(ATHENS, Ga.) – The Macon Mayhem took to the bus for a short two-hour trek north to Athens to play their lone preseason tune-up contest, falling 3-2 in overtime after a third period power play goal from Cory Liu tied the score.
Experienced veteran goaltender Josh Boyko took the start in net for the Mayhem, and stopped 10 of 11 shots in the opening period. The lone goal he allowed began with a Michigan attempt by Sebastian Smith. After being denied he drifted out toward the high slot where he threw a twisted wrister on net. Boyko swatted it down with his glove, but Cameron Golovin was there for the greasy goal. Golovin put Athens ahead 1-0 just 6:53 into the contest.
Special teams would quickly become a focal point of the tune-up. Athens went to a penalty kill for a slashing infraction at 9:31 and paid just 31 seconds later. Defender Cory Liu drove his way into the zone and on the left-wing boards he rung the puck out how to Savva Smirnov. From the high slot Smirnov drove on net, there was a ton of hacking and whacking going on right at the top of the goal crease. It was ultimately Brandon Stojcevski who potted the tying goal, and the 1-1 score would hold through 20 minutes. Shots favored Athens 11-9 in the opening period.
Dominic Basse took over the crease for Coach Pszenyczny in the 2nd stanza. He made a handful of phenomenal saves in the period and was heavily battle-tested. Macon was shorthanded three times in the frame and managed to kill off all of the penalties. The penalty kill even offered up some promising offensive opportunities with a notable being Stojcevski’s near miss short side on the Mason Hoehn cross checking kill just following the Athens goalie swap to Logan Stein.
At the 8:23 mark of the 2nd period, the Lobsters would put themselves back in the drivers seat as Brandon Picard wrecked some havoc. The former Macon forward would pick a turnover in the offensive zone and take one up under the crossbar glove side to move it to a 2-1 hockey game. Despite trailing in a big way in the shot’s column, 32-18 through forty minutes, Macon stood in the one-goal hole.
As per the pre-game plan, all three goaltenders saw action as Sebastian Resar took the net for the final period. Resar split time last season with the FPHL Danbury Hat Tricks and the Mayhem after a stellar upbringing north of the border. Athen’s captain and longtime FPHL standout, former MVP Carter Shinkaruk took an early interference minor in the 3rd.
Stojecevski would get the offense going yet again for their second power-play conversion of the day. With Smirnov along the left-wing side boards, he was able to locate Liu out at the point. Liu thrust one towards the net that seemed as if it was redirected but found its way to the back of the twine to tie the game 2-2 just 4:07 into the 3rd.
Despite some killer opportunities both ways the rest of the period the go-ahead goal could not be found and the game headed for overtime. Macon finished the day 2/4 on the power play and perfect on the penalty kill but were outshot 38-28.
The Mayhem would never touch the puck in the new seven-minute overtime. After winning the opening draw and recoiling it to their own zone, Brandon Reller would shovel a deep blast on goal that Connor Galloway located a rebound on in front and potted home to send Athens home victorious 3-2 just seconds in to the free hockey.
The Macon Mayhem begin their 2026-27 Southern Professional Hockey League regular season this coming Friday night, October 16th, at 7:05pm back in Athens at Akins Ford Arena. Opening night at the Macon Coliseum is set for Saturday, October 24th vs the Birmingham Bulls at 6pm. There will be a post-game skate with the team following the game. Get your tickets now by visiting maconmayhem.com.
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