On Friday, the Florida Atlantic M3 (Division III) ice hockey team played their final game of the season at Boca Ice against hometown rivals, the Lynn University Fighting Knights. The game was penalty-heavy, with about 132 minutes spent in the penalty box between both teams.
FAU ended the season ranked 15th out of 18 teams in the College Hockey South (CHS) Men’s Division III in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) with a record of 4-17-0 for the season. The Owls will not advance to the CHS Tournament playoffs.
“We were prepared to go ahead in there and be aggressive,” said assistant coach Dylan Uttenreither, “But I think we could’ve shown a bit more of sportsmanship between the two teams, knowing it’s a rivalry game and the last of the season.”
The first period was intense, with Lynn dominating the first period. Lynn scored three quick goals five minutes into the period. Despite the 20 shots on goal, the Owls struggled to convert them into goals.
FAU forward Drew Renzi received the first two-minute minor penalty of the night for roughing, soon after Lynn’s scoring run. Almost immediately after Renzi served his minor penalty, he and Lynn forward William Sexton were both ejected for the remainder of the first period for game misconduct due to fighting.
With nine seconds left in the first, the Owls went on a power play while the Knights’ Mark Andre served a two-minute minor for roughing.
The Owls couldn’t capitalize, as the first period came to a close with Lynn leading 3-0.
“It sucks when you go down early, it’s kinda hard to build back from that,” said forward Michael Terry, “the puck just didn’t bounce our way today.”
The second period was quieter until about five minutes in, when Lynn’s Benjamin Merill received a penalty for roughing. The Knights almost immediately followed with a short-handed goal, putting them up by four.
FAU went on another power play after Lynn received another two-minute minor for slashing. Defenseman Jake Buccigross scored the first and only goal for the Owls during a breakaway.
However, Lynn responded to FAU’s goal with two more goals, bringing the score up to 6-1.“They were trying to suck us in with their physicality and taking penalties,” said forward Nick Andonovsky. “Instead of us being rebellious to that, we fed right into it, which they converted into goals.”
The first half of the third period was calmer until Lynn scored two more times, 10 minutes into the period. The Knights scored their final goal of the game about two minutes later, bringing the final score to 8-1 and ending FAU’s season.
Rayne Welser is a Staff Writer for the University Press. For more information regarding this or other stories, email her at [email protected] or DM her on Instagram @_morgan.ray.
