The first weekend of college hockey is in the books. Close games were a big storyline, as was one stunning upset when Milwaukee School of Engineering knocked off nationally ranked Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The weekend also featured the debut of Trine. Check out the weekend recap to see how the action played out in the west.
MIAC
Augsburg
The nationally ranked Auggies held off an upset bid by Gustavus Friday, winning 3-2 in overtime. Nate Flynn was the hero, scoring the game-winner. He also tied the game at 2-2 with a goal in the third period. Alex Rodriguez scored the Auggies’ other goal. Augsburg capped its weekend with a convincing 4-1 win over Concordia Sunday afternoon. It scored the last four goals of the game after falling behind 1-0. Sam Nelson rose to the occasion with 41 saves in his season debut.
Bethel
Jackson Purvis came through with the Royals’ lone goal in a 5-1 loss to Saint John’s Friday. Bethel managed just one goal Sunday as well in a 3-1 loss to Saint Mary’s. Tyler Mros scored the lone goal for the Royals.
Concordia
The Cobbers skated to a 1-1 tie with Gustavus Saturday, but lost 3-2 in the shootout round. Zach Doerring came through with the Cobbers’ lone goal. Tanner Okeson and Dalton Mills scored the shootout goals. The Cobbers grabbed a 1-0 lead over Augsburg Sunday but came up empty offensively the rest of the way. Doerring scored his second goal of the season.
Gustavus Adolphus
Colton Schmidt and Will LeNeave scored goals for the Gusties in a 3-2 overtime loss to Augsburg Friday. The Gusties were a little better off Saturday, forcing a 1-1 tie with Concordia. Logan Norman scored the first goal of his college career. Gustavus won in the shootout, earning a 3-2 win behind a decisive goal by Jay Bushey.
Hamline
The Pipers survived an overtime thriller against St. Olaf, winning 4-3 Friday. Garret Schmitz scored the game-winning goal, while Mitch McPherson scored twice. Russ Jordan, who led the MIAC in goals last year, scored as well in the win. Jordan scored his second goal of the season in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to St. Thomas. McPherson assisted on the goal.
Saint John’s
The Johnnies dominated Bethel 5-1 Friday night behind Brady Heppner’s stellar performance. Heppner scored two goals and dished out two assists. Mac Berglove stole the show for the Johnnies Saturday in a 1-0 win over Saint Mary’s. He made 30 saves. Huba Sekesi scored the only goal.
Saint Mary’s
Aaron Davis looked solid in goal for the Cardinals, stopping 24 shots in a 1-0 loss to St. John’s Saturday. The Cardinals secured their first win Sunday, topping Bethel 3-1. Jay Heinle found the back of the net for his first goal of the year, and he also dished out an assist. Davis made 27 saves in his first win.
St. Olaf
Gordon Wells scored twice for the Oles in a 4-3 overtime loss to Hamline Friday. The Oles bounced back in a big way Saturday with a 3-1 win over conference powerhouse St. Thomas. Tuuka Totro, Connor Smith, and Drew Otto all scored for the Oles while Eric Hancock came up with 32 saves.
St. Thomas
Brett Gravelle punched in a goal in a 3-1 loss to St. Olaf Saturday as the Tommies fell in their opening game of the season. The Tommies bounced back Sunday with a 3-2 win over Hamline. Jack Christensen punched in the game-winning goal, while Gravelle came through with a goal and two assists. Benjamin Myers made 25 saves.
NCHA
Aurora
The Spartans had a tough opener, falling 6-1 to Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Spartans got their only goal from Anthony Pnewski. Jake Gwillim made 28 saves. Aurora was more productive Saturday in a 3-3 tie with Wisconsin-Stout. Dan Zielecki, Luke Picek, and Rudolfs Kalvitis all scored for Aurora. Josh Boyko made 21 saves.
Concordia
The Falcons won the battle of Wisconsin 4-3 over Wisconsin-River Falls Friday. Adam Fauchoux scored the game-winning goal with less than two minutes to play. It’s only the second time in the 11-year history of the program that Concordia has started a season 1-0. Nick Malvin stopped 20 shots to help secure the win. Stefen Seel was the star Saturday, scoring two goals and dishing out two assists in a 4-2 win over Wisconsin-Superior. It’s the second time ever Concordia has started 2-0. Seel has tallied 38 points in 43 career games.
Lake Forest
Aaron O’Neill scored the first goal of his college career and Cory Guidorzi tallied two assists to help the Foresters top Wisconsin-Superior, 4-2, Friday. Georgie Argiropoulos made 21 saves to win the eighth game of his career. The Foresters weren’t as fortunate Saturday, falling 3-2 to nationally ranked Wisconsin-Eau Claire. George Gerasimou and Josh Nugent both scored and Guidorzi racked up his third assist of the season.
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Zach Woodman made 30 saves and MSOE stunned nationally ranked Wisconsin-Eau Claire 2-0 Friday night in the opener for both teams. The Raiders have beaten a ranked opponent in their last three season openers. Chris Hinrichs and Jerad Tafoya both scored goals. The momentum stayed in the Raiders’ favor Saturday as they scored three times in the final eight minutes to knock off Wisconsin-River Falls 3-1. Woodman was stellar again in goal, making 26 saves. The Raiders held a 44-27 advantage in shots.
Northland
The Lumberjacks dropped both games on opening weekend, falling 3-2 and 4-1 to St. Scholastica in an NCHA series. Jason Reynolds scored 10 seconds into Friday’s game and Kalib Ford scored a goal that evened the score at 2-2. On Saturday, Kurt Sonne scored the only goal for Northland. AJ Smith made 32 saves.
St. Scholastica
Nolan Ross scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over Northland in the opener Friday night. Zane Steeves stopped 34 shots. Seth Chumey scored the first two goals of his career in a 4-1 win over Northland Saturday. Mark Whiteley came through with two assists as the Saints moved within two wins of the program’s 500th victory.
Trine
The Thunder played their first NCAA game in program history and nearly knocked off Wisconsin-Stout before falling 2-1. Josh Hinterliter scored the first goal in program history. Carmine Taffo and Corey Robertson assisted on the goal. Lucas Bombardier and Tanner Bennett both scored goals in a tough 3-2 loss to Wisconsin-Stevens Point Saturday.
WIAC
Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The Blugolds lost for the first time ever to MSOE, falling 2-0. Cameron Haugenoe made 13 saves in his first start. The Blugolds got their offense going Saturday in a 3-2 overtime win over Lake Forest. Jesse Tredinnick punched in two goals. Jake Hopfner also scored. Haugenoe tallied 27 saves for his first career win for the Blugolds.
Wisconsin-Stevens Point
The fifth-ranked Pointers opened the season in dominating fashion, crushing Aurora 6-1. Tanner Karty was the star, scoring twice in the third period. Colin Raver dished out three assists and Max Milosek rose to the occasion in goal, recording 13 saves. Karty kept up his hot start to the season Saturday in a 3-2 win over Trine. He scored his third goal of the year, while Lucas McElhenie also scored his second goal of the season. Raver scored his first collegiate goal in the win, while Connor Ryckman made 25 saves in his debut.
Wisconsin-River Falls
The Falcons dropped their opener, 4-3, to Concordia. Zach Quinn stopped 30 shots despite the loss. Eddie Matsushima, Joe Drapluk, and David Landau all scored for the Falcons. Wis.-River Falls had no luck bouncing back Saturday as it gave up three goals in the final period. Max Doner scored the Falcons’ lone goal.
Wisconsin-Stout
The Blue Devils ruined Trine’s program debut, skating away with a 2-1 win over the Thunder. Jack Forbort scored the game-winner in the third period. He also had an assist on a goal by Dylan Zins. Stout played Aurora to a 3-3 tie Saturday behind three power-play goals. Conner Valesano finished with a goal and an assist, while Mathias Ahman came up with two assists. Evan Hauser made his first start and notched 19 saves.
Wisconsin-Superior
Bruno Birzitis scored a goal and dished out an assist in a 4-2 loss to Lake Forest Friday. Superior was unable to bounce back Saturday in a 4-2 loss to Concordia. The Yellow Jackets got their only two goals from Daniel Litchke and Ian Ecklund.
