IceCats Lose Close One at Athens
Published on January 10, 2026 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Pee Dee IceCats News Release
ATHENS, GA - Despite a four-goal third period, the Pee Dee IceCats ran out of time in a 6-5 loss to the Athens Rock Lobsters on Saturday night.
Trailing 4-1 entering the third, Alexandr Legkov scored his first goal in an IceCats uniform just 1:09 into the third to launch a wild final 20 minutes. Legkov cut in from the right wing and tucked the puck through the five hole of William Lavalliere to get Pee Dee within two goals.
Athens responded at 4:30 with a power play goal to make it 5-2, but 59 second later Patriks Marcinkevics scored his first of two consecutive goals, this one a shothanded breakaway marker to once again make it a two-goal game at 5-3.
After Athens made it 6-3 just over halfway through the third period, Marcinkevics struck again, this time with a six-on-four power play goal with 4:37 left in regulation to close the gap to two goals once again.
Late in the third period, Marcinkevics would take a stick in the face from Eric Neiley, resulting in a five-minute major for high sticking and another IceCats power play. Pee Dee would convert at 19:48, this time off the stick of Houston Wilson for his first goal and fourth point of the night.
Unfortunately for the IceCats, they simply ran out of time despite the major power play advantage, falling by a 6-5 final.
Notes:
Legkov's goal was his first in an IceCats uniform.
Wilson finished the weekend with three goals and four assists in two games.
Marcinkevic's shorthanded goal was Pee Dee's league-leading 10th shorthanded marker of the season.
The four goals in the third period was the most by Pee Dee in the final frame this season.
Xavier Abdella made his IceCats debut.
Pee Dee returns home to host Athens Friday and Saturday night for Military Appreciation Weekend at 7:15 pm. Saturday's game is Military Appreciation Night, featuring specialty jerseys to be auctioned off on DASH to benefit Warrior Hockey, a non-profit organization devoted to helping veterans play ice hockey. Tickets are on sale now via the Florence Center Box Office or online at TicketMaster.com.
Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2026
- Moccasins Roll to 14th Straight in 9-1 Win over Zydeco - Monroe Moccasins
- IceCats Lose Close One at Athens - Pee Dee IceCats
- FPHL Ice Chips - Game Recaps - FPHL
- Thunderbirds Drop Home Game to Black Bears - Twin City Thunderbirds
- Wild Third Period Rally Falls Short in 6-5 Loss at Athens - Pee Dee IceCats
- Lobsters Hold off Ice Cats on NASCAR Night - Athens Rock Lobsters
- River Dragons' Comeback Falls Short, 5-4 - Columbus River Dragons
- Black Bears Take All Six Point in North Carolina - Binghamton Black Bears
- Sharma Makes Career High 55 Saves in Loss to Topeka - Biloxi Breakers
- Dragons Comeback Falls Short as They Fall 5-4 in Regulation - Columbus River Dragons
- Hat Tricks Fall 8-5, Split Weekend Series with Watertown - Danbury Hat Tricks
- Rock Lobsters Shatters Record with 5,913 Sell out on NASCAR Night - Athens Rock Lobsters
- Game Preview: Danbury Hat Tricks Host Watertown Wolves: January 10 - Danbury Hat Tricks
- Thunderbirds Set for Novant Healthcare Night - Twin City Thunderbirds
- Moccasins Win 13th Straight with OT Victory - Monroe Moccasins
- Forward Ryan Hunter Loaned to the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays - Columbus River Dragons
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