Dion lifts Rivermen to win column

Cody Dion‘s first goal of the Southern Professional Hockey League season came at a good time, the lone tally of the third period lifting the defending regular season champion Peoria Rivermen to a 4-3 win against the Macon Mayhem at Macon Centreplex on Friday (Oct. 28).

Meanwhile, the other Midwest based team, the Evansville Thunderbolts played host to the league’s other expansion club, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs fell and surrendered a 3-2 decision at the Ford Center.

Rivermen 4 at Mayhem 3

While Dion brought a nice finish to this one, one disturbing trend continued as for a third straight time to open the season, the starting goaltender didn’t survive to hear the final buzzer.

Actually both of the goaltenders — 28-year-old Matt Grogan and 25-year-old Tyler Green were new with the team as head coach Jean-Guy Trudel released both of his goaltenders following the opening weekend defeats against the visiting Huntsville Havoc.

Grogan started this one but was relieved by Green, a native of Noblesville, IN following a shorthanded goal that put the Mayhem in front 3-2 at the 1:15 mark of the second period.  Grogan stopped eight of 11 shots to that point and Green finished the contest stopping all 20 of the shots he faced the rest of the way.

Dion’s goal gave the Rivermen its first and only lead of the contest as the host side took a one-goal lead three times with the Rivermen responding each time.

Nick D’Avolio from North Riverside, Il had both first period goals for the Rivermen and Connor Gorman added the other. Mayhem goals came from Mark Rivera, John Siemer and Daniel Gentzler and Garrett Bartus made 18 saves in goal for the Mayhem.

Rail Yard Dawgs 3 at Thunderbolts 2

John Scorcia gave the visiting Thunderbolts an early lead with the only goal scored in the opening period but the Rail Yard Dawgs responded with three straight in the middle frame.

Tim Boyle tied it up near the 12 minute mark and Steve Mele gave the visitors its first lead with 2:44 to play in the period, adding another 1:57 later.

Luke Sandler, 23, from Chicago responded quickly, firing a second Thunderbolts goal just 16 seconds after Mele’s second, the Thunderbolts couldn’t sink the equalizer despite firing 20 shots at Dawgs’ goaltender Brandon Anderson through the final 20 minutes. He made 40 saves in total while Tanner Milliron from New Richmond, WI stopped 32 in goal for the Rivermen.

Both teams will play the same opponent at the same site on Saturday (Oct. 29).