White lifts Thunderbirds to 3-2 overtime victory

WHYTEVILLE, VA. –Captain Zach White scored forty-seven seconds into overtime to give the Twin City Thunderbirds a 3-2 victory over the Blue Ridge Bobcats Friday night at Hitachi Energy Arena. Dominic Dumas and Joey McCormick each scored in regulation, while Ayvin Eidsness made forty saves in the victory. The Thunderbirds closed their five-game road trip with a 4-1-0 record, and will host the Bobcats tomorrow night at 6:05pm at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena for the highly anticipated Home Opener for the 2026-2027 regular season, the 10^th Anniversary season of Thunderbirds hockey in Winston-Salem.

Dominic Dumas opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 10:34 of the 1st period, assisted by Jordan Rosenbaum and Joey McCormick. Blue Ridge answered at 13:22 when Max Sazanovets tied the game at 1-1 on assists from Denis Radchenko and Nikolai Dulak. The Bobcats held a 12-10 advantage in shots at the first intermission.

Patriks Marcinkevics gave Blue Ridge a 2-1 lead with a shorthanded goal at 12:14 of the 2nd period. Carson Andreoli and Demid Podrezov picked up the assists. Joey McCormick tied the game at 17:56 with an even-strength goal, assisted by Scott Swanson and Grant Coykendall. Blue Ridge outshot Twin City 17-12 in the middle period.

The Thunderbirds outshot the Bobcats 15-13 during a scoreless 3rd period and killed off a Blue Ridge powerplay to keep the game tied. White scored on the only shot of overtime, with Jacob Schnapp and Jordan Rosenbaum picking up assists on the game-winning goal.

Eidsness stopped forty of forty-two shots for Twin City, while Maximus Macchioni made thirty-five saves on thirty-eight shots for Blue Ridge. The Thunderbirds went scoreless on three powerplay opportunities and killed both Bobcats powerplays. McCormick finished with a goal and an assist, and Rosenbaum recorded two assists. White earned 1st Star of the Game honors, followed by Dumas and McCormick as the 2nd and 3rd Stars, respectively. Friday’s game was played in front of 1,650 fans.

The Thunderbirds return to Winston-Salem on Saturday, November 7th, to host the Bobcats in their 2026-2027 Home Opener at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena. Saturday’s matchup marks Jon Buttitta’s first regular season home game as Head Coach and the first of twenty-eight regular season home games in the franchise’s 10th season.

Doors open at 4:35pm ET for Season Ticket Holders and 4:50pm ET for the general public for tomorrow’s Home Opener at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena. Giveaways include mustaches and magnets. Wake Forest University is hosting its Homecoming football game against Merrimack tomorrow at 3:30pm ET, and parking for the Thunderbirds game will be at the Fairgrounds Midway. Fans should use Reynolds Boulevard or 27th Street to reach Shorefair Drive, then enter the Midway through Gate 7 at 569 Fairgrounds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27105. A portion of Deacon Boulevard is expected to remain closed until approximately 6:00pm ET, so fans are encouraged to allow extra travel time and follow the posted signs to the Midway. All fans, including Season Ticket Holders, will enter through the arena’s front doors.

Tickets for all Twin City Thunderbirds regular season home games at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased online at tcbirds.com, wsfairgrounds.com, ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena Box Office at (336) 774-8880. For Season Ticket and Group Ticket information, contact Holli Carmin at (336) 774-8882 or hcarmin@tcbirds.hockey.