Club Hockey: Streaks sweep CHMA weekend, play two more CHMA games this weekend

10/27/2023 5:19:00 PM | By: Jack O'Rourke, Staff Writer

The Blue Streaks have an important home game on Saturday night.

The Blue Streaks hockey team played an incredibly tough out of conference schedule to begin the season, which paid off tenfold as CHMA play began last weekend. Carroll played familiar foes Robert Morris and Duquesne and came away with a two-win conference weekend by an aggregate score of 13-4.

Playing on the Olympic Ice at the Island Sports Complex meant a shootout was expected between the Blue Streaks and Colonials. RMU knocked JCU out of the conference playoffs last season, which meant this game was important to the Blue Streaks. Seven goals were spread between the two teams in the first period, with familiar faces scoring four of the goals for the visiting Blue Streaks.

Captain Clay Gazdak pushed in an early rebound on the power play to give the Blue Streaks a 1-0 lead before the Colonials countered with two goals in a minute and a half to take the lead. Baden, PA native Tyler Putnam traded a goal with RMU, meaning the Blue Streaks trailed 3-2 with seven minutes remaining in the first period. Charlie Tuggey continued his dominance by scoring a goal to tie the game, and alternate captain Adam Unruh put his team in front 4-3 to conclude the first period.

Upon his return from injury, Ethan Miller scored two minutes into the second period to a roar from the Carroll faithful that made the trip. The rest of the period was dominated by an unsung hero of the offensive attack. Tristan Weigand was a "game breaker" from the blue line and scored three goals in the second period to put the game out of doubt. Weigand has been the class of defensemen in the ACHA this season and has parlayed his stellar defense with a breakout season with the puck on his stick.

"It's pretty cool to have a spark plug like that," said Blue Streak hockey analyst James Shannon. "To be able to play the body and be as aggressive as he is as well as being a viable offensive threat is a great sight to see."

The Blue Streaks finished off their game with a third period goal from Gazdak en route to a 9-4 win over their rival.

On Saturday, Carroll returned to Pittsburgh to play Duquesne. Just seconds into the first period, Sean Deakin continued to blaze the ACHA with a beautiful power play snipe.

"We won the faceoff and Tuggey passed it to Fogerty and he hit me," said Deakin. "I was able to beat the goalie short side right past his ear. Getting the first goal early in the game is great for our team's confidence and allows us to gain momentum."

Jack Zuchlewski produced a masterclass in net, meaning the one goal from Deakin was enough to stifle the Dukes. The Blue Streaks overpowered Duquesne throughout the game and added three second period goals from Tuggey, Sam Herr, and Gazdak. Herr missed significant time with injury, and the hard working sophomore was rewarded with a goal in his second game back. Herr pitched in on photography and social media while absent due to injury and is an invaluable part of the Carroll team. Both teams played to a scoreless tie in the third period, cementing the 2-0 weekend.

"It was important because it was our first two league games," said forward Tyler Lamark. "It is always good to get a nice step ahead of the pack. It was also important because RMU knocked us out last year, it was a nice stepping stone for us."

The Blue Streaks travel to Erie to play Mercyhurst tonight at 9 PM seeking a fifth consecutive win and a 3-0 record in conference play. Saturday night the Blue Streaks host a heavyweight battle at 6 PM against IUP. IUP is the reigning conference champion and is the only other undefeated team in the CHMA outside of Kent State, who has not played a conference game.

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