Sacred Heart D2 ice hockey was back in action for the first time since returning from break, and they hit the ground running facing two ranked teams in Keene State College and Bridgewater State University. On Friday, the Pioneers traveled to New Hampshire to face the third ranked Owls in a top 10 ranked matchup to open the semester. The Pioneers came out hot in the first twenty minutes with senior Ryan Oechsner converting on a two on one just past the ten minute mark of the period. The Owls would find a way to tie it at one before Oechsner tallied his second of the period 30 seconds before junior Solon Mihas gave the Pioneers a two goal lead heading into the second frame. The second period was a defensive battle with the lone goal coming from freshman Thomas Franzosa three minutes into the period. The Owls gave the Pioneers a run for their money in the final 20 minutes, but not before Oechsner completed the hattrick to put the game out of reach. The Pioneers would go on to win 5-3 behind an outstanding goaltending effort from freshman Matt Dworkowitz, who had 36 saves on 39 shots.

On Saturday the Pioneers returned home to host the Bridgewater State University Bears. The Pioneers had a field day with seven different goal scorers finding the back of the net. Senior Gio Crepaldi and freshman Rob Moliterno got the Pioneers started scoring a minute and a half a part putting them up 2-0 through the first 20 minutes. In the middle frame senior Nick Chiurazzi had the lone Pioneer goal to give them a two goal 3-1 lead heading into the last period of the weekend. The Pioneers exploded in the third with four goals in the first four and a half minutes with tallies from seniors Ryan Oechsner and Chad Schnieder, along with Chiurazzi and Moliterno recording their second goals of the game. Junior Christos Caminis and sophomore Jake Abrami got goals of their own before Schnieder ended the scoring recording his second of the game. The Pioneers would go on to win 10-1 behind a 23 save performance from junior Conor Higgins. The Pioneers are back in action this weekend hosting Montclair State University on Friday, which is also their autism awareness charity game, before hosting the reigning national champions UMass Amherst on Saturday. Come support the boys at Martire Family Arena this weekend!!