THIS WEEK
A run of six games in ten days for the University of Mary hockey team opens with a hat trick of games on the road against Liberty University, one of the nation's top ACHA Division II programs. The Marauders, ranked second in the final ACHA D2 poll of last season, visit the 3^rd ranked Flames in Lynchburg, VA, on Oct. 22-24. The opener is set for 7 pm ET / 6 PM CST on Thursday, Oct. 22. The Friday, Oct. 23, contest is slated for 2:15 ET / 1:15 CST. The weekend wraps up on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 7 pm ET / 6 pm CST. 
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 5-0-0-1 after sweeping two games at Iowa State and a single matchup on the road against Waldorf… this is the season-opener for the Flames.
 
FIRST
The Marauders and the Flames will play each for the first time this weekend... UMary has already played two other programs this season for the first time, playing a pair of games at Iowa State and a single contest at Waldorf. The Marauders won all three of those meetings… UMary will also play two other programs for the first time this season: the University of Cincinnati and the University of Minnesota Crookston, a first-year program.
 
RANKED
The University of Mary will play 20 games against teams ranked nationally in the final ACHA D2 and D1 polls from last season. The Marauders were ranked second in the final 2019-20 poll and spent several weeks atop the ratings. UMary's ranked foes are: #3 Liberty (three games), #7 Florida Gulf Coast (two games), #13 Cincinnati (two games), #12 Providence (four games), and #17 Montana State (two games). The Marauders ranked ACHA Division I foes are #5 Minot State (four games) and #12 University of Jamestown (three games)… Florida Gulf Coast and Minot State are also the defending national champions of their respective divisions.
 
ROAD SHOW
The Marauders are in the midst of playing six straight road games. UMary will also have a stretch of six consecutive road games in the spring.
 
HOT
The Marauders are undefeated through their first six games of the season, winning five and earning a draw against ACHA D1 Jamestown. A hot start for UMary is not unusual. The Marauders opened their first season in 2018-19 with 15 straight wins. Last year they rolled off 14 consecutive wins to start the season.
 
NO FANS ALLOWED AT UPCOMING MARAUDERS HOME GAMES
Fans will not be allowed at upcoming Marauders home hockey games due to a change in the local North Dakota Smart Restart risk level.
 
FREE LIVE STREAMS AVAILABLE FOR HOME GAMES
Fans unable to watch home UMary hockey games in person are encouraged to watch Marauders home games live online and free of charge at www.nsicnetwork.com/goumary.
 
SUCCESS
In just three short seasons as a program, Marauders head coach Dan Huntley has led the UMary to a record of 83-14-3-3 overall. The Marauders finished 39-5-1-2 in their inaugural season of 2018-19 and 39-9-2-0 in 2019-20. UMary is 5-0-0-1 in 2020-21.
 
EVEN STEVEN
Seth Cushing and Alex Flicek are tied for the team lead in goals with seven apiece through the first six games. The two led UMary last season when Cushing found the net 37 times to 34 for Flicek.
 
FLICEK FLYING
All-American Alex Flicek is off to an outstanding start. Through six games he leads the team in points (13), is tied for the team lead in goals (7) and ranks second in assists (6). The Bismarck, ND, native earned 2019-20 ACHA D2 All-American honors after tallying 34 goals and posting 33 assists for a team-high 67 points. He scored nine game-winning goals, added two on power plays and one shorthanded. In 102 career games, Flicek has 77 goals, 59 assists and 136 points with 18 game-winning goals.
 
GOALS GALORE
In his second season with the Marauders, Seth Cushing continues to pile up the goals. Through six games he has seven goals and three assists for nine points. Twice he has posted the game-winning goal. In 55 career games Cushing has lit the lamp 44 times and has delivered 23 assists. 
 
RUSH TIME
Marshall Tschida is incredibly adept at both stopping the opponent's offensive rush and leading the Marauders charge towards the opposing goal. The defenseman owns a team-high seven assists this season. He has also added two goals. For his career the third-year player has generated 102 points (28 goals and 74 assists) in 103 games. His play on both ends the rink has led UMary to outscore the opposition 484-180 in three seasons, including a 28-12 mark this year.
 
OLD FACES
The Marauders return 15 players from last season… Nine skaters are original members of the program entering their third season at UMary (Drew Lenertz, Alexander Horner, Marshall Tschida, Alex Flicek, Cyril Nagurski, Andrew Heckaman, Andrew Huber, Zach Garrett, Kyler Moore)… Six players are in their second year with the Marauders (Seth Cushing, Cody Shepard, Noah Scordato, Mathew Janke, Johnny Witzke, Kyle Hayden)… The Marauders have ten players in their first season with UMary.
 
CAPTAIN
Team captain Zach Garrett entered the 2020-21 season second all-time in points at UMary with 113. Able to both find the net and teammates, Garrett had 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points last season after contributing 54 points (19 goals and 35 assists) in 2018-19. This year he owns one gal and three assists. 
 
GIVE AND GO
Forward Kyler Moore had a huge season last year, finishing third on the squad in points with 58 (22 goals and 36 assists). He is fourth this season in points with six (one goal, five assists).
 
POWER PLAYER
Drew Lenertz directs a potent power play for the Marauders. The third-year defenseman has 65 career points in 103 games. Six of his goals have come on the power play, along with a program-record 28 assists. He has one goal (on a power play) and three assists (one on a power play) this season. 
 
UPCOMING
After returning from playing three games at Liberty, the Marauders play three home games during Halloween week. UMary hosts Williston State College on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Iowa State University then comes to town on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31. Face off is 7 pm from the Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink.
 
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