Jordan Ernst and Zach Yoder Bury Pair in Debuts; Moccasins Double Up River Dragons

MONROE, LA

Jordan Ernst scored twice in his first game in a Moccasins uniform, while Garrett Johnson made an impressive 47 saves as Monroe used a four goal third period to down the Columbus River Dragons 6-3. Zach Yoder also scored twice, while Jared Christy and Austin Pick also scored for the Moccasins in the win. Yaroslav Yevdokimov, Kyle Moore, and Brodie Thornton tallied goals for Columbus. Trevor Babin made 28 saves in the loss for the River Dragons.

Columbus came into Monroe after sweeping the weekend against the Mid-South Monarchs. Monroe garnered three of a possible four points against the Twin City Thunderbirds. Friday night’s encounter was the first for the River Dragons and Moccasins since their playoff series last April won by Columbus in three games.

Trevor Babin started between the pipes for Columbus while Garrett Johnson made his second start of the season for the Moccasins.

The only scoring came from one of the newest Moccasins as Zach Yoder opened the scoring at 8:29 set up by a brilliant pass from Colten Gerken. Yoder, who only scored one goal last season with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL got the party started early. Monroe netminder Garrett Johnson was stellar in the first making 18 saves in the opening stanza. Columbus outshot Monroe 18-9 in the first.

In the second, Yaroslav Yevdokimov tied up the game at 1:58 slipping a shot through the five hole of Johnson. After Monroe went on a power play midway through the period, Kyle Moore sprung loose on a shorthanded breakaway and put the puck past Johnson to give the River Dragons the lead at 11:32. Moments later, Jared Christy on an individual effort answered to tie the game with a goal at 12:05. Columbus again outshot Monroe in the second period, this time 15-13.

The third period saw the first breakthrough when Jordan Ernst broke the tie, crashing the net off a feed from Jared Christy. The goal at 4:58 proved to be only the beginning for Monroe’s offense. Austin Pick later in the third received a brilliant feed from Colten Gerken and buried a shot by Babin to up the lead to 4-2 at 13:39. 46 seconds later, Jordan Ernst added another goal for Monroe to up the lead to three. In the closing seconds, Zach Yoder added an empty netter at 18:06. Brodie Thornton closed out the scoring at 19:27 for Columbus. 

The 6-3 win moves the Moccasins into a tie with Mid-South for second place in the Delta Division. 

The two teams meet tomorrow night from Monroe as the Moccasins continue to celebrate Military Appreciation Weekend.