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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Tuggey vs. Toledo
Sean Finucane

Club Hockey: Streaks' Sweep Rockets, Begin CHMA play

| By: Jack O'Rourke, Staff Writer
The Blue Streaks have a pair of big games ahead this weekend.
Following a weekend in which the John Carroll club hockey team was swept by Syracuse, the Blue Streaks needed a bounce back weekend in their home and home against Toledo. The Toledo series served as the final weekend before conference play would start for the Blue Streaks, which meant the series was a dress rehearsal for CHMA play. 

The last time the Blue Streaks and Rockets met, the Rockets beat down on the Blue Streaks, which gave this season's incarnation of John Carroll hockey added motivation entering the weekend. 

FRIDAY NIGHT
Friday's game may have been the best the Blue Streaks have played this year, as Carroll routed the Rockets in front of a home crowd at Gilmour Academy. It was all Blue Streaks from the start, as Tyler Putnam, Tristan Weigand, and Henry Cseh all netted first period goals for the Blue Streaks. After leading 3-1 after the first period, a familiar face iced the game for the Blue Streaks. A leader by example that plays hockey simply to have fun, alternate captain Adam Unruh tallied two goals on his first shift of the period. Unruh placed a hard shot short side and buried a rebound to remove any doubt of the outcome. Unruh's good friend Matthew Pfeifer scored two second period goals against his hometown team. Freshman Austin Malley also played a strong game and scored his first career goal while providing his strongest weekend as a Blue Streak. Never one to shy away from highlight reel goals, Charlie Tuggey scored a masterful between the legs goal on a breakaway which made its way to media outlets. "The boys were putting pucks away all night," said Tuggey. "I thought I would try something cool." Defenseman Ryan Young put the icing on the cake with a laser from the point. Brodie Lerch allowed only one goal on 25 shots in the win.

SATURDAY NIGHT
Saturday night started similar to Friday, as Charlie Tuggey finished on the power play to give the Blue Streaks an early lead. CHMA Star of the Week Matthew Pfeifer followed up his two goal performance with a goal to double the Blue Streak lead, with the assist of Austin Malley. Toledo scored a breakaway goal late in the first period to score their first goal on Blue Streak goaltender Jack Zuchlewski. The Blue Streaks were stalled by five consecutive second period penalty calls against them, which the Rockets would capitalize on to take a 3-2 lead entering the third period. Zuchlewski made save after save to keep his team in the game, while the Blue Streaks had a few near misses in the third period. Coach Scott Shantery pulled Zuchlewski to engage a sixth skater, and despite multiple Rocket attempts to end the game with a fourth goal, the Blue Streaks won massive battles to keep the game within a goal. Enter Sean Deakin. "I saw Fogarty winding up for a shot, so I went to the net. (Adam) Unruh drew two guys to him so I was left alone," said Deakin. "The puck bounced off the goalie right to my stick and I slid it five hole. It felt great to tie it because it felt as though we couldn't catch a break for most of the game." Deakin once again made the necessary play to help his team. Deakin's special season received a "Heisman" moment with his game tying goal. Following the next draw, a returning hero did the unthinkable. "Going into the third period, along with I'm sure everyone in the locker room, I did not want to lose that game," said Luke McNamara. "On the game winner I just saw a guy closing in on (Charlie) Tuggey and I knew I had a lane to the net. I trust the skills of Tuggey to get the puck to me so I just put out my stick for a pass and he hit the target allowing me to easily deflect the puck." An unsung hero, McNamara consistently dominates both ends of the ice so it was exciting for Blue Streak fans to see the senior score such an important goal to clinch the win.

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Blue Streaks (5-4-1, 0-0-0) @ Robert Morris (5-3-0, 1-0-0)
Get your popcorn ready. As the Blue Streaks' slowly return to health, Carroll rides the momentum of the weekend sweep into the matchup on the Island. Pacing the Blue Streaks offensively is junior forward Sean Deakin. Deakin has a nation leading 13 goals and has recorded 17 points in 10 games. While Deakin's season has captured tons of attention, an impressive five teammates of Deakin also have played hockey at a point per game level. Deakin's linemates, Tyler Putnam and Adam Unruh, have both recorded 12 points in 10 games. Forwards Charlie Tuggey and Luke McNamara also are matching their teammates' feat. Defenseman Tristan Weigand is tied for the country's lead in points amongst defensemen. Additionally heating up for the Blue Streaks, Matthew Pfeifer scored three goals against Toledo. The dynamic duo of Brodie Lerch (3.74 GAA, .899 SV%) and Jack Zuchlewski (3.15 GAA, .903 SV%) have gone 5-2-1 in their combined starts, while Zuchlewski still has not suffered a loss in regulation. The Colonials of Robert Morris won four of their first five games and sit 5-3-0 before hosting John Carroll. The Colonials defeated West Virginia 1-0 in the first CHMA contest to take place this season. RMU split with the same Syracuse team that swept the Blue Streaks, winning a 6-5 OT thriller in the process. Reno Patrick has been the story of the season for Robert Morris. Patrick is 4-0-0 this season and holds an incredible .926 SV% and 2.36 GAA. Michael Hurst and Giovanni Palombo lead the Colonials with eight points apiece through eight games. Hurst is tied with Corbin Ragno for a team leading three goals, while Palombo's six assists lead the team. We are not yet aware as to if JCU Sports Network will be allowed to stream the game. 

Blue Streaks vs. Duquesne (3-4-0, 1-0-0)
The Dukes, like the Blue Streaks, will play a Friday night CHMA game before their Saturday game. Duquesne will have the chance to be 2-0 in conference play, and will need to join RMU in beating West Virginia to do so. The Dukes are owners of a three game winning streak (2 W vs. Oakland, W vs. Mercyhurst) following being swept in two game sets by Pittsburgh and Concordia to begin the season. Shane Nolan's six points in five games lead the Dukes, while Maximus Maddalo and Sam Hoyen both have six points in seven games. Robert Halyama (2-1-0, .921SV%, 3.64 GAA) and Ethan Blackburn (1-3-0 .891SV%, 5.37 GAA) have seen extended playing time in the pipes. Saturday's game will be broadcasted on the JCU Sports Network.
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