format for this season as the top two teams will vie for the Ignite Cup. Elmira came into the game leading the season series 3-2 as these two teams are battling to get to six wins first and capture the Hilliard Cup during the regular season.

 Elmira kicked off the scoring after having to kill two penalties in the first period, but Everett Thompson was able to pick up a loose puck in his defensive zone and carry it through two defenders before going forehand-backhand over Kurt Gutting’s shoulder to give the Enforcers the 1-0 lead. Elmira got another one before the end of the first as Mitch Atkins found the back of the Port Huron net after winning a faceoff Atkins charged the front of the net and on a Brandon Tucker rebound Atkins pushed it behind Gutting for a 2-0 lead.

 The Prowlers responded early in the second period however after getting the puck deep Port Huron sent a pass to Dalton Young who fired it toward Troy Passingham and after a deflection cut the lead to 2-1 just 27 seconds into the second period. The Prowlers found the tying goal just 3 minutes later off another faceoff play ended up seeing a shot stopped by Passingham from the point bounced onto Dalton Jay’s stick to tie up the game at 2 a piece. The Enforcers were able to respond late in the second after dumping the puck in Carter Shinkaruk threw a pass out front and Bryce Martin pinched in deep in the slot and rocketed it past Gutting to put Elmira back up 3-2. With 1:50 left to go Dalton Jay passed across to Thomas Munichello who was able to find room behind Passingham to tie the game back up at 3 a side.

 The third period saw Mighty Joe Young enter the game in relief of Troy Passingham and Young was tested early, but stood tall. After a controversial penalty call the Enforcers were short handed, but Blake Peavey used his stick to break up a pass across the blue line and went streaking on a breakaway before going forehand backhand and past Gutting to give Elmira a 4-3 lead with just 6:08 to go in the third period. 

 Passingham stopped 29 of 32 while Young stopped 12 of 12 to earn the win.

 Elmira pushes their lead in the Hilliard Cup to 4-2 and will look to put a stranglehold on the series tomorrow night, a 7:30 start, which will once again be brought to you on the Prowlers Youtube feed. 

by Jonathan Kliment

The Enforcers came into Port Huron after a rough series with the first placed River Dragons as Port Huron was looking to rebound from a sweep at home against Carolina. Both teams were looking to rise up after the FPHL announced the playoff format for this season as the top two teams will vie for the Ignite Cup. Elmira came into the game leading the season series 3-2 as these two teams are battling to get to six wins first and capture the Hilliard Cup during the regular season.

 Elmira kicked off the scoring after having to kill two penalties in the first period, but Everett Thompson was able to pick up a loose puck in his defensive zone and carry it through two defenders before going forehand-backhand over Kurt Gutting’s shoulder to give the Enforcers the 1-0 lead. Elmira got another one before the end of the first as Mitch Atkins found the back of the Port Huron net after winning a faceoff Atkins charged the front of the net and on a Brandon Tucker rebound Atkins pushed it behind Gutting for a 2-0 lead.

 The Prowlers responded early in the second period however after getting the puck deep Port Huron sent a pass to Dalton Young who fired it toward Troy Passingham and after a deflection cut the lead to 2-1 just 27 seconds into the second period. The Prowlers found the tying goal just 3 minutes later off another faceoff play ended up seeing a shot stopped by Passingham from the point bounced onto Dalton Jay’s stick to tie up the game at 2 a piece. The Enforcers were able to respond late in the second after dumping the puck in Carter Shinkaruk threw a pass out front and Bryce Martin pinched in deep in the slot and rocketed it past Gutting to put Elmira back up 3-2. With 1:50 left to go Dalton Jay passed across to Thomas Munichello who was able to find room behind Passingham to tie the game back up at 3 a side.

 The third period saw Mighty Joe Young enter the game in relief of Troy Passingham and Young was tested early, but stood tall. After a controversial penalty call the Enforcers were short handed, but Blake Peavey used his stick to break up a pass across the blue line and went streaking on a breakaway before going forehand backhand and past Gutting to give Elmira a 4-3 lead with just 6:08 to go in the third period. 

 Passingham stopped 29 of 32 while Young stopped 12 of 12 to earn the win.

 Elmira pushes their lead in the Hilliard Cup to 4-2 and will look to put a stranglehold on the series tomorrow night, a 7:30 start, which will once again be brought to you on the Prowlers Youtube feed.