With the local media in Athens, GA ignoring the new hockey team in town I am attempting to provide game stories when possible.
Athens, GA (Jan 12, 2025) – There must have been something in the air in Athens this week after the unranked University of Georgia Men’s basketball team (14-2, 2-1 SEC) hosted and dispatched #6 Kentucky (13-3, 2-1 SEC) 82-69 and #17 Oklahoma (13-3, 0-3 SEC) 72-62. The Athens Rock Lobsters, who play in the shadows of the University of Georgia athletic programs with no local media coverage, wanted to send a statement of their own to the community and the rest of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) as they closed out their nine-game homestand.
Hosting the Continental Division leading Carolina Thunderbirds, the Rock Lobsters appeared to be the underdog on paper. But when the final horn sounded, the Rock Lobsters pummeled the Thunderbirds 7-4 in front of an announced home crowd of 4,241, sending the Thunderbirds home with their third loss in four games and the most goals they have given up in a single game this season.
Forward Garret Milan opened scoring with his 19th goal of the season at the 2:30 mark of the first period, assisted by #18 Jimmy Lodge (2) and #14 Carter Shinkaruk (19).
The Thunderbirds tied it up at 11:28 of the 1st period with a goal by #21 Nate Keeley (6), assisted by #11 James Farmer-Valente (8) and #27 Danyk Drouin (20). Carolina took the lead at the 14:31 mark with a goal by #10 Kalib (Gus) Ford (11), assisted by #14 Jon Buttitta (1). This would be the last time Carolina would see the lead.
A7 19:33 of the first period, #98 Michael Greco, who has been with the Rock Lobsters on a series of short-term contracts, tied it up as he scored his first goal with the team, with assists by Shinkaruk (20) and Lodge (3).
When the 2nd period started, the Rock Lobsters started hitting on all cylinders. #9 Kayson Gallant scored his 12th goal of the season 21 seconds into the period to give Athens a 3-2 lead, with assists by #8 Troy Murray (7) and #67 Malik Johnson (9), who recently returned to the Athens team after being loaned to the South Carolina Stingrays of the Class-AA East Coast Hockey League.
Just under five minutes later, Athens extended the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal by at 7:13 by Shinkaruk (9), with assists by Milan (19) and #76 Brandon Picard (8).
Carolina cut the lead to 4-3 at the 10:10 mark with a goal by #14 Jon Buttitta (12) and assists by Ford (17) and #20 Zach White (7).
At the 12:57 mark, Gallant (13) scored the ultimate game-winning goal and delivered something rare for the Rock Lobsters: a 2nd power play goal in the game (assisted by #17 Filp Virgil (16) and Milan (20)). Athens had been struggling with power play conversions in the league, coming into the game ranked 4th from last in power play conversions with a 16.3% conversion percentage. With Johnson closing out Athens scoring with a 3rd power play goal against the be4st penalty killing team in the FPHL with 5:02 left (assisted by #77 Daniil Glukharev (6) and Milan(22)), the Rock Lobsters finished the game converting three of eight power play opportunities (37.5 percent). On the season, Athens has now converted 18 of 100 power plays for the season (18.0%)
Other Goals:
At 7:07 of the 3rd Period, Glukharev scored his 3rd goal of the season to give Athens a 6-3 lead, assisted by Milan (21) and Lodge (3). Carolina followed 54 seconds later with a goal by Drouin, assisted by twin brothers #7 Clay Keeley (10) and #21 Nate Keeley (7).
Goalies
Newly signed rookie goalie Dominic Rodrigue started and played all 60 minutes of the game, stopping 19 of 23 shots.
Carolina goalie Mario Cavaliere started and played all 60 minutes, stopping27 of 34 shots.
LOBSTER BITS:
-- With his one goal and four assists, Rock Lobsters forward Garrett Milan has 41 points (19 goals and 22 assists in 21 games) for the season, currently ranged 2nd behind Binghamton Black Bears Forward Tyson Kirby, who has54 Points (24 goals and 30 assists in 27 games).
-- While on loan to the South Carolina Stingrays, Athens forward Malik Johnson (four goals and nine assists in 15 games with Athens) appeared in six games and was credited with one assist. He also had eight total penalty minutes over the six games, including four in his last game against Jacksonville on January 5.
-- Athens killed all three penalties in the game, bringing their season average up to However, Athens continued their penalty killing prowess (.854 (13/89, 3rd in the league.
-- The Rock Lobsters finished up their nine-game homestand (which ended up only being eight with the postponement of Friday night’s game against the Baton Rouge Zydeco due to weather) with a 6-2 record. The Rock Lobsters have won six of their last seven games.
-- The Rock Lobsters are on the road for four games the next two weekends, with a pair of games against the Monroe Moccasins on January 17-18 and two against the Columbus River Dragons on January 24-25. Athens is 4-0 against the Moccasins, with three of the four games going to overtime. Athens is 2-3 against Columbus, going 1-1 in road games (both overtime). Six of Athens’ 10 overtime games have been against Monroe and Columbus (three games each), with Athens going 4-2 in those games.
-- The University of Georgia Women’s Club Hockey team hosted first year Georgia Southern University Women’s Club Hockey in the first game of the UGA – Rock Lobsters doubleheader today. The Georgia Southern goalie had to fight off an onslaught of 61 shots on goal in a 6-2 loss to the Lady Ice Dawgs.
-- The Carolina Thunderbirds version of the real-life Carlson (aka in Slapshot's Hanson) brothers, twins - Defenseman Clay Keeley and Forward Nate Keeley have combined for10 goals and 17 assists for the Thunderbirds. Their combined 98 shots on goal represent 11.2% of the active roster's 877 shots on goal this season.
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