BLAINE, M.N. – The Elmira Aviators (2-3-0-0) shocked the Shreveport Mudbugs (2-3-1-0), storming out of a three-goal hole and defeating the Bugs in overtime at the NSC Super Rink Thursday night.
Elmira arrived in Blaine with the hopes of impressing the 100s of college and professional scouts in attendance. The NAHL showcase, held annually at the NSC Super Rink, is a chance for all 34 NAHL teams to display their best in three games of interdivision play.
The Aviators kicked off their showcase journey Thursday afternoon against the South Division’s Shreveport Mudbugs. The Bugs played their first showcase game on Wednesday, securing a 1-0 victory.
Elmira arrived at the Super Rink on the heels of multiple long travel days and riding a three-game losing streak.
The opening period on Thursday looked like more doom and gloom for the purple and black. Shreveport scored early, scored on the power play and even scored with less than 10 seconds left in the opening frame.
The Aviators went to the locker room trailing 3-0 with few answers in sight. However, Elmira gathered its strength and never panicked.
What happened next were some of the brightest moments in the Elmira Aviators’ young history.
First, Max Campbell made a great pass on the rush, finding Matthew Maglio for a power play goal. The Mudbugs’ penalty kill entered Thursday’s matchup a perfect 20/20 on the young season.
The Elmira power play broke through, and it wasn’t done after Maglio’s tally.
The Aviators’ next punch came in the third period with another power play goal. This go around, it was Yianni Koukouves scoring from a bad angle, picking up his first career NAHL goal.
The purple and black were tried and tested as they tried to scratch and claw for that game-tying goal. Shreveport had a chance to put Elmira away with a pair of power plays late in the third.
Through blocked shots, great goaltending, and outstanding team play, the Aviators killed off the penalties, giving them a chance to tie in the final minutes.
Elmira finally found its equalizer with less than a minute to go, and the goalie pulled. With the puck tied up on a far-side draw, Max Campbell whipped a turn-around shot low and on goal, surprising the Bugs and tying the score at three.
The Aviators capped off a wild comeback win with a pretty overtime goal. Max Campbell made a perfect cross-ice pass to Zach Buffone with a defender draped on his back. Then Buffone sprung Jack Kohlmann on a breakaway.
With family in attendance, Kohlmann was never going to miss with the game on his stick. The St. Louis native swerved to the crease, deked the goalie, and tucked the frozen biscuit home to seal the comeback victory.
The 4-3 win is tied for the largest comeback victory in Elmira Aviators history. It is also the first come-from-behind win in the 2025-26 season.
Next up, the Aviators will rise bright and early for a duel with the Oklahoma Warriors back at the Super Rink.
Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. CDT/10:30 a.m. EST. The game can be streamed on NATV or listened to on WINGZ93.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].