O'FALLON, Ill -- The McKendree University D1 Men's Hockey team fell in defeat to the Maryville University Saints 8-4 in their season opener on Wednesday at McKendree Metro RecPlex. Goaltender
Kayne Pasquet (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Casper Bobcats) got the loss for the Bearcats.
In a rivalry game, there were plenty of fireworks on the ice as well under the penalty sheet. Both teams combined for over 50 penalty minutes in the game. Sophomore
Karsten Portell (Haslet, Texas, Dallas Snipers) got a game misconduct near the end of the first period. A couple of players from both teams received 10 minute misconduct penalties.
The game started off with the Bearcats grabbing the 1-0 lead 100 seconds into the contest off of the stick of
Cory Robinson (St. Charles, MO, St. Louis Jr.). From that point on however, Maryville dictated the pace of play. At 12:20 of the first period, the Saints finally broke through goalie
Kayne Pasquet to make it a 1-1 game, from the effort of Lucas Adams. It was the first of two goals for Adams in this game tonight. Just under 4 minutes later, the Saints got the lead 2-1 off a shot from Timon Prexler. The first period ended by that score, but it came at a cost to the Bearcats as Portell received a minor penalty and a major penalty on the same play with under a minute to go in the period. The major penalty also led to a game misconduct.
In the second period, Maryville capitalized on Portell's departure on the ensuing power play, as Anthony Stavrou beat Pasquet to make it 3-1. From there it was an onslaught by the Saints as four more unanswered goals were scored by the period's end. As a result, Pasquet was replaced by
Brady Weiss (Edmonton, Alberta, Dallas Snipers) in goal. The Bearcats only amassed 5 shots total in the second period.
At the start of the third period, the Bearcats chipped away at the deficit, as
Brad Richardson (Ottawa, Ontario, Dallas Snipers) scored to make it 7-2. The Saints answered right back however as Jake Chartier beat Weiss to make it 8-2. Richardson & Robinson would each tack on another goal a piece for the Bearcats to make it 8-3 then 8-4 in the latter stages of the third period.
McKendree head coach
Garry Henson was a little critical of the outcome of the game, but walked away from it with a positive outlook.
"We started out good with that first goal, but then things started to get sloppy and fell apart with us and we became undisciplined," said Henson. "You can't get any rhythm or flow when that happens. I challenged the team in between the second and third period to play together, play a more connected game, and we won that third period 3-1."
The Bearcats next games comes against Midland University in a weekend series on Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2 in Fremont, Neb. Both games start at 7 p.m. The Bearcats will be home again on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. for a weekend series against Illinois State University.
NOTES:
McKendree:
Cory Robinson: 2 goals; 1 assist; 3 points.
Brad Richardson: 2 goals; 2 points.
Trevor Roehrig: 1 assist; 1 point.
Noah Scrum: 1 assist; 1 point.
Daniel Nordlander: 1 assist; 1 point.
Lucas Brown: 1 assist; 1 point.
Nikita Eruslanov: 1 assist; 1 point.
Maryville:
Lucas Adams: 2 goals, 1 assist; 3 points.
Jared Viggers: 1 assist; 1 point.
Timon Prexler: 1 goal; 1 point.
Anthony Stavrou: 2 goals; 2 points.
Trevor Henson: 2 assists; 2 points.
Jack Harrison: 3 assists; 3 points.
Brad Boudreau: 1 assist; 1 point.
Christian Alvegran; 1 assist; 1 point.
Garrett Hunter: 1 goal; 1 point.
Damian Caringi: 1 assist; 1 point.
Jake Hanebrink: 1 goal; 1 point.
Joshua Tak: 1 assist; 1 point.
Shots were 50-23 in favor of Maryville.
