Dragons Rally Past Defending Champions for First Win of the Season

COLUMBUS, GA - After a winless road opening weekend, the Columbus River Dragons returned home Friday night eager to make a statement in front of their fans against the three-time defending Commissioner’s Cup Champion Binghamton Black Bears. In a back-and-forth battle that featured six goals through the first two periods, the Dragons delivered when it mattered most in the third, as Yaroslav Yevdokimov and Tyler Barrow found the back of the net to secure a 5-4 victory. Behind 37 saves from rookie goaltender Doug Wakelyn, Columbus earned its first win of the 2026-27 campaign in front of an energized crowd at the Lair

The opening period belonged largely to Binghamton, who applied early pressure and tested Wakelyn repeatedly in just his second professional start. The rookie stood tall through the opening minutes before Chance Gorman broke the deadlock at 12:45, finishing a cross-crease pass from Nick Cyprian to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead.

The Dragons responded with a burst of offense late in the frame. At 15:12, Alex Storjohann showcased his skill entering the offensive zone before helping orchestrate a tic-tac-toe passing sequence. Tyler Barrow found Kyle Moore in the slot, where Moore buried his first goal of the season to even the score at one.

Columbus needed just 16 seconds to strike again. Storjohann unleashed a blistering shot past Dominik Tmej to put the Dragons in front, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. However, the Black Bears answered before the end of the period, as Brendan Doyle converted another cross-crease opportunity at 18:32 to tie the game at two.

Despite the late surge from Columbus, Binghamton controlled much of the opening frame, outshooting the Dragons 20-6 through the first 20 minutes.

Columbus carried its momentum into the second period, generating four of the first five shots and playing with increased urgency. The physicality intensified as the period progressed, eventually leading to a cross-checking penalty against Barrow at 8:32. Binghamton capitalized on the ensuing power play, with Gorman connecting on a one-timer past Wakelyn to restore the Black Bears' lead at 3-2.

The Dragons answered less than two minutes later when Scott Ramaekers was sent to the penalty box for slashing, giving Columbus its first power-play opportunity of the night. At 11:28, Moore delivered again, battling in front of the net to finish a loose puck in the blue paint off feeds from Yevdokimov and Barrow. His second goal of the evening brought the game even at three.

Both sides continued trading chances as the period wore on, with neither able to find the go-ahead goal. As the horn sounded to end the frame, Jacob Hamilton was assessed a roughing penalty, giving the Dragons another opportunity on the man advantage to begin the third period.

Through 40 minutes, the teams remained deadlocked at three, while Binghamton held a 30-17 advantage in shots.

The third period opened with a golden opportunity for Columbus as Hamilton's penalty carried over and a slashing call against Sam Dabrowski briefly gave the Dragons a five-on-three advantage. Despite the extended power-play opportunity, Columbus was unable to convert, leaving the game tied as the two teams settled into an end-to-end battle.

With the outcome hanging in the balance, Yevdokimov provided the decisive breakthrough. At 12:40, the forward was taken down by Gorman on a breakaway, earning a penalty shot and a chance to put Columbus back in front. With 3600+ watching intently, Yevdokimov made no mistake, beating Tmej five-hole to give the Dragons a 4-3 lead.

As the clock wound down, Binghamton pulled Tmej in search of a late equalizer. Barrow capitalized with 74 seconds remaining, finding the empty net to extend Columbus' advantage to 5-3 and seemingly put the game out of reach.

The defending champions, however, refused to go quietly. At 19:23, Gehrett Sargis fired a shot over Wakelyn's blocker to pull Binghamton within one and set up a tense final stretch. The Dragons held firm through the closing seconds, however, preserving the lead as the final horn sounded and securing their first victory of the season.

Wakelyn finished the night with 37 saves on 41 shots to earn his first professional victory, delivering a crucial performance against one of the league's premier teams. Tmej stopped 24 of 28 shots in the loss.

The River Dragons will look to carry Friday night's momentum into the rematch, as Columbus and Binghamton meet again Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. inside the Columbus Civic Center.