CMU DIII hockey tops Calvin College 3-1
Bodies went sprawling, sticks went flying and punches were thrown in CMU DIII club hockey's 3-1 win against Calvin College on Saturday.
“Our team fought,” said head coach Tyler Cataline. “It’s hockey, that was a physical game. I really liked the way forward Ben Hryciuk stuck up for forward Keegan (Moore).”
How It Happened
Physicality was the name of the game and made itself known early on. Both CMU and Calvin were sacrificing bodies in order to make plays, including two big first period hits from CMU freshman forward Owen Campbell.
“You just have to set the tone early,” Campbell said. “I’m a freshman, it’s not my job to step up and hit but with what (forward) Ben (Hryciuk) did. I look at is something we as a team just had to do”
The physicality turned up a notch when Moore was hit hard into the boards by Calvin's William Wesis. Hryciuk took exception to it and made it known by throwing a punch and grabbing Wesis in a headlock. Both Wesis and Ben were tossed for the rest of the game but set the tone for the rest of the game.
Chippewa captain Brennan Martin opened the scoring with a slap shot from the blue line to give the Chippewas a 1-0 lead entering intermission. Calvin answered back in the second period, sneaking one past goaltender Thomas Rofe while on the powerplay, tying the game 1-1.
The third period was plagued with penalties from each team. Bodies and sticks went flying, but pucks were not flying past the goal line. Senior forward Jacob St. Andre broke up traffic and set up Martin for his second goal of the night for a 2-1 lead. Calvin pulled its goalie in a last-ditch effort, but their plan failed when senior forward Justin McComas sealed the Chippewa win with an empty net goal from his knees to bring the final score to 3-1.
Key Performers
Martin tallied two goals to bring him to five on the season.
Rofe knocked down thirty-six of the thirty-seven shots he faced, coming up big with a quick glove when he needed to.
What’s Next
The Chippewas head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State at 7:30pm on November 19th and then back home at Martin Arena to face them again at 4:00pm on November 20th.
