Opening weekend of the hockey season is much like Christmas in that it seems like it takes forever to get here.  Unlike that joyous holiday though, we’ll be unwrapping these gifts for the next seven months!  So here we go with our first College Hockey Roundup…

Several clubs launched their 2017-18 campaigns on Friday, including the first ever hockey game in Trine University history.  The Thunder (ACHA D2) made the loudest bang, striking down the Bowling Green Falcons in a 10-0 rout.  Purdue (AHCA D3) rolled over Bradley, sweeping the visiting Braves in the weekend series.  The Hoosiers (ACHA D2) and Cardinals continued their border war, splitting a pair with each winning at home. 

Eastern Kentucky (ACHA D3) opened its first season in the ICHC by edging Ole Miss 7-6 in the opener but falling 6-3 in the second game, while the Fighting Irish (ACHA D3) bounced back from a season opening loss to nip Marquette 2-1 in the closer.  Indiana Tech (ACHA D3) tuned up for its season with an 8-5 comeback victory over the Detroit Fighting Irish (USPHL).

Trine 10, Bowling Green 0

Niccolo Mombelli scored the first goal in Thunder history less than two minutes into their first ever game, and that proved to be the game winner as all three netminders combined to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard.  Joe Longo set the tone in the opening period, while Aaron Brinkman and Adam Conkling were determined not to have the dubious honor of surrendering the first goal.

Sean Schirripa got the assist on that first goal and would go on to score two of his own, racking up four points on the night while the Thunder rolled to a 5-0 lead at the first intermission.  Not to be outdone, Mombelli would net another goal in the third to go with two assists for a four-point night of his own.  Ellis Freatman would pick up three points (1 G, 2 A) in the debut, while twelve players in all would find their way onto the score sheet.

Trine opens their home schedule on Friday (9/22) against the Akron Zips at the Thunder Ice Arena.  Puck drops at 7pm.

Indiana 7, Louisville 6

Louisville 6, Indiana 5

To say that the Hoosiers and Cardinals dislike each other would be like saying the Hatfields and McCoys had a minor disagreement.  Fans would see a total of 25 players head to the penalty box in a seesaw battle in Friday’s season opener.  IU fell behind on several occasions but continued to bounce back before taking a 5-4 lead with 3:46 left in the second period.  The Hoosiers would add two more in final frame, including Armand Uomoleale’s third goal of the night.  They would need every one of them, as Louisville would whittle away at the lead and pull within one with 32 ticks left on clock.  Despite being shorthanded, the Crimson & Cream would hold the zone and pull out the 7-6 victory.

Saturday’s tilt south of the border would see more of the same, as a dozen from each team would spend time in the sin bin.  This time, the Hoosiers would strike first with Christian Schurmann-Colicchio’s first goal of the season less than two minutes into the frame.  Schurmann-Colicchio would hit pay dirt again a few minutes later, only to be outdone by Yanni Soukas’ hat trick.  Uomoleale would pull the Hoosiers even in the middle frame, but UL’s Nathan Newport would sandwich the second intermission to give the Cards a 5-3 lead.  Uomoleale’s second of the night would close the gap to one, but the Cardinals would counter and hold on to win despite AJ Magro’s late tally.

The Hoosiers will spend the rest of September on the road, starting with a pair against the Bearcats in Cincinnati on Friday/Saturday.

Notre Dame 2, Marquette 5

Notre Dame 2, Marquette 1

*box scores not available

The Fighting Irish would score a pair of goals in each game of their matchup with the visiting Marquette Warriors.  Two would prove to be too few in Friday’s skirmish as the Warriors would tally five of their own.  The Irish would surrender three goals in the first period and another in the second before they would break through with one of their own at the 15:26 mark.  Marquette would restore their four goal lead in the third, and hold on to win despite a late Irish score.

Game 2 would see the Irish defense rise to the challenge.  ND’s Tom Hartle would open the scoring in the first, and Ryan Cywynski’s power play goal would double the Irish lead going into the final period.  The Warriors would halve the lead with 11:06 remaining but still come up short at the final horn.  Goaltender Chuck Rioux would pick up the win in his first start with the club.

Notre Dame hits the road to square off against the Aurora Spartans next weekend before returning home to host the Indiana Hoosiers on 9/29.

Purdue 5, Bradley 3

Purdue 7, Bradley 3

The Boilermakers got off to a hot start, sweeping the weekend series against the Bradley Braves.  After falling behind in Friday’s opening frame, Purdue’s John Vanvliet would tally the first goal of the season for the home team to knot the game at 1-1.  The Braves would answer back eight seconds later to regain the lead, but it was nearly all Boilermakers from that point on.  Patrick Lee would net two goals in the second, while Vanvliet would add another goal and two assists for a four-point period.  Purdue would give up a goal in the last minute of the third but still come away with a 5-3 win.

Saturday would see the Boilermakers score three goals within the first 3:20 of the second after a scoreless first period.  Dominick Cappadona’s tally at 14:25 in the second would ultimately prove to be the game winner, as Purdue found a way to thwart every Braves rally.  Late goals by Andy Pietraniec (2) and Marcus Oleson would snuff any chance at a Bradley comeback.

Purdue is idle until October 6/7 when they will host Hope College at the Fuel Tank in Fishers.

Indiana Tech 8, Detroit (USPHL) 5

*box score not available

The Warriors played host to the USPHL’s Detroit Fighting Irish on Friday as a tune up for the upcoming ACHA season.  The Irish would prove to be a handful though, taking a 1-0 into the first break and answering every Tech run to hold a 4-3 lead at the second intermission.  Goals by Anthony Passarelli, Blake Anderson, and Ryan Krolikowski would keep the Warriors close, and a tally by Jacob Fallis would tie the game at four a piece with twelve minutes to play.

Nick Janiszewski brought the Warriors even again after falling behind 5-4, and Josh Brown’s tally gave Tech their first lead of the game.  Tech would add a couple in the remaining minutes to dash Detroit’s hopes of a comeback.

Indiana Tech will close out September with a home & home series against Saginaw Valley State (9/29 @ Saginaw; 9/30 @ Fort Wayne)

E. Kentucky 7, Ole Miss 6 (OT)

E. Kentucky 3, Ole Miss 6

*box score not available

ICHC newcomer Eastern Kentucky opened their season on the road at Ole Miss, spoiling the Rebels home opener with a 7-6 victory.  Freshman Michael Poe took the feed from Gabe Bahn the put the Colonels on the board first at 15:16 in the opening period.  Ole Miss would score two in the next three minutes to take a 2-1 lead to the locker room.  The Rebels would add another early in the second before EKU would come storming back with goals from Cam Angus and Ryan Gustafson.  The teams would open the final frame locked at 3-3, but Gabe Bahn would give the Colonels their first lead of the game just two minutes in.  Ole Miss would score the next three to take a 6-4 lead, but Andrew Hershman and Timothy Muhsman would tie things up with a couple minutes to spare.  Corey Jenks would score the game winner in OT to complete the comeback, giving freshman goaltender John Johnson the win in his debut.

The Colonels wouldn’t be so fortunate in the follow up game.  Neither team was able to put the puck in the net in the first period, but Ole Miss would strike first just after the four-minute mark.  Jenks pulled the Colonels even but the Rebels proved to be too much this time around, scoring four more in the middle frame.  The lead would be stretched to five with just under ten minutes to play in the game, but Angus and Muhsman would cut the lead to three to keep the crowd from leaving early.  That would be the last of the scoring though, as the Rebels would hang on to earn the split.

Eastern Kentucky will play their first ICHC league game on October 1 as they travel to Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers.