Erie, PA- The Men's D1 Club Ice Hockey team kicked off their season with a big conference matchup against Mercyhurst University. When the final horn sounded, the Colonials picked up a solid 6-4 victory and improve to 1-0 on the season. The player highlight of the game goes to forward Antoni Chirgott, who picked up 2 goals and 2 assists for a 4 point performance. Mercyhurst opened the scoring with a power play goal midway through the first period, but Chirgott scored less than a minute later to tie the game up. A 5 on 3 power play goal from defenseman Zach Gielarowski gave the Colonials their first lead of the game, and entered the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

Despite allowing an early goal in the 2nd period, the Colonials stormed ahead with a massive 2nd period that included 4 goals. Chirgott got his second of the game on the another 5 on 3 power play to make it 3-2. Then yet another 5 on 3 power play was converted on when defenseman Noah Raymundo buried his first of the season to extend the Colonials lead to 4-2. Mercyhurst cut into the Colonials lead with around 5 and a half to play to make it 4-3, but then RMU ran away with it. The Colonials scored 2 goals in 8 seconds, courtesy of forwards Steven Ralston and Tanner Orr and make the game 6-3 entering the 2nd intermission.

If the first two periods were any indication, the Colonials power play was firing on all cylinders. The team finshied with 3 power play goals, all scored by different players. There was an astounding 33 penalties called in the game in total.

The Lakers would get one back early in the 3rd, but the Colonials played strong defense the rest of the way and prevented Mercyhurst from capitalizing on any other chances. Four players recorded multi-point games for the Colonials, highlighted by Chirgott's 4 point effort (2 Goals, 2 Assists). The other multi-point players include Zach Gielarowski (1 Goal, 1 Assist), Steven Ralston (1 Goal, 1 Assist), and Noah Raymundo (1 Goal, 1 Assist). Tanner Orr and Nathan Mickey were the other Colonials to record points, with a goal and an assist respectively. Goaltender Lewis Richardson picked up the win for RMU.

The Colonials D1 Club Hockey team has a huge test next, as the team is heading down south for a 2 game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Those two matchups are scheduled for Friday night at 7:00pm and Saturday afternoon at 4:00pm.

Alexander Gagnon '21
Club Sport Information Director