FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's hockey team opened the new year with a two-game series against Cleary University, as the Warriors moved back into conference action after five straight non-league matches to close out 2023. Tech would look to get back to winning ways after dropping all five of those games.
In game one on Friday night, Tech would go on the road to battle the Cougars, where they would be stunned, falling 2-1 in a huge upset in favor of Cleary. After a scoreless first period, the Warriors would score in the second period after
Aidan Dufort (unassisted) broke the deadlock. Tech would take a 1-0 lead into the third where things would start to unravel. A Warrior penalty with under eight minutes to play would allow the Cougars to capitalize with an equalizer at the 6:31 mark. Another Warrior penalty with less than two minutes to play would open the door for Cleary to find a winner. With just 34 seconds remaining in the game, the Cougars did just that, finding the back of the net and stealing one from the first place Warriors.
Braedyn Funke made eleven saves in goal for the Warriors.
In game two on Saturday, the Warriors would get their revenge with a huge 8-1 blowout victory over the Cougars. The game got off to another slow start, but the Warriors would take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission as
Luke Anderson scored on the powerplay with 13 seconds to go in the first period, assisted by
Avery Smith and
Malik Ali. The second period would be all Tech as the Orange & Black would score three more goals to take a 4-0 lead to the third. Scoring for Tech in the period was
TJ Dougan, Smith, and Ali, while Anderon,
Wil Campbell, and
Colton Nikiforuk would pick up assists. Cleary would score early in the third to cut the lead to three, but the Warriors would continue to pour it on.
Michael Dalaly would score an unassisted shorthanded goal to put the Warrior lead back at four. Then
Joey Mocnik would score twice just 1:48 apart on assists from
Isaiah Gagerman (2), Nikiforuk, and
Alex Arnold. Gagerman would add Tech's eighth goal just 42 seconds after Mocnik's two goals to finish off the Cougars. Nikiforuk and Arnold would also pick up assists on Gagerman's goal.
Ty Barnhill picked up the win in goal for the Orange & Black and made 15 saves.
Indiana Tech moves to 14-10-0 on the season and 11-3-0 in WHAC play, as they sit just one point ahead of Michigan-Dearborn for first place in the WHAC standings. The Warriors will host Aquinas on Friday, January 12
th at 7:30pm before hitting the road to play the Saints in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, January 13
th at 7:30pm in their next series.
- TECH -
