It was shaping up to be another classic duel between local hockey rivals Columbia and Freeburg-Waterloo at Granite City Ice Rink on Monday, as the Eagles clung to a slim 3-2 lead with 9:30 remaining in the third period of a see-saw showdown.

That’s when Raging Bulldogs player Cohin Reynolds took a hard check into the edge of the glass partition near the Eagles bench and fell to the ice. 

The entire facility fell silent as players, coaches, referees and fans focused their thoughts on Reynolds. Exercising the utmost caution, medical personnel tended to Reynolds, and he was eventually stretchered off the ice for transport to an area hospital.

Thankfully, the Raging Bulldogs offered positive news Tuesday morning on Reynolds.

“He suffered a severe concussion and sprained neck,” Raging Bulldogs head coach Scotty Roberts said. “All x-rays of neck and spine came back good. He was released early this morning.”

The game did not resume after the injury and will go down as a victory for Columbia. 

A large crowd was on hand for the rivalry clash, and they saw Jack Reuss put Columbia on top early in the first period on an assist from Rece Sanderson. 

The lead didn’t last long, as Austin Hopfinger netted a goal for the Raging Bulldogs less than a minute later on an assist from Zach Bonenberger.

Freeburg-Waterloo took a brief lead on a goal by Ryder Neff with 3:43 remaining in the opening period. Caiden Anderson was credited with the assist.

The second period saw Columbia’s Nathan Carr tie the game on another assist from Sanderson. 

That’s how the game remained until the final frame, as the Raging Bulldogs were unable to find the net despite multiple power play chances.

At 13 minutes of the third period, Reuss struck again on assists from Sanderson and Carr. 

The win improves the Eagles to 3-2-1 on the season, which puts them in the middle of the pack in the Mississippi Valley Club Hockey Association Varsity 2A Division. 

Reuss leads the Eagles in scoring with 12 goals and three assists. 

Columbia’s game Tuesday against Collinsville was canceled due to zamboni issues. The Eagles battle Bethalto this Thursday night at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O’Fallon. Columbia takes on O’Fallon at 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Rec Plex.

The Raging Bulldogs still remain at the top of the MVCHA Varsity 1A Division standings at 7-3.

On Nov. 20, Freeburg-Waterloo won 4-2 over Collinsville. Conner Blair scored twice and had two assists for the Raging Bulldogs. 

On Nov. 21, the ‘Dogs posted a 5-1 victory over Alton. Parker Stoll recorded a goal and two assists.

Freeburg-Waterloo faced East Alton-Wood River on Tuesday, winning 5-1, then will take on Highland at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Granite City.

Blair, who recorded a hat trick on Tuesday, leads the Raging Bulldogs in scoring with 13 goals and 10 assists this season. 

With no other regular season matchups scheduled between the local hockey rivals,  the coaches for Columbia and Freeburg-Waterloo are working to set up a special “Battle of Monroe County” game after the season is over.