FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The #21 ranked Indiana Tech Warriors men's hockey team opened their season with a 4-2 homecoming win at home on Friday night, and a 2-1 win on the road on Saturday, finishing their first two games of the season with a sweep over Davenport University.

In game one at the SportONE/Parkview Icehouse, Indiana Tech brought the spirit to the homecoming game on Friday night, supporting the men's hockey in their opening game of the season. The game started strong for Indiana Tech, with Aidan Dufort opening the scoring early in the first period. Assisted by Joey Mocnik and Malik Ali, Dufort's goal gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Less than a minute later, Mason Bazaluk doubled the lead, finding the back of the net, assisted by freshman duo Ryan Doucette and Jeremy Dunmore at 16:58, giving the Warriors a 2-0 advantage heading into the first intermission. After a scoreless second period, there was no time wasted in the third for the Warriors. Just 25 seconds in, Austin Sawyer took the lead to 3-0, with Michael Dalaly and Brandon Plummer providing the assists. The Warriors continued the trend with captain Malik Ali adding another goal at 9:40, assisted again by Mocnik, making it 4-0. Davenport found a way late in the third period scoring two goals to shrink the Warriors lead by two, but the Warriors held onto the lead, ending the game with an exciting 4-2 win over Davenport. Senior goaltender Braedyn Funke played a total of 60 full minutes, stopping 32 shots in the win. 

In game two, the Warriors travelled to Grand Rapids, Michigan hoping to secure a weekend sweep on the road Saturday night. The game remained scoreless through the entire first period, as both teams showed solid goaltending and defense. Early in the second period, Davenport found the back of the net putting the Warriors down 1-0. The Warriors responded quickly though when just 12 seconds later, Mason Bazaluk tied the game at 1-1, assisted by Nikita Ivasenko and Jeremy Dunmore. Both teams battled back and forth for the rest of the period, but neither side could find the net again before the intermission. It wasn't until nearly two minutes left in the third period that freshman Ian Vannelli broke the tie. Assisted by Connor Funke and Alexander Carrothers, Vannelli's goal gave Indiana Tech a 2-1 lead, which they held onto for the remainder of the game. Gage Reimer would pick up his first win as a Warrior in goal, making 26 saves in his debut.

The Warriors men's hockey team will back at it next weekend, travelling to Dearborn, Michigan to play the University of Michigan-Dearborn on the road Friday, October 11^th at 7pm at the UM-Dearborn Ice Arena and at home on Saturday, October 12^th at 7:30pm at the SportONE/Parkview Icehouse in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Warriors are looking to keep the ball rolling, hoping for their second weekend sweep of the season, after a 2-0-0 start to the 2024-25 season.