BISMARCK, ND – The title defense for the University of Mary hockey team starts this weekend with a rematch of the 2021 American Collegiate Hockey Association championship game when the Marauders visit Iowa State University in a pair of games Oct. 1-2 in Ames, IA.
In a nail-biter that wasn't decided until the closing seconds, UMary defeated Iowa State 2-0 in the final ACHA Division II game of the year in front of a sold-out Starion Sports Complex Schwan Cadillac Rink crowd, home ice for the Marauders. The championship came in just the third year of the program's existence and in the first season UMary could compete for a title. ACHA rules excluded first-year programs from postseason play and the pandemic cancelled the 2020 tournament.
The puck drops at 9:45 pm on Friday, Oct. 1, and at 5:15 pm on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Additionally the Marauders will make a stop in Highland Park, MN, on the way home to face the University of St. Thomas on Sunday, Oct. 3.
The Marauders return all but four players off last year's squad, including their top six scorers, top three defensive pairings and all their goaltending, not to mention 2-time ACHA Coach of the Year Dan Huntley, ACHA Player of the Year
Zach Garrett, and All-Americans
Johnny Witzke and
Kyle Hayden. Additionally Hayden was the national tournament most valuable player after allowing just one goal in four games. And don't forget about all-team leading scorer
Alex Flicek, a 2020 All-American, is back for his fourth season.
Huntley has created a juggernaut. Last season the Marauders finished 38-4-1-6 (W-L-OTL-T) and have a three-year record of 116-18-4-8. Additionally UMary has dominated its D2 brethren 110-7-1-5.
Garrett led a potent offense that outscored the opposition 228-86 in 49 games. Garrett posted a team-best 64 points and 45 assists with 19 goals, including three game-winners.
Flicek showed great balance with 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points, four times scoring the game-winner.
Seth Cushing terrorized opponent goaltenders for a team-best 38 goals, including nine game-winning goals for UMary.
Kyler Moore centers the top line for the Marauders and posted 15 goals and added 28 assists. Joining Moore and Cushing on the #1 line is newcomer
Isaiah Thomas.
Wingers Garrett and Flicek will be centered on the second line by second year player
Jaren Hugelen, who posted 17 goals and 18 assists last year.
Tanner Eskro, who scored the game-winning goal in the championship game, skates on the third line with
Derek Dropik and
Riley Scanlon.
Since day one
Marshall Tschida and
Drew Lenertz have controlled the blue line for the Marauders. The defensive pairing has skated side-by-side in all 146 games played in program history. A two-way defensemen, Tschida is third all-time in points at UMary with 142 (37g, 105a). Lenertz also packs a punch, scoring 15 goals and adding 69 assists. The pair ranks 1-2 in power play assists.
Witzke and
Andrew Heckaman – another original stalwart for the Marauders – are UMary's second defensive pairing. Witzke is another offensive dynamo. The Bismarck, ND, native led the squad in plus-minus at +50 in 46 games. He had 16 goals and 40 assists for 56 points.
Hayden and
Conan Hayton form a tremendous duo in net for UMary. Hayden was 20-2-1-5 last year with seven shutouts a 1.75 goals and a 93.5 save percentage. Hayton had two shutouts, a record of 18-2-0-1, a goals against average of 1.81 and a 93.5 save percentage.
HOMECOMING
The Marauders open their home schedule during UMary's homecoming weekend and will celebrate their championship. The home opener is Saturday, October 9, against the University of Minnesota. The unveiling of the 2021 ACHA Men's Division II Championship banner is set for 6:50 pm and the puck drops at 7 pm. The Marauders and the Gophers then meet again on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 2 pm.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
- Alex Flicek has 99 goals. The all-time UMary scoring leader is one goal from becoming the first Marauders player to reach 100 goals.
- Kyle Hayden is tied with fellow All-American Lance Knudson for career wins with 38
- Kyle Hayden is tied with fellow All-American Lance Knudson for career shutouts with 9
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