The Sacred Heart University Men's ACHA ACDC B Club Ice Hockey Team, competing in the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC), kicked off its first full season of competition this past weekend with a challenging two-game road trip. After falling to the University of New Hampshire on Friday night, the Pioneers stormed back on Sunday with an electrifying third-period comeback to secure their first win of the year and make an early-season statement.
Friday Night Battle at UNH
On Friday, September 26, Sacred Heart traveled to Durham, New Hampshire, to face off against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats at the Whittemore Center. This game marked a historic milestone as the Pioneers began their first full 22-game schedule after last year's abbreviated six-game inaugural season. For the first time, the team is playoff eligible, bringing heightened stakes and excitement to the year ahead.
The opening period was a fast-paced, physical battle, with both teams delivering heavy body checks. UNH capitalized on their home-ice advantage, striking early and often to build a 3-0 lead by the end of the first period.
Sacred Heart regrouped in the locker room and came out with renewed energy in the second period, elevating both their physical play and relentless hustle. The Pioneers completely controlled the frame, outshooting UNH by an incredible 23-2 margin. Several near-misses, including shots off the post, kept Sacred Heart off the board despite their overwhelming pressure.
In the third period, the Pioneers continued to push, but UNH struck late to seal the game with a fourth goal, handing Sacred Heart a 4-0 loss.
While the final score wasn't what the Pioneers wanted, Head Coach Steve Minichini viewed the game as an important early-season learning experience.
"This game showed us how high the level of competition will be in our first full season," said Minichini. "Once we settled in after the first period, we played evenly with UNH. We just have to be ready to compete from the very first drop of the puck."
Sunday Night Comeback at Stevens Institute of Technology
Two nights later, the Pioneers traveled to Newark, NJ, to take on the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks at the Barnabas Health Hockey House. Determined to bounce back, Sacred Heart came out strong, matching Stevens in physical play and trading scoring chances through the first half of the opening period.
At the 9:22 mark of the first period, with Sacred Heart shorthanded, Alex Kurowski (#12) broke free on a breakaway, scoring the team's first goal of the season, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. The Ducks answered late, striking twice to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The second period saw Sacred Heart dominate play once again, dictating the pace and peppering the Stevens goaltender with high-quality scoring chances. Despite their efforts, the Ducks' netminder repeatedly denied the Pioneers. With just 2:29 remaining in the period, Stevens extended their lead to 3-1. Through two periods, shots heavily favored Sacred Heart 24-11, underscoring their control of the game despite trailing on the scoreboard.
Heading into the locker room for the second intermission, there was no panic on the Sacred Heart bench. The players remained confident, knowing they were outplaying their opponent and that a breakthrough was imminent.
That breakthrough came in spectacular fashion during the third period. Just 1:58 into the final frame, Tim Ouellette (#7) scored to cut the deficit to 3-2 and ignite the comeback. Moments later, Kurowski buried his second goal of the night to tie the game 3-3. Less than 90 seconds later, Joey Letizia (#21) scored to give Sacred Heart their first lead of the night at 4-3.
The offensive surge didn't stop there. At the 9:03 mark, Zach Donahue (#10) scored to extend the lead to 5-3. Stevens briefly halted the momentum by scoring at 6:10 to make it 5-4, but Sacred Heart responded immediately. At 5:40, Kurowski completed his hat trick, pushing the lead to 6-4. Less than a minute later, Ouellette scored his second goal of the night, giving the Pioneers a commanding 7-4 advantage.
As the Ducks scrambled to keep pace, Sacred Heart continued to pour it on. John Annis (#3) scored his first of the season at 3:40, and Chris Hahn (#23) capped off the incredible comeback with a late goal at 1:08 to seal a 9-4 victory.
Letizia's playmaking stood out as well, as he recorded three assists to go along with his pivotal go-ahead goal. Additional assists came from Alex Goffredo (#27), Sam Lescault (#25), Evan Vadola (#6), Ben Bajzath (#20), Ben Hepler (#28), and Dillon Seals (#33), showcasing the team's depth and balanced offensive attack.
A Defining Early-Season Win
The remarkable third-period rally was a defining early-season moment for the program, demonstrating the team's resilience and unity.
"The way our players came together in that third period was incredible," said Minichini. "We never panicked, even when we were down. This was a huge building block for our team and proof that no lead is insurmountable when we play together."
With the weekend split, Sacred Heart's record now stands at 1-1-0. The Pioneers will return to practice this week with renewed focus as they prepare for a highly anticipated matchup against cross-town rival Fairfield University on Sunday night. With momentum on their side, the team is eager to continue building toward a strong showing in their first full season in the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference.
Photo Credit to @filmsreese
