Storjohann Records Natural Hat Trick in River Dragons’ Season-Opening Loss

WYTHEVILLE, VA. — The Columbus River Dragons opened their 2026-27 campaign Friday night against the Blue Ridge Bobcats, beginning a road-opening weekend with the first of two consecutive meetings between the clubs. Despite a natural hat trick from franchise all-time leading goal scorer Alex Storjohann, Columbus was unable to hold off a late Blue Ridge surge, falling by a final score of 5-3.

The River Dragons wasted little time getting on the board. Just 34 seconds into the opening period, Storjohann opened the scoring with a shot from below the goal line that deflected off the pads of Bobcats goaltender Gabe Rosek and into the net. Reigning FPHL Most Valuable Player Tyler Barrow recorded the assist, opening his scoring account for the new season.

The two teams traded opportunities throughout the remainder of the first period as both sides worked to find their rhythm in their season debut. Columbus earned its first power-play opportunity following an illegal-equipment penalty to Ezekiel Kirkness, but Blue Ridge capitalized on a turnover to respond shorthanded. Patricks Marcinkevics broke in alone and beat the goaltender with a well-placed flip shot to even the score at 1-1. The Bobcats held a narrow 16-15 advantage in shots through the opening 20 minutes.

Blue Ridge carried its momentum into the second period, generating sustained offensive pressure while River Dragons goaltender Trevor Babin kept the game level. Columbus was held without a shot on goal until the 7:49 mark, when Storjohann found a loose puck in the crease and buried his second goal of the evening to restore the River Dragons' lead.

The Bobcats responded less than three minutes later, with Vladislav Vlasov finding the back of the net in his return to the ice. Marcinkevics and Martin assisted on the equalizer, bringing the score to 2-2.

Storjohann answered once again at 11:55, taking a feed from Austin Daae and firing a snapshot past Rosek to complete the natural hat trick and give Columbus a 3-2 advantage. Rookie defenseman Jack Cullen also picked up an assist on the play, recording his first professional point.

Babin delivered a spectacular post-to-post save late in the second period to preserve the River Dragons' lead, but the goaltender would not return for the third due to a simultaneous injury. Despite being outshot 17-4 in the middle frame, Columbus carried its one-goal advantage into the final intermission.

Rookie goaltender Douglas Wakelyn made his professional debut to begin the third period, facing an immediate challenge as the River Dragons opened the frame shorthanded. Blue Ridge captain Carson Andreoli capitalized on the power play just 31 seconds into the period, tying the contest at 3-3.

The Bobcats seized their first lead of the night two and a half minutes later when James Tepper scored shorthanded in his professional debut, putting Columbus behind 4-3. The River Dragons pushed to find an equalizer, but Rosek and the Blue Ridge defense held firm. Marcinkevics added his second goal of the night at 11:44, capping a four-point performance in his Bobcats debut and extending the lead to 5-3.

Columbus was unable to mount a late comeback, dropping its season opener despite Storjohann's three-goal performance. Blue Ridge finished with a 46-38 advantage in shots on goal.

The River Dragons will have an opportunity to respond Saturday night when they face the Bobcats in the second game of the opening-weekend series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Hitachi Energy Arena.