FPHL Ice Chips - Game Recaps
Published on February 18, 2026 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) News Release
Game Recaps for the Federal Prospects Hockey League for Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
View photos, box scores and much more at federalhockey.com
COLUMBUS RIVER DRAGONS at ATHENS ROCK LOBSTERS
Columbus Flexes Power-Play Muscle as Athens Falls
By Matteen Zibanejadrad
Athens, GA - The Columbus River Dragons' five-goal third period fired themselves to a 5-3 win against the Continental Division-leading Athens Rock Lobsters on Wednesday.
A 32-minute deadlock was broken by Filip Virgili, who converted on a feed to the backdoor from Garrett Milan in the second period.
He doubled the advantage when he got the finishing touches on a Devyn Mayea pop from the half wall with 5:07 gone in the third period.
However, the Athens lead crumbled after three consecutive power-play goals from Columbus in a span of five minutes; Ryan Hunter, Cody Wickline and Josh Colten combined to pull their team into the 3-2 lead.
Crustacean Nation held belief that they could at least make it to overtime after Carter Shinkaruk equalized on the power play, but the momentum shifted back toward Columbus after Kyle Moore found the five-hole on Carter McPhail.
The hosts chased the game looking to tie it up again, but the dagger was delivered by Hunter's empty netter for his second of the game.
The Rock Lobsters (24-7-6-0, 84 pts) travel to Louisiana to take on the Baton Rouge Zydeco for a two-game set. The puck drops on game one at 8:05 p.m. EST.
RIVER DRAGONS SCHOOL ROCK LOBSTERS, 5-3
By Liam Gotimer
Athens, GA - The Columbus River Dragons defeated the Athens Rock Lobsters 5-3 on Wednesday morning at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia.
Trevor Babin got the start in goal for the River Dragons, while Carter McPhail tended the crease for the home side.
The first period featured 25 combined shots and five penalties, but neither team found the back of the net.
Athens opened the scoring at 12:04 of the second period when Filip Virgili finished a crisp tic tac toe passing play to give the Rock Lobsters a 1-0 lead.
The score remained 1-0 into the third period. At the 5:07 mark, Virgili struck again, doubling the Athens advantage to 2-0.
Columbus responded at 9:06, shifting the momentum of the game. Ryan Hunter, who entered the contest with 27 goals in 27 games, ripped home his 28th of the season. Tyler Barrow and Alex Storjohann recorded the assists.
The River Dragons continued to press on the power play. At 13:04, Cody Wickline deflected a shot from Hunter past McPhail to tie the game at 2-2. Barrow picked up his second assist of the afternoon on the equalizer.
Just 63 seconds later, still on the power play, Josh Colten blasted home the go ahead goal to give Columbus its first lead of the game. Alexander Jmaeff and Brodie Thornton assisted on the play.
Trailing 3-2, Athens capitalized on a late power play opportunity. Rock Lobsters captain Carter Shinkaruk, a former River Dragon, beat Babin through traffic to even the score at 3-3.
In the final 90-seconds of regulation, Kyle Moore went five-hole on McPhail, pushing Columbus ahead once more. Ryan Hunter made no mistake with 26 ticks left, icing the game with an empty-net goal.
"This was one of our better all-around games," Head Coach Jerome Bechard said. "Special teams were sharp, we pushed the pace when we needed to, and defended well overall. This was a great, entertaining hockey game."
Babin made 37 saves in the win for Columbus, while McPhail turned aside 41 shots in the loss for Athens.
Columbus will be back in action on Friday night at 7:35 p.m. for a home ice tilt with the Pee Dee IceCats.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2026
- Before the Black Bears vs Watertown 2/20 & 2/21 - Binghamton Black Bears
- River Dragons School Rock Lobsters, 5-3 - Columbus River Dragons
- FPHL Ice Chips - Game Recaps - FPHL
- Director of Media and Communications Lexi Burkey-Yau Joins New York Mets Organization - Danbury Hat Tricks
- Columbus Flexes Power-Play Muscle as Athens Falls - Athens Rock Lobsters
- Pee Dee Acquires Robinson from Danbury - Pee Dee IceCats
- Series Preview: Into the Fields - Port Huron Prowlers
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