On Friday Feb. 6, Beloit College Men’s Hockey faced their first of two matches against UW-Steven’s Point, and my friends and I faced going to our first ever college hockey game.
The game began slowly, with no goals scored until the second period. This was not for lack of effort however, as both teams were giving it their all from the moment the game began. The playing was pretty aggressive, with multiple scuffles happening within the first few minutes of play.
This culminated in a proper multi-player fight a little later in the game that began when Pointers player Gabe Randel and Bucs player George Haigley’27 evolved into a bigger conflict. In the end, Jack Baird’29 from Beloit and Nico Chmelevski from Steven’s Point were given penalties for roughing, with the announcer gleefully exclaiming “penalties for both teams!!!”
Off the ice, my friends were very entertained by how silly players look when falling, with Lili Edwards’26 remarking “Steven’s Point really got on their knees!”
The Bucs managed to gain some momentum with a Power Play at 07:29 in the 2nd period, but they were unable to score during the 2:00 long duration. Shortly after that, Steven’s Point scored the first goal of the game at 10:25 courtesy of Gabe Randel with an assist from Camden Markham and Nico Chmelevski.
This goal marked the beginning of the end for the Bucs, who were unable to overcome the momentum gained by Steven’s Point following their first goal. The Pointers went on to score two more goals in the 3rd period, the first being scored by Nico Chmelevski at 04:04 and the second by Alec Hamandy at 09:15.
From our place near the ice, the 3rd period resulted in small joys such as the newly released Noah Kahan song being played during a timeout, and a series of falls right near where we were sitting that led to Lili exclaiming “Ass in face!!”
The game ended with a score of 0-3 and a Steven’s Point win. Despite this, it was clear that the Bucs put up a strong fight! I look forward to supporting them at future games, and you should too!!!!
Beloit College Men’s Hockey took the ice Saturday night in their second match-up with UW Stevens Point.
The Buccaneers started off strong after losing to Stevens Point the night before, 0-3, matching energy and strength of the Pointers. Although caught in a defensive battle for most of the first period, Ben Stewart’27, assisted by Andronique Stepanian’27, was able to find the back of the net heading into the first intermission.
Back on the ice, the Pointers had decisive movements, with forward Turner Richards quickly putting the puck in the Bucs net. Beloit quickly responded less than two minutes later, with Stewart finding the net again, and Landon Adams’29 doing the same shortly after, scoring his first goal as a Buc. Although the Bucs started the period strong, as time wore on, fatigue found Beloit. With eight minutes left in the period, the Pointers scored another. Gaining their confidence back, and with a penalty from Nik Johnson’28, Stevens Point’s Cody Pisarczyk scored on a power play. Richards scored again to close out the second period, leaving the Bucs 3-4 with a comeback to make.
Almost halfway into the third, the Pointers were able to score again, with the Buccaneers losing their momentum. Although there were moments of offensive play, the Bucs were focused on defense. With less than a minute still left in the game, Coach Shane Buckley pulled Andrew Yocum’27 from the net after an impressive performance, making 45 saves, with 21 of those in the second. Unfortunately, this was not in the Bucs favor, allowing an empty net goal for Stevens Point to close out the game.
Support Men’s Hockey in their last two home games against UW-River Falls this Friday and Saturday in the Woodman’s Center at 7 p.m.!
Featured image: Kayla Wolff
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