The University of Arizona men’s hockey team completed the Maryville Invitational Showcase on Nov. 21-23 in Maryville Ice Center. The Wildcats wrapped up the tournament, falling 3-2 in their first matchup against Minot State University. Continuing the showcase, Arizona secured a 4-3 win over Maryville University but suffered another loss to Liberty University, 8-3.
Game 1: Arizona vs. Minot State University
Arizona started the first game of the showcase against Minot State with Haydn Gould in net. Gould has been the Wildcats main goalie this season, holding a current 5-5 record.
Minot State opened scoring with 5:08 left in the first period, taking a 1-0 lead. This score stood until the end of the period with Arizona beginning the second period on the power play. This resulted after Minot State was assessed a five-minute major penalty near the end of the first period.
In the second period, forward Riley Ruh tied the game 1-1 on his fifth goal of the season with 12:35 left on the clock. This was the only goal scored during as the two teams remained tied going into the final period.
With 17:19 left in the third period, Arizona went on the power play and scored just 25 seconds later on another goal by Ruh for his second of the night. The Wildcats held the 2-1 lead for nearly eight minutes until Logan Rands tied the game for the Beavers with 8:07 remaining in the game.
Under a minute after tying the game, Minot State further extended its 3-2 lead with another goal.
After using a timeout with under three minutes remaining in the game, the Wildcats were unable to secure the tying goal and fell 3-2 to the Beavers.
Game 2: Arizona vs. Maryville University
Gould started in the second game of the showcase for Arizona as the Wildcats went against Maryville. Maryville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period with back-to-back goals from Jack Henderson and Jake Chartier.
The Wildcats were able to respond as Ruh got his third goal of the showcase, cutting the lead in half. Maryville led 2-1 going into the second period.
Arizona proceeded to tie the game after Justin Hughes scored a goal to lead the Wildcats 2-2. This score stood going into the third period.
Maryville took a 3-2 lead with 8:55 remaining in the third period. Arizona was able to respond less than two minutes later as forward Jack Kurrle tied the game 3-3 on his fourth goal of the season. No team was able to score another goal, sending the game into overtime.
Defenseman Nicholas Chiocca was able to help Arizona win game two of the showcase 4-3 in overtime. Notably, it was Chiocca’s sixth goal of the year.
Game 3: Arizona vs. Liberty University
Gould started in the third and final game for the Wildcats against Liberty.
The Flames were able to get out to a fast start, scoring less than two minutes into the game. Arizona got on the power play near the end of the period, but Liberty managed a breakaway and scored a shorthanded goal, leading 2-0.
The second period saw a momentum shift as the Wildcats stormed back into the game with back-to-back goals by Sam Myers and Ari Rossi. The two goals were scored under one minute apart, tying the game 2-2 with 14:08 left in the period.
However, Liberty was able to respond, scoring 3 unanswered goals to take a 5-2 lead moving into the third period.
Head coach Chad Berman made a goalie change during the period with Adam Stevenson coming into the game for Gould.
With 16:49 left in the period, Ruh scored his fourth goal of the showcase and cut the Liberty lead down to 5-3. It wasn’t enough for Arizona as Liberty responded one minute later to go up 6-3. The Flames did not stop the scoring pressure there, following with two additional goals to ultimately win the game 8-3.
Looking ahead
Arizona currently ranks No. 8 in the Western Collegiate Hockey League standings with 12 points on the season. The Wildcats will play their next two games on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 in a back-to-back matchup against in-state rivals ASU in Tucson Arena.
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