Rail Yard Dawgs Defeats Huntsville 4-3 In A Showdown In Roanoke (1-3-25)

By: Joey Raymond

Headline Photo Credit: Katie Raymond-LMS Network

Roanoke, VA -The Dawgs are back in action tonight, hosting the Huntsville Havoc at the ‘Dawg House’ for what’s shaping up to be another intense Saturday night showdown. After three matchups in just over a week, the rivalry is heating up, and fans can expect plenty of energy on the ice. With the home regulation unbeaten streak snapped last night, Roanoke will be hungry to bounce back and reclaim their momentum in front of their loyal crowd. Players like Nick Ford and Matt O’Dea, who have been red-hot lately, will be key to leading the charge. O’Dea, fresh off a Gordie Howe hat trick, has been a force with points in six of the last seven games, while Ford’s three-point effort last night shows he’s ready to deliver again.

Friday night’s 4-3 loss wasn’t without its bright spots, as the Dawgs battled back from an early 3-0 deficit, showing grit and determination. Tempers flared in the physical contest, with Roanoke standing tall in several scraps, including fights from Tommy Munichiello and O’Dea. Despite the outcome, the team proved they’re not backing down, and that fighting spirit will be crucial tonight as they look to even the score with Huntsville. Now that the dust has settled, let’s break down what happened Saturday night.

First Period:

Just about two minutes into the game, we saw our first penalty of the night as Huntsville was called for too many players on the ice. Noah Finstrom headed to the box to serve the two minutes. Then, just 20 seconds into Huntsville’s penalty, Roanoke’s Jimmy O’Kane was whistled for high sticking, setting up a stretch of 4-on-4 hockey for nearly two minutes before Huntsville would get a brief 20-second power play.

It didn’t take long for the Havoc to capitalize. A couple of seconds into their power play, Craig McCabe blasted one into the back of the Dawgs’ net, giving Huntsville an early 1-0 lead. But Roanoke didn’t stay down for long. Back at full strength, it took just moments for Billy Roche to fire a shot past the Havoc goalie, evening things up at 1-1.

The penalties kept coming, and six minutes into the game, Roanoke found themselves shorthanded again after a slashing call. Huntsville took full advantage of their power play, with Matt Allen scoring on a controversial play that left Dawgs fans fuming over a missed call. That gave the Havoc a 2-1 lead.

Roanoke answered quickly, though. Just over a minute later, Carson Gallagher buried one to knot the game at 2-2. The crowd stayed fired up as the refs missed several obvious calls on Huntsville, including a blatant high stick that left fans chanting, “Refs, you suck!”

With under four minutes left in the first, the physicality ramped up as Roanoke’s Andrew Harley and Huntsville’s Dominick Procopio squared off, both earning roughing penalties. During the ensuing 4-on-4, Huntsville’s Buster Larsson broke free on a breakaway and scored, putting the Havoc up 3-2.

Roanoke got their chance to respond shortly after when Matt Allen was called for slashing, giving the Dawgs a power play. They didn’t waste it. Mac Jansen ripped a one-timer past the Havoc netminder, tying things up at 3-3 heading into the break.

Second Period:

The first eight minutes of play were all about missed calls from the referees on both sides, with no penalties or goals to show for it. The physicality ramped up as both teams traded hits and fast-paced skating, but the officials kept their whistles silent.

Around the 10-minute mark, Roanoke pinned the puck in Huntsville’s zone and turned up the pressure. The Dawgs peppered Havoc goaltender Brian Wilson with shot after shot until one finally left him completely out of position. Mac Jansen seized the opportunity, burying a rebound into the back of the net to give the Dawgs their first lead of the night, 4-3.

With six minutes left in the period, tensions boiled over. A massive brawl erupted on the ice, likely fueled by the referees’ reluctance to make calls earlier in the game. After the first two players dropped the gloves, others quickly joined the fray. When the dust settled, both teams had players sent to the penalty box, with Roanoke’s Jimmy O’Kane and Huntsville’s Jeremy Gervais receiving roughing penalties.

This led to yet another stretch of 4-on-4 hockey, but neither side managed to capitalize during the two minutes. Once the penalties expired, both teams returned to full strength, and the rest of the period played out without any additional scoring or major action.

Third Period:

The start of the third period mirrored the beginning of the second, with plenty of back-and-forth skating but not much action in the first eight minutes. A few missed calls by the referees added to the tension, but neither team could gain an edge.

The first penalty of the period finally came while the Dawgs were pressing on offense. Huntsville’s Craig McCabe was called for tripping, giving Roanoke a chance on the power play. Unfortunately for the Dawgs, a broken stick and a solid defensive effort from Huntsville kept them off the board.

As the period progressed, missed calls—mostly against Huntsville—continued to frustrate the Dawgs and their fans. To make matters worse, with just under five minutes left, Roanoke’s Bryce Martin was sent to the box for cross-checking, putting the Havoc on the power play. However, Roanoke’s penalty kill unit rose to the occasion, shutting down Huntsville’s attack.

With 1:30 left on the clock, Huntsville pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, throwing everything they had at Roanoke. The Dawgs’ defense held firm, fending off the late push to secure a hard-fought, gritty win on home ice.

Final Thoughts 

Saturday night’s matchup between Roanoke and Huntsville lived up to the hype, delivering a nail-biter packed with physical play, questionable officiating, and standout performances. The Dawgs showcased incredible resilience, overcoming missed calls and crucial penalty kills to grind out a well-earned victory. Players like Mac Jansen and Carson Gallagher rose to the occasion in pivotal moments, while the penalty kill unit delivered when it mattered most. After a heated week of rivalry games, Roanoke heads into their next set of matchups with renewed confidence, proving they have the grit and determination to face any challenge. The Dawg House remains a fortress, and the message to opponents is loud and clear: winning here won’t come easy, and it certainly won’t come without a fight.