Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) ice hockey season is underway and the team is doing well.
Since Nov. 16, the Penmen have gone 5-2, making their overall record 9-3 for the season so far.
“The team’s looking real good this year, everyone is on the same page going after the same goal,” said senior forward Nathan Bergeron. “I’ve never been with a closer group of guys that all want to be successful. It makes the game fun when we have a tight knit group and everyone’s playing well.”
The weekend after Thanksgiving was the Manchester Police Academy League (PAL) Cup and it proved to be unsuccessful for SNHU.
In their first game against Johnson & Wales (J&W), the Penmen were defeated 4-0, snapping a four game win streak, as well as their six game unbeaten streak on home ice. Junior Ryan Slatky made 19 saves in the first, as well as 33 in the following two periods. The Penmen offense, which had scored first in their previous seven games, did prevail in making 22 shots on goal in the game.
The following game the next day was a consolation game against Suffolk University. Suffolk scored three times: once in the first and twice in the second. Senior Michael Busconi scored his first goal of the season and the only goal for SNHU. Suffolk scored two more times before the game ended, leaving SNHU the 5-1 loss. Junior Matthew MacInnis and freshman Kurt Gutting split their time between the goal.
The next three games proved to be more successful for the Penmen.
In their game against division rival Saint Anselm, SNHU scored first, one goal by junior Chris Moquin and Busconi. St. Anselm came back to score two unanswered goals, tying the game.
With less than two minutes remaining in the third, junior Timothy Baylis scored a short-handed goal, earning SNHU the 3-2 win. Slatky earned the win with 47 saves.
Against Franklin Pierce University, both teams went scoreless in the first period. Senior Andrew Smith scored first, three minutes into the second. Senior Jay Sylvia and grad student Joe Collins both scored in the second, as well. Both came on powerplays. Less than a minute into the third, Franklin Pierce scored, the first in the game for the Ravens. They scored on a short-handed goal 10 minutes later. Franklin Pierce pulled their goalie for the man advantage, and Sylvia took advantage and scored again for SNHU, earning a 4-2 win. Slatky, earning the starting goalie title, made 26 saves in the game.
In a rematch against Suffolk, SNHU earned the win this time. Despite being outshot 45-32, the Penmen earned the 5-2 win.
Freshman Jared Goudreau scored twice in the first period. Six minutes into the second, Baylis scored on a powerplay. Suffolk went on to score twice in the period before Baylis scored his second of the game. Goudreau scored in the third period, earning him his first career hat trick. Slatky made 31 saves, which earned him his seventh win this season.
The Penmen will play two more games against Polk University and Lebanon Valley College before heading into winter break. They will resume their season Jan. 5 against Westfield State University at 7:30 p.m.
