With a roster reduced by five players competing in this week's World University Games in Italy, Tucker Shields will look to step up along with fellow freshmen linemates Hayden DeMars and Liam Cox-Smith in this weekend's series against Calvin. (Photos by Ryan Anderson)
DI Flames to battle Knights in top-10 showdown Friday, Star Wars Night Saturday
1/15/2025 11:33:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
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The first-ever meeting between No. 3 Liberty and No. 10 Calvin University will tip off the DI men's team's spring semester at the LIC.
Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team, which moved up one spot to No. 3 in this week's ACHA DI rankings, is eager to start spring semester play this Friday night at the LaHaye Ice Center, with a first-ever series against No. 10 Calvin (Mich.) University.
The top-10 showdown will be an intergalactic battle of sorts with Star Wars Night slated for Saturday's rematch and the Flames debuting R2-D2 jerseys that will be auctioned off afterwards.
Liberty will be without five of its top players this weekend — senior forward Jacob Kalandyk, sophomore forward Ryan Finch, freshman forward Michael DeBrito, junior defenseman Laz Kaebel, and sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch — who are representing Team USA at the World University Games in Italy through Wednesday.
"Everyone's going to have to step up with guys missing from the lineup, but I think we're all ready for that challenge," freshman forward Tucker Shields said. "We have really good depth up and down the lineup. We're all well rested, healed up from a lot of injuries and we're really excited to get back into it. Our practices have been great with a lot of energy, a lot of compete."
The series will mark the Flames debut for sophomore defenseman Luke Anderson, a spring semester transfer from NCAA Division III Bethel (Minn.) University.
"We're a little shorthanded, so it is going to be a tough test, for sure," Anderson said. "Every guy's going to be hungry to step up in the place of guys who aren't here. I'm excited for it."
"We're really excited to have Luke in the lineup," Shields added. "He's going to give us a lot of depth."
Two sophomore goalies, former Flames backup Jackson Glassford and DIII call-up Trey Tompkins, will be added to the roster for this weekend's series to fill in for Kausch. Meanwhile, DIII graduate forward Michael Williams will make his DI debut.
"Michael Williams is eager to get an opportunity and we are excited to have him up with us," Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "He brings a breath of fresh air and a lot of energy. Our jump's been great in practice this week and the resiliency inside our locker room has been fantastic. We are looking forward to seeing our guys out there and seeing them compete and see guys that don't often get opportunities on the power play or penalty kill to get opportunities there."
Scouting Preview, Games 22-23: No. 10 Calvin (17-3-1) at No. 3 Liberty (14-5-2), Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+. For Friday's opener, the first 500 fans through the doors will receive red and white Liberty Hockey beanie hats. Glow-in-the-dark Liberty Hockey sweatshirts will be available for sale in the Pro Shop during Saturday's game.
All-time series:Â This will be the first meeting between the Flames and Knights.
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Freshman forward Kal Essenmacher, shown posting up against Drexel, is one of 11 Flames with 15 points or more this season. Liberty Scouting Report: The Flames have featured incredibly balanced scoring production with 11 players netting 15 points or more, paced by junior forward and head captain Sam Feamster (10 goals, 14 assists) and graduate forward Jackson Vercellono (13G, 8A), who completed the second hat trick of his career in Liberty's last game, an 8-2 triumph over Drexel. Sophomore forward Mason Smith (7G, 13A), junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau (10A), freshman forward Hayden DeMars (7G, 10A), Shields (5G, 12A), Liam Cox-Smith (8G, 8A), Kalandyk (10G, 5A), Kaebel (7G, 8A), and freshman forwards Kal Essenmacher (7G, 8A) and Mac Ratzlaff (7G, 8A) have produced plenty of secondary scoring.Â
Between the pipes, without Kausch in the house, (9-2-1, 1.72 goals-against average, 94.8 save percentage, 3 shutouts), the Flames will lean on junior Nicholas Bernstein (5-3, 2.45 GAA, 92.6 SP, 2 SO).
Calvin Scouting Report: The Knights are dangerous on attack with three players with more than 25 points — forwards Stephen Ickes (6G, 33A), Krzysztof Petryla (15G, 20A), and Hayden Zimmerman (10G, 17A). That trio has accounted for 10 game-winning goals—three by Ickes and Petryla, who leads the team with six power-play goals, and four by Zimmerman.
In goal, Calvin has relied on Adam Yost (12-2, 1.53 GAA, 94.4 SP, 3 SO) with backup from Carlos Siso (3-1, 0.92 GAA, 96.3 SP, 2 SO) and Aidan Feddema (2-0, 1.98 GAA, 91.7 SP).
Coaches: Handy is in his 25th season as head coach for the Flames, sporting a career record of 552-226-35. The Knights, who moved up to the ACHA Division I level in 2017, have dealt this season with the loss of longtime Head Coach Mike Petrusma, who died Nov. 23 after a surgery to treat the cancer he was diagnosed with last year. Petrusma posted a 520-210-37 record over 28 seasons at the helm, mostly at the Division III level. His son, Associate Head Coach Josh Petrusma, has complemented Joe Messina at the helm.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video edited by Annie Cory/Liberty Broadcast Experience (LBX) Broadcast Apprentice
