Rivermen Fall to Rail Yard Dawgs 3-1 to Open April
April 3, 2026 - 10:30 pm
PEORIA, IL – At the start of the final weekend of the regular season, the Peoria Rivermen (38-17-2) fell by a score of 3-1 to the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (31-21-5) at Carver Arena on Friday night. Just the eighth home loss this season, it was also Peoria’s first defeat at Carver Arena since March 6. The only goal for the Rivermen came from Carson Riddle, and goaltender Jack Bostedt made 16 saves on 18 shots he faced.
Catch the final Rivermen regular season game Saturday, 7:15 pm, as they take on the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. Be among the first 2,000 fans to grab a free team photo presented by CEFCU, then stick around for a postgame autograph session as a part of Peoria’s Fan Appreciation Night.
FIRST PERIOD
The first period was back-and-forth, with both teams creating chances and recording seven shots each. Peoria took the lead when Mike Gelatt cleared the puck to center ice, allowing Carson Riddle to chase it down and break away. Riddle executed a quick deke and slipped the puck between Roanoke netminder Gabe Rosek's legs to score his first professional goal.
SECOND PERIOD
Peoria dominated the second period, out-chancing and out-hustling the Rail Yard Dawgs at even strength, on the power play, and short-handed. Midway through, Roanoke scored its first goal on a short-handed odd-man rush to tie the game at 1-1. In the final minute, another odd-man rush gave the Dawgs a 2-1 lead. Afterward, multiple penalties forced the Rivermen to finish the period and start the third on a five-on-three penalty kill.
THIRD PERIOD
The Rivermen killed off a two-man disadvantage and gained momentum in the third. But they could not solve Rosek, who stopped every shot. The Rail Yard Dawgs sealed a 3-1 victory for Roanoke with a late empty-net goal.
Photo: Claire Schaffner - Peoria Rivermen
