Laurence Heinen

The Roughnecks started out 2026 in fine fashion with a 15-11 win over the San Diego Seals on Country Night at Pechanga Arena in San Diego on Saturday.

 

Tanner Cook and Brayden Mayea led the way offensively as both players had hat tricks to go with six assists. Goalie Aden Walsh made 48 saves and had an assist for good measure.

 

THE NUMBERS:

Tanner Cook – 9 pts (3G, 6A)

Brayden Mayea – 9 pts (3G, 6A)

Tyler Pace – 7 pts (2G, 5A)

Noah Manning – 5 points (2G, 3A)

Aden Walsh – 48/59 saves, 1A

The Riggers built up a quick 3-0 lead thanks to goals by Manning, Dickson and Matsuoka.

After Manning opened up the scoring with a power-play goal at 2:23 of the first quarter, Dickson converted a feed from Mayea 98 seconds later.

 

Matsuoka then deposited a rebound into an empty net at 5:34 past Seals goalie Chris Origlieri, who was out of position after scrambling to make initial saves on shots by Kyle Pepper and Carter Cook.

After the Seals got one back, Pace scored late in the opening frame before setting up a goal by Dickson early in the second quarter to put the ’Necks up 5-1.

 

Following another goal for the home side, Tanner Cook made a great defensive play before firing a shot from the high slot past Origlieri.

 

San Diego replied with a couple late goals in the first half to pull within three of the visitors.

 

Dickson completed his hat trick with a quick-stick goal on a two-man advantage for the Riggers at 2:20 of the third quarter.

Mayea notched his second of the night at 9:18 to put the Riggers up 9-5 before the Seals reeled off four straight goals to pull into a 9-9 tie.

 

Manning cut hard to the net and squeezed a shot past goalie Cam Dunkerley with 35 seconds to play in the quarter. Dunkerley had earlier replaced an Origlieri, who left the game with an injury, in net.

After Wesley Berg completed his hat trick for the Seals, Tanner Cook and Loewen counted a pair of quick goals to put the ’Necks up 13-10.

 

Mayea finished off a feed from Cook at 8:33 of the final frame before Pace scored with 3:09 left on the clock to round out the scoring.

 

NEXT UP:

The Roughnecks will return home to face the Vancouver Warriors on WestJet Field at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday, Jan. 9. Prior to the game, Dane Dobbie will be honoured for the contributions he has made to the organization during a “Forever A Roughneck” ceremony and banner raising celebration. Dobbie will become the third Roughnecks alumnus to receive this distinction, following Kaleb Toth in 2013 and Tracey Kelusky in 2017. To get tickets, click here!

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