Rail Yard Dawgs Dominate Game 1 Over Birmingham Bulls

Roanoke scores 7 goals in commanding playoff victory

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:19am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a hockey game, with players and the puck fragmented into sharp, overlapping shapes in a bold color scheme of navy, red, and silver.The Rail Yard Dawgs' offensive onslaught in Game 1 overwhelmed the Birmingham Bulls, setting the tone for a potential playoff rematch between these two SPHL rivals.Today in Birmingham

The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs opened the 2026 SPHL President's Cup Playoffs with a dominant 7-1 victory over the Birmingham Bulls on Thursday night. Roanoke scored seven unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0 in the first period, outshooting Birmingham 36-18 over the course of the game.

Why it matters

This was a rematch of the 2023 SPHL President's Cup Finals, which the Rail Yard Dawgs won in four games. The two teams have a history of intense playoff battles, and this lopsided Game 1 win gives Roanoke a big advantage as the series shifts to their home arena this weekend.

The details

After Birmingham scored the opening goal, the Rail Yard Dawgs responded with seven unanswered goals, including two each from Gustav Müller and Ryan Reifler. Roanoke's offense overwhelmed the Bulls, outshooting them 14-5 in the second period to take a 5-1 lead into the third. Austyn Roudebush made 17 saves in net for the Dawgs, becoming the SPHL's all-time leader in playoff wins.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • Game 2 will be played on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:05 p.m. EST.
  • Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 7:05 p.m. EST.

The players

Austyn Roudebush

The goaltender for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, who made 17 saves and became the SPHL's all-time leader in playoff wins.

Dan Bremner

The head coach of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, who recorded his 20th postseason victory, becoming just the fifth coach in SPHL history to reach that mark.

Gustav Müller

A forward for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, who scored two goals and added two assists for a four-point night.

Drake Glover

A forward for the Birmingham Bulls, who scored the opening goal of the game.

Khristian Acosta

A forward for the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, who recorded three assists.

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What they’re saying

“We came out a little flat, but once we settled in, our offense really took over. It was a great team effort and a big win to start the series.”

— Gustav Müller, Forward, Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs

What’s next

The series will shift to Roanoke's Berglund Center for Game 2 on Saturday, April 11 and Game 3, if necessary, on Sunday, April 12.

The takeaway

The Rail Yard Dawgs' dominant Game 1 performance, led by a four-point night from Gustav Müller and a record-setting effort from goaltender Austyn Roudebush, puts them in firm control of this first-round playoff series against their longtime rivals, the Birmingham Bulls.