Despite a 3–2 loss in their home opener against Stonehill on Oct. 18 at Martire Family Arena, the men’s ice hockey team is off to a promising start to the season.
Source: Contributed by Emily George, ’28
After opening the year with back-to-back road wins in Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) play against Rochester Institute of Technology, the Pioneers returned home looking to build on their early momentum. However, Stonehill capitalized on key scoring chances, handing SHU its first loss of the season in front of a strong home crowd.
“It’s always nice to start with two league wins on the road,” said head coach C.J. Marottolo. “We were disappointed with the result against Stonehill, not taking anything away from them; they deserved to win that game. But we’ve had three really good days of practice since then, and the guys have responded well.”
According to Marottolo, the loss served as an important early-season reminder.
“When we play connected and stick to our structure, we’re a very good hockey team,” said Marottolo. “But in this game, you get what you deserve, and we didn’t play hard enough for long enough. That’s something we’ve addressed.”
The Pioneers’ opening weekend featured the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) debut of junior forward Stephane Huard, who transferred from McGill University. Huard made an immediate impact with three points in his first two games, earning him AHA Forward of the Week honors.
“It felt great, for sure,” said Huard. “Coming into a new team and new environment, I just wanted to make an impact right away. I’m happy with how it went and just want to keep getting better every game.”
Huard, a Quebec native, said the adjustment to a new program and language has been smooth thanks to his teammates.
“We live together, practice together, and we’re really close off the ice,” said Huard. “That chemistry shows up when we play.”
The team’s veteran core continues to provide consistency and leadership. Senior forward Reid Pabich reached a career milestone with his 30th goal as a Pioneer during the Stonehill matchup.
“Honestly, I didn’t even know until after the game,” Pabich said. “The credit goes to my coaches for trusting me and my linemates for putting me in good spots. Hopefully, there’s a lot more to come this season.”
Senior forward Felix Trudeau has also been a steady presence, recording a point in each of the team’s first three contests.
“I think it starts with keeping things simple,” said Trudeau. “Our line’s been working well together. We’re creating chances, and we’ve just got to keep building on that.”
Trudeau and Pabich’s long-standing chemistry dates back to their days at the University of Maine and continues to drive the Pioneers’ offense.
“We’ve known each other for years, and that helps,” said Trudeau. “We’re best friends off the ice, and that carries over to how we play.”
Following the Stonehill loss, Sacred Heart traveled to Columbus for a two-game non-conference series at #14/15 The Ohio State University.
“They’re a highly skilled team,” said Marottolo before the trip. “We have to manage the puck well and make them earn everything they get. It’s a great opportunity for us to measure where we’re at.”
The Pioneers split the weekend, taking home Friday night’s opener with a 2–1 overtime win, with a pair of goals from Trudeau. On Saturday, the Pioneers were scoreless and fell 3–0 to the Buckeyes.
Despite the early setback, the Pioneers remain confident in their potential as they head into a challenging stretch of the schedule.
“We know what kind of team we can be,” said Pabich. “It’s a long season, and we’re just getting started.”
The Pioneers continue their conference play on Oct. 30-31 when they head to the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass., where they’ll face off against the College of the Holy Cross.
Athletic Communications contributed to this article.
