The First To Take Flight

There was a pile of excitement in Greenboro, North Carolina tonight as the ECHL's 2025-26 expansion franchise opened the season. The Greenboro Gargoyles were hosting the Jacksonville Icemen tonight as they began writing their history in the ECHL, and there was obvious hope that the home team would send the fans home with a celebrated and historic win. That would also mean that the team had to score some goals, so the opportunity to write one's name into the Gargoyles' history was waiting for someone on the Gargoyles' roster. Who would be the player whose name became a trivia answer?

These two teams actually battled through a scoreless first period that saw the Gargoyles with a pile of jump as they outshot the Icemen by a 15-8 count. Both teams had scoring chances, but the two netminders - Jacksonville's Scott Ratzlaff and Greensboro's Ruslan Khazheyev - were solid throughout the opening frame. We'd move to the second period in our search for a little Gargoyles history.

Officially, the first goal surrendered in Greensboro Gargoyles history would come at 3:26 of the second period when Jacksonville's Nathan Dunkley scored on Khazheyev. No one wants to remember that goal, though, and the hunt for an equalizer was now on in Greensboro. Despite the effort from the Gargoyles, the Icemen outshot the Gargoyles 11-7 in this frame and out-goaled them 1-0. After 40 minutes of play, the Icemen took that 1-0 lead into the third period as Gargoyles fans waited and hoped for that necessary first goal!

The Icemen seemed to be content defending that 1-0 lead as the Gargoyles pushed back in a big way in the third period, throwing shots from all angles at the net. There would be no celebrations until late in this contest when the historic moment finally arrived!
David Gagnon got the 11,398 fans in the First Horizon Coliseum on their feet when he one-timed the first goal in franchise history past Ratzlaff at 18:39 of the third period to tie the game at 1-1! The Halifax native, who played 20 games with the Rapid City Rush last season, scored his seventh ECHL goal in his 21st ECHL game, and none may have been bigger in his career! Congratulations, David!

Obviously, there was now a chance for the Gargoyles to make a little more history, but that was not to be on this night as the Icemen's Redmond Savage scored at 5:46 of overtime to give Jacksonville the 2-1 victory, but the Gargoyles earned a point in their first ECHL regular season game to start the season. First victory celebrations would have to wait, but every point counts in the ECHL when it comes to securing playoff berths. The rematch between these two teams goes tomorrow at 3pm ET in Greensboro, so perhaps we'll see some victory celebrations and more goals in that game.

Congratulations to David Gagnon on his historic goal, and to the 11,389 fans who showed up to cheer on the Greensboro Gargoyles in their first regular season ECHL game. It didn't end the way anyone not associated with the Icemen wanted, but earning that point may pay off down the line in the race for playoff spots this season!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!