ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's hockey team secured home ice for the opening round of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Harris Cup Playoffs with a 3-0 victory over visiting Lawrence University.
The game was quiet at the start with neither team recording a shot during the first four minutes. Near the eight-minute mark of the period the Vikings took a penalty giving the home team a power-play opportunity. Halfway through the chance, freshman Evan Carroll popped the puck out from behind the net to sophomore Bobby Price who carried it back to the near faceoff circle. Another pass got the puck to junior Chace McCardle who quickly scored from the point.
Lawrence took another penalty in the 12th minute of the period. After winning the opening faceoff of the power-play chance the Thunder began to run their offense passing the puck around the zone. Eventually sophomore Drew Welsch ended up with the puck at the top of the near faceoff circle passing the puck to the slot where junior Thad Marcola forwarded to the far faceoff circle. From their senior Garrett Hallford scored the second goal of the game making the score 2-0.
The final goal of the period, and game came in the 17th minute. Welsch popped the puck off the board near the defensive blueline giving a breakaway chance to the Thunder. Freshman Sam Antenucci and Price passed the puck back and forth as they went up the ice before Price fired the final shot into the back of the net.
Neither team would find the back of the net in the final two periods and the Thunder secured the victory. Freshman Kyle Kozma recorded another shutout in net for the team, finishing with 22 saves.
The Thunder improve to 16-7-1 overall and 11-6-0 in NCHA play. The win secures them home ice in the NCHA playoffs, but they can still finish as high as second in the standings with another win and help from other series in the conference. They will finish off the regular season tomorrow, Saturday, February 11 at 4 p.m.