And now we are done for the first half of the season, but not without yet more exciting hockey headed into the semester break. Time to rest, refresh, enjoy the holiday season and time away from the rink before ramping it up again in the second half to start the New Year.
Here is a look at how the slate of game action finished this weekend:
No. 1 stays unblemished
No. 1 ranked Hobart closed out the first half with a home game against UCHC opponent Manhattanville and cruised to a comfortable 8-1 win over the Valiants. Sophomore Arvega Hovsepyan led the Statesmen attack recording his first ever hat trick as the home team blew open a 2-1 game with six unanswered goals in the final 27 minutes of the contest starting with Hovespyan’s first of the contest at the 12:41 mark of the second period. Fifteen players produced points while seven, had multiple point games for the Statesmen. Goaltenders Damon Beaver and Connor Shibley combined on the win with 12 saves as Hobart closed out the first half with a perfect 11-0-0 record.
No. 2 Adrian rocks the house with offense
No, 2 Adrian also reached the double-figure win mark before the break as the Bulldogs routed Hiram in a two-game series by 10-0 and 8-0 scores. On Friday, Adrain took advantage of three-point games from Bradley Somers, Anthony Mollica, and Frank Tafelski as the Bulldogs scored four goals in each of the first and third periods to rout the Terriers. Shots favored the home team by a lopsided 75-13 advantage.
On Saturday, the shots were lopsided again in favor of Adrain with a 69-8 margin. Somers scored two goals while Nathaniel Bannister paced the offense with three assists in the 8-0 shutout win. Adrian finishes the first half at 10-2-0.
Unranked with a dozen wins
While Hobart is unbeaten at 11-0-0, the nation’s leading team in wins at the break is Independent, salve Regina who stands at 12-1-0 following weekend road wins against Southern Maine and No. 13 ranked Bowdoin.
On Friday, The Seahawks took a 2-0 lead into the final period and scored a pair of goals in just over a minute heading towards the end of regulation for a 4-0 shutout win over the Huskies. Selby Warren made 21 saves to earn the shutout win.
Saturday afternoon in Brunswick, Maine, the visitors fell behind 2-0 in the first period before scoring three unanswered goals in the second period from Karsten Kruska, Aidan Connolly, and a power play goal from Cade DeStefani for a 3-2 lead entering the third period. Matthew Brunton added an insurance goal early in the third period for the 4-2 final score. Warren was again solid in goal with 20 saves as Salve Regina closed the first half with a 6-0-0 record on the road or in neutral site contests.
WIAC wackiness in the final weekend
While most conferences were playing non-conference opponents, the WIAC was making the conference race interesting with a lot of head-to-head action on the final weekend.
The Blugolds from Eau Claire moved to the top of the standings with a weekend sweep of Wisconsin – Stevens Point to close out their first half schedule. On Friday, the BluGolds took advantage of two goals each from Kade Peterson and Nolan Grier to skate away from the Pointers in a 6-3 road win.
Back home on Saturday, UWEC completed the weekend sweep with a hard-fought 3-2 win that saw the BluGolds rally from a one-goal deficit with a three goal third period before hanging on to a one-goal win. Goaltender Max Gutjahr made 23 saves to earn the win that moved UWEC to 5-1-0 in WIAC play.
Wisconsin – Stout sits just one point behind Eau Claire in the standings following a weekend where the Blue Devils extended their win streak to three games with a sweep over River Falls.
On Friday, Nicholas Stevens paced the offense with a goal and an assist as the visiting Blue Devils raced to a 3-0 advantage on the way to a 4-1 road win.
On Saturday, River Falls quieted the home crowd with a goal by Jonny Meiers in the first eighteen seconds of the game, but Stout rallied back for a 2-1 lead after forty minutes of play. The visitors tied the game on a goal by Ben Portner just passed the halfway mark of the third period setting up a dramatic finish. Hayden Stocks netted the game-winner for Stout with less than one minute in regulation for the 3-2 win and weekend sweep.
Falcons flying high to close out first half
After knocking off MASCAC rival Anna Maria last Saturday, Fitchburg State extended their win streak to six games with a thrilling overtime victory on the road against New England College on Tuesday night. Devin Niles scored a pair of goals for the Falcons in the contest, but Fitchburg State needed some magic in overtime from Niklas Millhorn who scored an unassisted goal for the bonus time win. Goaltender Frederick Soderberg was outstanding making 42 saves as Fitchburg State finished at 7-4-0 in the first half after a 1-4-0 start to the season.
USCHO Game Pucks
Frederick Soderberg – Fitchburg State – stopped 42 of 45 shots as the Falcons were outshot by New England College but stole a 4-3 overtime win against the Pilgrims on Tuesday night.
Joona Juntunen – St. Mary’s – paced the offense for the Cardinals with two goals and an assist in a 4-1 non-conference victory over Dubuque on Tuesday night.
Arvega Hovsepyan – Hobart – the sophomore scored his first collegiate hat trick as the Statesmen closed out the first half with an 8-1 win over Manhattanville to move to 11-0-0.
It certainly has been a dynamic first half of the schedule and to the delight of fans everywhere, there are battles upcoming for league supremacy that go deep into the standings. For those celebrating Hanukkah, “Chag Oreem Samayach” or Happy Festival of Lights! To all, enjoy the best of the holiday season, no matter which holiday you celebrate. See you in the New Year!