Photo: B. Kosaski Photography
SVSU Men’s DI hockey shut down the Central Michigan University Chippewas in a 12-1 victory on Saturday, Oct. 17. Ethan Smith and Preston Pudvan scored two goals each. Freshman forward Logan Beckwith scored his first goal of the season with Peirce Ashcroft, Calvin Ranger, Tim Monaghan, Joe Blair, Case van Singel, Max Johnston, and Reece Furtado adding to the tally.
Goaltender Brendan Cobb made 30 saves on 31 shots in the contest.
Poor performance at the end of last season led to SVSU missing out on the number one playoff seed and being eliminated from playoffs by division rival, Northwood University.
“We definitely got in our own way,” said new head coach Ethan Schnieder. “I think the moment was a little brighter than anticipated.”
Schneider credited the team’s success so far this season to the “hardcore” culture shift that’s taken place. “We had lots of guys that wanted to play hero. This year, everyone plays for each other.”
Pierce Ashcroft opened the scoring for the Cardinals with an unassisted goal at 11:21 in the first period.
Forward Calvin Ranger followed up with his first goal of the season, assisted by Prestan Pudvan and Joe Blair, making the score 2-0.
Timothy Monaghan scored with 1:48 left in the period. The goal, assisted by Nicco Destefanis and Brycen Smith, gave the Cardinals a 3-0 heading in the second period.
Blair got the second period started with a goal scored at 7:27. The captain’s first goal of the season was assisted by Lucas Millmine and Max Johnston.
Freshman Case Van Singel scored his eighth goal of the season with an assist from Millmine and Blair, putting the Cardinals lead at 5-0. Van Singel leads SVSU in goals and is tied for the team lead in points.
Destefanis and Tyler Samson assisted on Ethan Smith’s third goal of the season at 9:19 in the middle frame.
Pudvan closed out the second period with a goal assisted by Jayden Allen, making the score 7-0 after 40 minutes of play.
Chippewa goaltender Brooks Smyrski did not return to play after the second period. He made 26 saves on 33 shots.
Less than a minute into the third period, Max Johnston scored his first goal of the season on Chippewa goaltender Hunter Rainier. The goal was assisted by Reece Furtado and Samson.
Furtado got a goal of his own, assisted by Samson, making the score 9-0.
E. Smith netted his second goal of the game at 11:57 in the period, assisted by Allen and B. Smith.
Torren Kemble got CMU on the board at 13:21. The only Chippewa goal of the game was assisted by John Kotsilidis, making the score 10-1.
Logan Beckwith answered 30 seconds later with another Cardinal goal assisted by Van Singel and Johnston.
“It felt great,” said Beckwith on his first collegiate goal. “… about time.”
Pudvan scored the final goal of the night at 18:17 in the third period with an assist by Destefanis and B. Smith making the score 12-1.
Rainier made 14 saves on 19 shots and Cardinal goaltender Brenden Cobb made 30 saves on 31 shots.
Cobb is SVSU’s only goaltender this season after Nick Pike and Ryder Gregga transferred out over the summer.
“He’s handled it great,” said Schneider. “He’s been the backbone of the team.”
SVSU is back in action against Purdue University Northwest at Kube Sports Complex on Thursday, Oct. 22. They return home Saturday, Oct. 24 to face off against Purdue at Saginaw Bay Ice Arena. Puck drop is at 9:00 p.m.
