(WEBSTER GROVES, Mo., Feb. 11) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team won its second straight Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Gold Division Championship with a 4-0 shutout over Iowa State University on Sunday afternoon in Webster Groves, Mo.
 
The Bearcats improve to 23-5 overall on the season with the victory. McKendree earned its second straight MACHA title and championship, after joining the American Collegiate Hockey Assocation (ACHA) D2 ranks last season.
 
McKendree opened the scoring in the first minute of the game when freshman forward Connor Brennan buried the puck past the Iowa State goaltender, with sophomore forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) and freshman defenseman Daniel Nordlander recording assists on the goal. Halfway through the period the Bearcats struck again when sophomore forward Tyler Wilson lit the lamp on a pass from Brennan. Sophomore forward Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Peoria Mustangs NA3HL) capped off the scoring in the period to give McKendree the 3-0 lead over Iowa State. Junior defenseman Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Rama Aces GMHL) and freshman defenseman Cole Dezainde each added assists on Armstrong's goal. At the close of the first period the Bearcats held a 3-0 lead over the Cylclones.
 
McKendree scored the lone goal of the second period on a shot from the blue line by freshman defenseman Daniel Nordlander, which was deflected in front of the net by Naas. At the end of the second period the Bearcats led the Cyclones 4-0, with shots on goal in favor of McKendree at 28-23. Neither team could find the back of the net in the third period, giving McKendree the 4-0 shutout victory over Iowa State.
 
Junior goaltender Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) turned aside all 30 shots on goal in the contest for his third shutout of the season. Best won MACHA Gold Division Most Valuable Player after pinching the 30 save shutout. Brennan notched two points in the contest including the game-winning first goal of the game in the first minute of the game. Naas also added two points in the game, recording one goal and one assist to help lift the Bearcats over the Cyclones.
 

"It was a great win. The boys came out from the drop of the puck, set the tone, and controlled the game against an outstanding Iowa State team," said head coach Garry Henson. "Bestie was amazing, the kid was brickwall in the net. The boys played at a championship level for the full 60 minutes today."

McKendree is back in action for the final two regular season contests, against ACHA D1 opponent Missouri State University on February 16 &17.