The first round hockey playoff series between the Columbia Ice Eagles and reached a fever pitch last Tuesday night, as both teams were fighting for playoff survival in a deciding game three.

The underdog Raging ‘Dogs entered the game on a high note after having won game two last Monday night, 3-1.

And Freeburg-Waterloo looked to be on its way to the second round, leading 2-0 entering the third period of game three.

But the Eagles stormed back late to tie it in the final minute of regulation, 3-3, and won the shootout to take what was a tense series.

Ryan Hofstetter, Garrett Poole and Trey Walton scored in regulation for Columbia. Jack Lugge scored twice and Austin Patton added a goal for the Raging Bulldogs.

In the shootout, which was the second of this three-game series between rivals, Poole and Walton scored for Columbia and Patton scored for Freeburg-Waterloo.

“We just kept working and eventually it paid off,” Columbia head coach Kevin Feager said.
The Ice Eagles outshot the Raging ‘Dogs, 28-11, for the game.

“We know every game against Freeburg-Waterloo will be a battle, especially a game three,” Feager said. “We felt we were playing well the entire game, we just weren’t able to capitalize on our opportunities.  We knew we had to keep working, and fortunately, we were able to get a couple goals late in the game to tie it and take it to a shootout.”

For Freeburg-Waterloo, the playoff defeat closed the doors on a season that started with promise but ended in heartbreak.

“We jumped out to a quick lead then they battled back to tie it up,” Raging Bulldogs coach Scott Roberts said. “We retook the lead with a minute left in the game, (but) they responded and tied it with 37 seconds left.”

Goalie Peyton Hamilton was strong in net and kept his team in the game, Roberts said.

“We didn’t generate enough offense or get enough shots on their goalie,” he said. “It was a very good series. It stinks going out like that, but they’re a very good team with a lot of talent. Losing two games in a shootout is a terrible way to go out. We just have to overcome that and be ready for next season.”

At one point this season, the Raging ‘Dogs were 9-4-1. From there, they ran into a tough stretch and couldn’t catch a break, losing eight games in a row — most of them by a goal and a few in the final minute of play.

Adam Phelps, Scott Nanney and Jacob Pitt led the way in scoring for the Raging Bulldogs, who lose seniors Ray Meng and captain Colin Kruse to graduation.

“So, we will have a majority of our team coming back next year,” Roberts said.

In the second round of the playoffs that started Thursday night, Columbia dropped game one to O’Fallon, 2-1. Poole scored the team’s lone goal in the second quarter.

Game two was played Tuesday night (result not known at press time). If Columbia wins, game three takes place Thursday night in Granite City.