On Friday, Oct. 11, the Sacred Heart University men’s ice hockey team began their season with a two-game series against Colgate University. The games were in Hamilton, New York, and took place at the Class of 1965 Arena.
The Pioneers lost their season opener 6-5 in overtime but won their second game in a shootout after finishing in a 3-3 tie. Graduate student Matthew Guerra scored the winning goal in the shootout and had his first career goal as a Pioneer in the second period.
“I am really proud of their effort so far,” said head coach CJ Marottolo. “I think we have a team that can compete against anybody in the country.”
Juniors John Driscoll and Felix Trudeau also each scored a goal in the tie. The goal was Driscoll’s first as a Pioneer, and Trudeau finished the weekend with three total goals and was named Atlantic Hockey America Forward of the Week.
This is the second consecutive year that Sacred Heart will be playing at the Martire Family Arena for a full season. Last season, the Pioneers ended with an overall record of 14-19-3.
One difference is that there are ten first year players and eight transfers on the team this season. During the previous season, there were eight transfers but only five first year players.
“I think our leadership group with Hunter Sansbury and John Jaworski have done an unbelievable job with the new and returning guys,” said Marottolo. “They are respected not just within the hockey community but the Sacred Heart community.”
After their first series against Colgate, Sacred Heart took on University of Massachusetts the following weekend for two games. The first game started on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts.
The Pioneers started the series with a 4-3 win. According to BVM Sports, this was a significant upset over UMass, who was nationally ranked 15 at the time.
“We found a way on the road, which is not easy to do in college athletics,” said Marottolo. “It gives our guys a belief that we can go toe-to-toe with the best in the country.”
Junior Reid Pabich and first years Charles Tardif and Paul Minnehan each contributed with goals of their own in the win. All three goals scored were the players’ first as Pioneers.
“It was pretty cool,” said Pabich. “Coming out hot and winning was definitely big.”
Junior defender Mikey Adamson scored the deciding goal against his former team, which led the Pioneers to their first official win of the season.
According to the league office, Adamson is tied for the team lead with five points, two goals and three assists, through the first four games. He became the second Pioneer in two weeks to be given Atlantic Hockey America honors as he was named Atlantic Hockey America Defenseman of the Week.
“It is obviously special,” said Adamson. “None of this could be accomplished without my teammates and coaches.”
On Saturday, Sacred Heart had their home opener against UMass at 7 p.m. The Pioneers lost 6-1, and the lone goal came from Adamson, who had his second goal in as many days.
The Pioneers began conference play in the Atlantic Hockey America with a two-game series against Holy Cross at the Martire Family Arena. The first game was on Friday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
The Pioneers lost the first game 2-1 in overtime. Sansbury scored in the first period for his first goal of the season.
Sacred Heart will return to the Martire Family Arena to play Bentley on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.