Rail Yard Dawgs get first win of the series over Huntsville in SPHL Presidentโs Cup Semifinal
The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs beat Huntsville 5-3 in the second round of the SPHL Presidentโs Cup Semifinal Thursday night. Goals by Jeff Jones, Brant Sherwood, Nick Ford, and Sean Leonard helped put the Dawgs on top.
Dawgs clinch playoff berth with win over Havoc
The Rail Yard Dawgs ended Huntsvilleโs nine-game winning streak, defeating the Havoc 4-2 at Berglund Center on Friday night. With Roanokeโs win and Birminghamโs loss to Knoxville, the Dawgs have clinched a spot in the 2022 Presidentโs Cup Playoffs. Nick Ford, Travis Broughman, Brady Heppner, and Nick DeVito scored for Roanoke.
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs will not play this season, citing the coronavirus pandemic
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs have announced that the franchise will opt out of the upcoming 2020-21 season. The organization made the announcement Tuesday, citing the โongoing COVID-19 conditions that impact statewide restrictions on mass gatherings and events.โโToday is a tough day for the team,โ said Rail Yard Dawgs President Mickey Gray. Robyn Schon, general manager of the Berglund Center, hopes fans continue to support the Rail Yard Dawgs. โWe regret that we wonโt see our beloved Dawgs hit the ice this season, but we understand the challenges and stand behind the organizationโs decision. Along with the Rail Yard Dawgs, the Quad City Storm, Peoria Rivermen, Evansville Thunderbolts and Fayetteville Marksmen have opted out.
Rail Yard Dawgs unveil new look, logos
ROANOKE, Va. Call it a refresher as opposed to a rebranding, but Roanokes minor league hockey club spruced up the only look this team has had since being announced in November of 2015. While the colors remain the same, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs have upgraded the original logo and redesigned the teams jerseys in advance of the 2020-21 SPHL season. Last season we began kicking around ideas for a new logo, said Rail Yard Dawgs Vice President Alexandra Martin. A local designer, John Comstock of Magnets USA in Vinton, gets and assist on the new look. Comstock has been a devoted fan of the team since their first season.
Dedicated fan base plays key role in keeping revenue going for Dawgs
ROANOKE, Va. With the uncertainty surrounding sports on the daily, Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs President, Mickey Gray, knows anything can change at the drop of a hat. One of those changes has been the usual October start date for the Southern Professional Hockey League. Weve been selling a lot of jerseys, a lot of merchandise, that type of stuff in the summer. The bottom line is, our season ticket holders and sponsors have once again taken care of us. With current phase 3 government regulations, entertainment venues must adhere to social distancing guidelines and can only have 1,000 spectators.
SPHL Announces Target Start for 2020-21 Season
HUNTERSVILLE, NC The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced that it is targeting mid-to-late December for the start of the 2020-2021 regular season. Delaying the season was a difficult decision, but I believe it was the responsible thing to do when taking everything into consideration.The 2020-2021 regular season schedule and playoff format will be announced at a later date. About Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) Now entering its 17th season, the Southern Professional Hockey League is comprised of 10 member teams located throughout the southeastern and midwestern United States. Headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina, the mission of the SPHL is to provide a quality family-friendly entertainment product structured inside an economic model that is viable for small and mid-size markets and arenas. For more information about the SPHL, visit the leagues website at www.thesphl.com.
โWe want to give backโ: Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs volunteer at local food bank
SALEM, Va. โ Some local athletes are taking a timeout to give back to their community. Members of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs hockey team were volunteering at Feeding Southwest Virginia Wednesday afternoon. They cleaned and sorted items in the food bank. They had planned to do this last fall as a follow up to a food drive they held, but their schedules didnโt work out. โWe realize how lucky we are to live our dream and do what we love to do every day.
Rail Yard Dawgs fall in overtime to Huntsville
ROANOKE, Va. โ Jake Theut made 42 saves on 44 shots and Joe Sova netted his first goal of the season but the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs fell in overtime against the Huntsville Havoc, 2-1, Friday night at Berglund Center. The Rail Yard Dawgs rewarded Theut and opened the scoring early in the second period. Theut made 42 saves on 44 shots, Sova netted his first goal of the season and Milosek had 25 saves in the Huntsville net. The Rail Yard Dawgs moved to 1-7-2 with the overtime loss while Huntsville improved to 5-5-1. Puck drop at the Von Braun Center is scheduled for 8:00 PM and the pregame show on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network begins at 7:45 PM.
Dawgs fall 5-1 in home opener against Marksmen
ROANOKE, Va. - Jeff Jones scored his first goal of the season but the Rail Yard Dawgs allowed three in the third period as they fell to the Fayetteville Marksmen, 5-1, Saturday night at Berglund Center. Bowen let go a wrist shot that snuck through an off-balance Stephen Klein and the Marksmen took a 1-0 lead. The Marksmen got one more when Alec Marsh beat Michael Stiliadis to push the lead to 5-1. The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to 1-2-1 in the loss while Fayetteville improved to 3-0-1. Puck drop at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum is scheduled for 7:35 PM and the pregame show on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network begins at 7:20 PM.
Rail Yard Dawgs prepare for home opener at The Berglund Center
ROANOKE, Va. - There's no place like home for Roanoke's Rail Yard Dawgs. By Friday night, the Rail Yard Dawgs will have three away games under their belt, but those don't compare to their first home game at The Berglund Center Saturday at 7:05 p.m.What makes this season even more special is the team's new Paws and Pucks beer. The Berglund Center will donate $2 from every can sold to Angels of Assisi. You can find Paws and Pucks beer in cans or on tap starting Saturday, just in time for the home opener. 10 News reporter Megan Woods spent time on the ice with Rail Yard Dawgs players and coach before the big game to see how special this first home game really is.
Dawgs eliminate top-seeded Peoria 4-3
The Dawgs swept the best-of-three series, 2-0, and advanced to the semifinals of the President's Cup Playoffs. It caromed off a Peoria defenseman and into the net, giving the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Guyon quickly fired a slap shot that beat Phaneuf to the net and it was 2-0 Dawgs. Stephen Klein entered in the Rivermen net with his team trailing, 3-0. Guyon forced another turnover and unleashed a snap shot that beat Klein low, giving the Dawgs a 4-0 advantage.
Rail Yard Dawgs bounce Birmingham 4-2
ROANOKE, Va. โ Courtesy: Brian Gardner, Rail Yard DawgsMac Jansen scored two goals, Tanner Creel made 27 saves, and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs dropped the Birmingham Bulls, 4-2, Thursday night at Berglund Center. The Dawgs took the lead back for good about two minutes later. He spun and shot one that snuck through Parks and the Dawgs took a 2-1 advantage. The Rail Yard Dawgs improved to 6-8-0, while the Bulls fell to 13-2-0. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM and the pregame show on the Haley Toyota Rail Yard Dawgs Hockey Network begins at 7:15 P.M.
Rail Yard Dawgs retool for third season
ROANOKE, Va. โ We are entering year three of the Rail Yard Dawgs hockey franchise, and there are high expectations for a team that has an identity that includes new faces and a fresh outlook. Head coach Dan Bremner enters his first full season with the Dawgs after taking over last December. He's made some off-season moves that align with the Dawgs' style of play by adding other players from the league including the bruiser Cody Dion, from Peoria. I think it's going to be fast, good defensive systems. The Dawgs will host a preseason game Saturday against Fayetteville, and the home opener will be Oct. 20 at the Berglund Center.
Dawgs rally past Marksmen 5-3
ROANOKE, Va. โ Courtesy: Brian Gardner, Railyard DawgsEric Witzel scored twice, Brad Barone made 26 saves on 26 shots faced in relief and the Rail Yard Dawgs scored four unanswered goals to come from behind and defeat the Fayetteville Marksmen, 5-3, Friday night at Berglund Center. The Dawgs would start to chip away at the lead while working on a power play. He carried it in, deked to his backhand and tucked the puck past Patrick Spano to tie the game at three. Witzel scored again in the third to add the insurance marker. Fayetteville fired 26 shots on Barone and couldnโt solve the Dawgs netminder as Roanoke cruised to the 5-3 win.
Dawgs fall to Ice Bears 3-2
Courtesy: Brian Gardner, Rail Yard Dawgsโ The Knoxville Ice Bears scored twice in the third period to come from behind and beat the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, 3-2, Friday night at Berglund Center. Mele then lofted a pass to Joe Sova, who blasted a one-timer past Troy Davenport to give the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. The Ice Bears took the lead late in the third when Marcus Ortiz fed Dean Yakura off a rush. Sova and Spraggs both scored while Bakker picked up his first point as a Rail Yard Dawg. The Rail Yard Dawgs and Ice Bears will complete their home-and-home weekend set on Saturday night in Knoxville.
RiverKings handle Rail Yard Dawgs 6-2
ROANOKE, Va. โCourtesy: Brian Gardner-Rail Yard DawgsJohn Gustafsson and Nick Schneider each scored, but the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs fell to the Mississippi RiverKings, 6-2, Saturday night at the Berglund Center. Mississippi struck first in the gameโs opening minute as Ryan Marcuz deflected a shot from the point that found its way past Matt Zenzola. It added to that lead later in the period while working with an extra attacker thanks to a delayed Roanoke penalty. The Dawgs didnโt go away quietly however as they put one more on the board late in the third. The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to to 5-11-2 with the loss while Mississippi improved to 11-7-0.
Dawgs fall to Marksmen 6-3
ROANOKE, Va. โCourtesy: Brian Gardner/Rail Yard DawgsThe Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs scored a pair of shorthanded goals but were bested by the Fayetteville Marksmen, 6-3, Thursday night at the Berglund Center. David Gandara, Colin Murray and Mike Moroso each found the net for the Rail Yard Dawgs in the loss. He fired a wrist shot five hole through Matt Zenzola and put the Dawgs on top, 1-0. Former Rail Yard Dawg Cody Walsh hammered a rebound home with about a minute and a half remaining to push the score to 6-2. The Rail Yard Dawgs fell to 3-5-1 with the loss while Fayetteville improved to 3-7-1.
Cottonmouths Strike Early in 6-3 Win
Roanoke (WSLS-10 Sports) - Columbus jumped out to a two-goal lead and made it stand up for a crucial win in the Southern Professional Hockey League Standings. Roanoke opened the night just one point back of Columbus for the final playoff spot, but could not make up any ground. The Dawgs Jackson Brewer scored his 4th goal in the last two games but it wasn't enough in the 6-3 Cottonmouths win. The Rail Yard Dawgs now trail the Cottonmouths by three points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the SPHL. The two teams will get together for the second of a back-to-back set on Saturday night.
Rail Yard Dawgs Knock Off Riverkings
Courtesy: Brian Gardner, Roanoke Rail Yard DawgsROANOKE, VA โ Ryan de Melo made 28 saves, Tyler Gjurich and Nick Schneider each recorded two assists and the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs defeated the Mississippi RiverKings, 3-1, Thursday night at the Berglund Center. Mississippi's lead would not last long however as the Rail Yard Dawgs went on the power play just over two minutes later. From that point on, de Melo stood tall in the Rail Yard Dawgs net. Bronner's goal was his fifth of the season and his first as a Rail Yard Dawg. The Rail Yard Dawgs and the RiverKings will renew acquaintances at 7:05 PM on Friday at the Berglund Center.