Purple Eagles outshine Flames on Rock & Glow Night in regular-season-ending series opener

Senior forward DJ Schwenke controls the puck in the offensive zone against Niagara. (Photos by Brooke McDuffee)

Purple Eagles outshine Flames on Rock & Glow Night in regular-season-ending series opener

2/16/2024 11:33:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

No. 6 Liberty fell to No. 9 Niagara for the first time in recent history, making Saturday's Senior Night all the more important for final ACHA DI national rankings.

Gallery: (2-16-2024) DI men's hockey vs. Niagara Game 1

A shorthanded goal by the ACHA Division I leader in that department set the tone early in Friday night's series opener between Liberty University's No. 6-ranked ACHA Division I men's hockey team and ESCHL regular-season champion Niagara before two late goals by the No. 9 Purple Eagles in four-on-four action snuffed the Flames in a 3-1 setback on the first-ever Rock & Glow Neon Night at the LaHaye Ice Center.

"It was a gritty game," Liberty forward DJ Schwenke said. "We came in and kind of overlooked them after we swept Ohio (last weekend), and we definitely didn't give them the respect they deserved. We have the speed to match them, but we were just off tonight and they were on. It's hard to beat a team that plays that well when you're not playing your best. They were a tough team in front of the net, and they played us hard and they won tonight."

"Hats off to Niagara," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy added. "They played very well tonight. We just weren't good enough tonight. We've got to be better (on Saturday)."

Purple Eagles goalie Grant Zell made a couple key saves in the first minute of a Flames power play before Niagara scored the game's first goal when leading scorer Devin Sanders netted his ACHA DI-leading eighth shorthanded goal of the season, finishing a two-on-one break off a feed from Jeremy Kalin for a 1-0 lead with 11:15 left in the first period.

"That set us on our heels," Handy said. "It was pretty disappointing. I didn't think we played well tonight. We just didn't have a jump, there wasn't a lot of urgency in our game tonight. We had some chances on the power play tonight and just weren't able to bury as many as we wanted to out there. We had quite a few shots on goal, but we need more quality shots. We have to get some more traffic in front of the goalie."

Zell stopped another shot in the right crease and a point-blank putback by Liberty leading scorer Jacob Kalandyk, before Liberty graduate goalie Hunter Virostek made numerous clutch saves to keep it a one-goal contest throughout a scoreless second period.

"Hunter had a good game for us, but we just didn't have the game that we needed to have tonight," Handy said. "We weren't as mentally ready as we want to be. That's something we have to improve on. We'll have it tomorrow and we'll be ready to go."

Finally, with the Flames on a a power play just over a minute into the third period, Kalandyk sent an entry pass into sophomore forward Sam Feamster who pivoted and put a shot on goal from the left crease before Schwenke punched in the putback in the right crease, tying at 1 and energizing the Flames' fan base.

"Feamster had a lane to the net, and he drove it hard and threw it off the far pad and it bounced right to our stick," Schwenke said. "It was a pretty lucky goal, just bounced off my stick and went in, but it's being in the right place at the right time. We watched film on them, and we knew how to pick apart their penalty kill pretty good. Our power play looked really good tonight. We had some good chances, so it was nice to be rewarded with a goal."

However, with the teams skating 4-on-4 after a scuffle between Niagara defenseman Seth Coulter and Liberty defenseman Nate Cox in front of the Flames' cage, back-to-back goals by forwards Charlie Belanger and Tristan Taillefer off assists from defenseman Connor Loft in a span of just over a minute broke open a 1-1 tie and put the Purple Eagles in control with 4:00 remaining in regulation.

"No one had a five-on-five goal tonight, which is kind of crazy," Schwenke said. "They were a really fast team and a very good team, too. They used their speed to beat us wide and get good shots on net."

Niagara outshot Liberty 48-46 and both Virostek and Zell made 45 saves on the night.

Schwenke and Virostek are two of eight seniors who will play their last official games in the LIC when the teams meet again in the regular-season finale on Saturday at 7 p.m. before they host Ohio in an exhibition next Saturday at 5:30 p.m., their last tune-up before the March 7-11 ACHA DI National Championships.

"It's crazy, it goes by so fast," he said. "I'm excited for (Senior) night. A little sad, but honestly right now I think we're so passionate about nationals right now that what feels like our Senior Night is out in St. Louis, not here."

However, he acknowledged the significance of Saturday's rematch, especially for the seniors, but for the entire team as it looks to build momentum for a deep run at nationals.

"Absolutely, this is the last game of the season that counts for rankings, so (Saturday) night is going to be super important for us to come out and play our best game," Schwenke said. "We just have to trust in who we are and come ready to play. They're a fast team, but we're definitely faster. We've proven that all year long that we hit harder than they do, so if we come out and play our game, be hungry, want the puck, and score goals, that's what it's going to take."

As hard as it will be for the seniors to say goodbye to Saturday Night lights in the LIC, it may be even more difficult for Handy to bid farewell to them.

"It's important because we're honoring the players who are here," he said. "Those seniors have changed our team for the positive. They have left a legacy through their efforts here."

"We have to get back to our game," he added. "That wasn't our game tonight. We've got to clean up our own end, our defensive zone. That's a big point of emphasis. I have full confidence in our guys in there."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Videos edited by Isaac Martin and Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media