Georgia forward Dylan Punzenberger (15) skates with the puck, maneuvering past a Michigan State defender directly in front of him during the men’s hockey game between Georgia and Michigan State at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Georgia won 6-5 in overtime. (Photo/Renee Lipski)
Georgia forward Dylan Punzenberger (15) skates with the puck, maneuvering past a Michigan State defender directly in front of him during the men’s hockey game between Georgia and Michigan State at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Georgia won 6-5 in overtime. (Photo/Renee Lipski)
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After Georgia fell in the opening game of the 2026 Savannah Hockey Classic to South Carolina, the Ice Dawgs bounced back with an overwhelming offensive performance against Florida State, posting eight goals in an 8-1 win.
Georgia hit the road earlier this week to Savannah, Georgia, to attend the annual Savannah Hockey Classic, held at Enmarket Arena, the home of the ECHL’s Ghost Pirates. The event consists of six collegiate Southeastern schools that compete for the Ghost Pirates Cup and the Savannah Classic Championship.
In Friday’s nightcap, the Ice Dawgs struggled offensively against South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ goaltender Tyler Temoyan looked comfortable in net, stopping 36 of the 39 total shots he faced as Georgia fell 6-3.
The Seminoles opened Saturday’s contest strong, with three straight shot attempts, but Georgia goaltender Andrew Goldstein withstood the early test. The three shot attempts accounted for the Seminoles’ offense in the opening period, as the Ice Dawgs overwhelmed Florida State with offensive opportunities. Georgia followed with 17 straight shots and three goals by Spencer Watson, Charlie Kerrigan and Ice Dawg captain Evan Parente.
The first penalty of the game would occur just minutes into the second frame, when Ice Dawgs forward Tyler Stewart was called for a crosscheck, giving the Seminoles their first power play of the game. What seemed like a great opportunity for the Seminoles to dig themselves out of a 3-0 hole shortly turned into a defensive disaster. With no teammates around him and shorthanded, Georgia forward Jordan Sirota skated into double coverage along the right circle and fired a wrist shot that eluded the glove of the Florida State netminder, giving the Ice Dawgs a 4-0 lead.
The Ice Dawgs scored twice more before the conclusion of the second frame from both Watson and Kerrigan’s second goals of the game. The Seminoles were only allowed three more shot attempts in the second period.
Georgia continued to muster up plenty of more offensive opportunities in the contest’s final frame. Defenseman Dylan Punzenberger displayed some impressive hand-eye coordination in the third when he received an off-target pass that he bounced off his skate, onto his stick blade, and slung it from the right circle for a goal, giving Georgia a 7-0 lead. Just minutes later, forward Zachary Noll skated up the near side of the boards and passed the puck across the ice to Sirota. He then zipped it to an open Parente, who tipped it in, completing the tic-tac-toe play and giving the Ice Dawgs their final goal of the game.
Florida State’s lone goal would come in the dwindling minutes of the third when Seminoles’ forward James McGovern broke free from three Georgia defenders and slipped the puck past the blocker of Goldstein.
After Georgia’s 8-1 victory in Savannah, the Ice Dawgs are headed back to Athens for a three-game homestand against Niagara University next weekend. Game 1 is on Friday night, Jan. 23, at Akins Ford Arena.
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