PIHA Cross-Division Festival Day 2: Sunshine and Piedmont Conclude in Style at SGAA

The PIHA Cross-Division Festival wrapped up Sunday morning at SGAA Duel Dek Arena, closing a milestone weekend that marked the first-ever games for the new Sunshine Division and the league’s only cross-division event of the 2025-26 season. After 20 games on Saturday, all ten teams returned for two more matchups apiece to complete an exciting 30-game slate. The skill and depth across both regions were on full display as several clubs cemented strong starts to their seasons.

Sunday Game Highlights

8:00 AM – Gainesville Crocodiles 5, Cary Title Wave Mops 1
Gainesville opened the day with a dominant performance led by Ryan Lefort and Tristan Roost, who combined for multiple points. The Crocodiles’ balanced attack overwhelmed Cary’s defense in transition to seal a confident win.

8:00 AM – Champion Asheville Aces 3, Unify Hooligans 2
In a clash between Saturday’s top teams, Asheville rallied from an early deficit with three unanswered goals in the second half. Matt Hogue’s late tally stood as the game-winner as the Aces handed Unify its lone defeat of the weekend.

8:40 AM – Labeda Naples Kaos 6, Hendersonville Broadway Blades 3
Naples controlled play through speed and puck movement, with Vinny Cafone factoring into nearly every goal. The Kaos finished strong to keep their overall weekend record among the event’s best.

8:40 AM – South Florida Pegasus 2, Chattanooga Edge Snipers 1 (OT)
The Pegasus edged the Edge Snipers in a tight defensive duel, winning in overtime on a goal by Shane Baker. Both goaltenders were sharp in a game that featured limited chances and strong neutral-zone play.

9:20 AM – Unify Hooligans 8, Apex Title Wave Mops 5
Unify rebounded from their earlier loss with an offensive explosion. Ricky Carden and Chris Melendez led the charge as the Hooligans erased an early deficit with five straight goals in the second period.

9:20 AM – Gainesville Crocodiles 4, Mavin Puff Puff Passers 2
The Crocodiles’ attack stayed hot as Austin Rice and Bryan Miller powered the offense, while goaltender David Stenzel turned aside key chances late. Mavin battled hard but couldn’t solve Gainesville’s defensive structure.

10:00 AM – Champion Asheville Aces 7, Labeda Naples Kaos 0
The Aces capped their weekend with a statement shutout, dominating from start to finish. Dan Dean recorded a hat trick, and Josh LittleJohn posted a perfect outing in net to secure Asheville’s flawless 6-0-0 record.

10:00 AM – Cary Title Wave Mops 7, South Florida Pegasus 2
Cary closed the weekend on a high note, fueled by a breakout game from Russell Shengulette, who was involved in nearly every scoring play. The Mops’ offensive rhythm clicked late in the festival.

10:40 AM – Chattanooga Edge Snipers 7, Hendersonville Broadway Blades 1
Nick King and Chris Sislo spearheaded a relentless Chattanooga attack as the Edge Snipers dominated from the opening whistle. The win moved them to a strong 4-2-0 finish overall.

11:20 AM – Apex Title Wave Mops 3, Mavin Puff Puff Passers 2 (OT)
The final game of the festival ended fittingly in overtime. Danny Kraus buried the winner for Apex, capping a competitive weekend where both clubs showcased growth and determination.

Final Weekend Team Summaries

Champion Asheville Aces (6-0-0)
The Aces were the class of the event, outscoring opponents 36-10 and finishing as the only undefeated team. Balanced scoring and airtight goaltending set an early benchmark for the entire league.

Unify Hooligans (5-1-0)
Aside from a narrow loss to Asheville, Unify’s offense was electric, averaging 6 goals per game. Their high-tempo style and depth up front make them an instant contender.

Labeda Naples Kaos (4-1-1)
The Kaos were steady all weekend, highlighted by tight wins over the Edge Snipers and a comeback effort against Apex. A single overtime loss kept them from perfection.

Gainesville Crocodiles (4-2-0)
After a mixed start Saturday, Gainesville surged Sunday with two emphatic wins. Their puck-possession game and offensive variety stood out.

Chattanooga Edge Snipers (4-2-0)
Chattanooga displayed disciplined two-way hockey, earning crucial wins over Gainesville and Hendersonville. Their structure and goaltending kept them in every contest.

South Florida Pegasus (3-3-0)
The Pegasus impressed in their PIHA debut, showcasing resilience and strong special-teams play, including an overtime victory over Chattanooga.

Cary Title Wave Mops (2-4-0)
Cary closed the festival on a positive note with a convincing win Sunday. Despite early setbacks, they displayed significant growth through the weekend.

Apex Title Wave Mops (2-3-1)
Apex battled in nearly every game, twice pushing opponents to overtime. Their effort and depth at forward kept them competitive across both days.

Mavin Puff Puff Passers (1-5-0)
Mavin struggled to find consistency but showed flashes of promise behind solid goaltending and young energy.

Hendersonville Broadway Blades (0-6-0)
Though winless, the Blades competed hard in each outing. Experience gained from this weekend will serve them well in upcoming Piedmont Division play.

Top Stars of the Weekend

• Champion Asheville Aces: Dan Dean, Dustin Disbro, Matt Hogue

• Unify Hooligans: Ricky Carden, Chris Melendez, Viktor Dominguez

• Labeda Naples Kaos: Vinny Cafone, Nicklaus Picascio, Hunter Rockett

• Gainesville Crocodiles: Ryan Lefort, Bryan Miller, David Stenzel (G)

• Chattanooga Edge Snipers: Nick King, Chris Sislo, Ethan Williams (G)

• South Florida Pegasus: Shane Baker, Thomas Rama, Randy Schmidt (G)

• Cary Title Wave Mops: Russell Shengulette, Radek Kerr, Donovan Mccullough (G)

• Apex Title Wave Mops: Danny Kraus, Jack Ryan, Marty Privette

• Mavin Puff Puff Passers: Andy Kauffman, Will Bray, Stefano Cantali (G)

• Hendersonville Broadway Blades: Jace Gelet, Alex Rich, Gabi Gibson (G)

Closing Remarks

The PIHA Cross-Division Festival successfully united the Sunshine and Piedmont divisions under one roof for the first time, delivering two full days of competitive, fast-paced hockey that showcased the league’s growing southern footprint.

The league extends its gratitude to the SGAA Arena staff, as well as the traveling officials and operations crew from across multiple PIHA regions who made this event possible. With the Sunshine Division officially launched, the 25th Anniversary Season continues across the country — and the standard set in Snellville will be hard to top.