Each week, USCHO.com will pick the top 10 moments from the past weekend in our brand-new Monday 10 feature.
1 – Marquee matchup
The Bob Motzko era at Minnesota got off to a successful start with the Gophers chalking up a win and a tie against Number One and defending national champions Minnesota Duluth. The teams skated to a 1-1 draw on Saturday with Minnesota taking the series with a 7-4 victory on Sunday.
Brannon McManus scored the first two goals for the Gophers on Sunday, helping to stake them to a 3-0 lead after the first period. The Bulldogs outshot the Gophers 46-22 with Minnesota goaltender Mat Robson stopping 42 shots for the win.
It was the first win by the Gophers against the Bulldogs in ten attempts dating back to 2014.
2 – Upset alert
The opening night of the 2018-19 season saw the season’s first upset. Vermont defeated host and fourth-ranked Michigan 4-1 thanks to a 48 save performance by Catamount goaltender Stefanos Lekkas.
“There was some ugly defensive hockey at times for both teams, but Stef was the difference tonight,” said Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon after the game. “Let’s be honest. Michigan put a big push on. We don’t normally give that many (shots) up. Michigan’s a heck of a team and certainly that’s a big win for us.”
3 – No surprise
The other action on opening weekend involving a ranked team went off as predicted with sixth-ranked Providence defeating American International 3-1. Scott Conway had a goal and an assist for the Friars, who scored all three goals within a three minute span late in the first period.
4 – Border war
The majority of games played this past weekend were exhibition contests against Canadian opponents. NCAA schools went 12-3 against foreign opposition on Saturday and 10-0-1 on Sunday. The lone tie was a 2-2 draw between Alberta and Air Force. After the game, Falcons coach Frank Serratore had high praise for senior goaltender Billy Christopoulos.
“We weren’t very tough to play against,” he said. “We need more competitive snarl in our game. We probably didn’t deserve to win the game. Billy had to make a lot more difficult saves than their goalie did. We got a tie because we have a great goalie.”
5 – Double oh
Arizona State got off to a perfect start with a pair of shutout wins over visiting Alaska. Sun Devils goaltender Joey Daccord stoped all 36 shots he faced in 5-0 and 3-0 victories.
6 – Sweeps are sweet
Miami also started the season off with a sweep, besting visiting Alabama Huntsville 5-1 and 4-0. Karch Bachman had a pair of goals and an assist for the RedHawks while Miami goaltenders Ryan Larkin and Jordan Uhelski each picked up wins. Uhelski squared off against his former team — he transferred from Huntsville to Miami in the offseason.
7 – Sweeps are sweet (part two)
Another opening weekend sweep was recorded by Lake Superior State over host Merrimack in a pair of one-goal contests. The Lakers won Saturday’s 5-4 contest on a penalty shot by Anthony Nellis with 4:06 left in the contest.
On Sunday, Max Humitz’s second period goal stood up in a 1-0 win. Mareks Mitens stopped all 31 shots for the shutout.
8 – A different story
Colorado College opened its season with a 10-2 thumping of Alaska Anchorage on Saturday, but Sunday saw the Seawolves turn the tables with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Tigers.
Anchorage scored two third period goals for the victory, with Tomi Hiekkavirta’s game-winning tally coming with just under 10 minutes left in the contest.
9 – Falcons soar
Bowling Green got off to a fast start with an 8-2 win over host Mercyhurst on Saturday. Stephen Baylis had a hat-trick performance for the Falcons, who outshot the Lakers 35-20.
10 – Brotherhood
The postgame of Saturday’s 4-1 win by Union over Army West Point included an emotional gesture by the Black Knights towards Union forward Jack Adams, whose brother Mark (who won a national title with Providence in 2015) passed away suddenly three weeks ago.
After the postgame handshake, the Black Knights surrounded Adams, who had a goal and an assist in the game, and offered hugs and words of encouragement.
“We lost a game tonight but this young man lost his brother a few weeks ago. We wanted him to know that we were thinking of him and his family,” Tweeted Army West Point coach Brian Riley after the game.
We lost a game tonight but this young man lost his brother a few weeks ago. We wanted him to know that we were thinking of him and his family. https://t.co/clwIEcecfe
— Brian Riley (@Coach_BRiley) October 7, 2018
