Down Three, Never Out: Skates Storm Back to Stun Growlers 4–3 in Sold-Out Debut

MHL WEEKEND WRAP — Oct. 30–Nov. 1, 2026

Well folks, grab your coffee and sit down, because the boys in Oakland gave us an opening night that would make the old-timers stand up and holler!

FINAL: Santa Rosa Growlers 3, Oakland Skates 4

Friday, Oct. 30 — Oakland Ice Center

Now let me tell ya — the Growlers came in and took it to 'em early. Three-nothing! Toby Petrus (#54) put the first one of the season in the net off a feed from Egan Wolford (#7), and Santa Rosa was buzzing. Lotta teams fold right there. Not these Skates.

Halfway through the second, Oakland found its legs. Julian Matthews. Jasper Korican-Barley. Thor Oase. Three goals, bang-bang-bang, and we're tied up. Then, just a few minutes into the third, Cam Neaylon buries the winner and the building comes unglued. That's old-time hockey, kids — you don't quit when you're down three, you dig in and go to the dirty areas.

And what a building it was. A sold-out crowd of 1,000 at the Oakland Ice Center for the Skates' first-ever home game — fans in purple and teal, kids pressed up on the glass, and a mascot named Mac Ray working the stands all night. THAT is where real hockey lives.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Cam Neaylon, Oakland Skates — the game-winning goal early in the third to cap a three-goal comeback. When the coach needs one, you want the guy who wants the puck. Tip of the cap.

ON THE BOARD

Oakland Skates — 3-0-0, 6 pts
Reno Ice Raiders — 2-0-0, 4 pts
IEHL Selects — 1-1-0, 2 pts
Mansfield Barracudas — 1-1-0, 2 pts

NEXT UP — THIS WEEKEND

Fri–Sat, Nov. 6–7: Breckenridge Vipers @ Mansfield Barracudas (Mansfield StarCenter)
Fri–Sat, Nov. 6–7: Southwest Outlaws @ Reno Ice Raiders

Photo: Jerome Parmer/Oakland Skates

From the Office of the MHL