For Immediate Release:
December 7, 2019
DAWGS ROLL ICE BEARS, 6-1
CJ Stubbs paces offense with three-point night
ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs struck early and often and never trailed as they cruised to a 6-1 win over the Knoxville Ice Bears, Saturday night at Berglund Center. CJ Stubbs notched three points and Jake Theut made 28 saves to help propel the Dawgs to the win.
The Rail Yard Dawgs struck first in the opening period. Chris Lijdsman broke up a Knoxville scoring chance in the defensive zone and started a breakout the other way. With Lijdsman trailing the play, Dallas Rossiter fed him for a shot that was blocked. He picked up the ricochet and backhanded it past Joseph Murdaca to put the Dawgs on top, 1-0.
Later in the first, Brad Riccardi hit Stubbs with a pass in the slot. Stubbs worked his way to the right-wing circle and let loose a wrist shot from the dot. It darted in and beat Murdaca high on the glove catching side as Roanoke took a 2-0 advantage.
It would add to that lead in the second while working on a power play. Colton Wolter gained the zone with an odd-man rush and worked wide down the right wing. He fed Jeff Jones on the back door for a backhander that he roofed past Murdaca and the Roanoke lead was three.
Knoxville had plenty of chances in the middle frame and was granted four power plays during the period but could not sneak anything past Theut. The Dawgs ultimately killed off six penalties and Theut made 14 saves in the second and 28 in the game.
The Ice Bears finally solved Theut early in the third when Scott Cuthrell was fed for a slam-dunk one-timer just above the crease. But the Dawgs answered with insurance tallies from Aaron Huffnagle, Mac Jansen and Riccardi and eventually cruised to a 6-1 win.
Stubbs finished with a goal and two assists, Lijdsman and Riccardi each had a goal and an assist and Theut made 28 saves on 29 shots for his first professional win. The win was Roanoke’s first at home this season and Knoxville’s first road loss.
The Rail Yard Dawgs improved to 3-10-2 in the victory while Knoxville dropped to 11-4-1. Roanoke will return to action on Thursday night at home against the Fayetteville Marksmen. Puck drop at Berglund Center is scheduled for 7:05 PM and the pregame show on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network begins at 6:50 PM.
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