The six DI men's hockey representatives and DI women's senior forwards Haley Battles and Brielle Fussy in Italy for the Winter World University Games
DI Flames, Lady Flames help Team USA get out to hot starts at Winter World University Games
1/17/2025 11:32:00 AM | Men's D1 Hockey, Women's D1 Hockey
Five players from Liberty's men's squad and two forwards off its top women's team have contributed to their respective Team USA squads' success in Italy.
Team USA's men's hockey team finished 4-0 in pool play at the FISUÂ Winter World University Games in Italy, with Liberty University's five ACHA Division I men's hockey representatives contributing tremendously to the team's success.
Additionally, Lady Flames senior forwards Haley Battles and Brielle Fussy are on Team USA's women's hockey roster for that tournament being played simultaneously at the Winter World University Games. Battles netted a hat trick in Team USA's 5-0 victory over Kazakhstan on Wednesday, the team's first win in three pool play games.
The United States men's team, making its 15th appearance in the World University Games, started competition in Group A on Sunday in Torre Pellice, Italy, with a 6-2 victory over Poland sparked by goals from freshman forward Michael DeBrito and sophomore forward Ryan Finch, who also assisted DeBrito's goal. It then routed Japan, 5-1, on Tuesday, getting goals from junior defenseman Laz Kaebel, assisted by senior forward Jacob Kalandyk, and DeBrito off a feed from Finch while sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch recorded the win in net.
On Wednesday, Team USA edged Slovakia, 6-5 in a shootout, with Kausch stopping five of six shootout attempts by Slovakia. It then concluded pool play on Friday with a 5-1 triumph over Ukraine with Kausch again earning the victory and DeBrito and Kalandyk recording goals.
That sets up a quarterfinal showdown with South Korea on Sunday's quarterfinals after it finished fourth in a Group B pool that also included Canada, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, and Sweden. With a win, Team USA will advance to Tuesday's semifinals before championship and consolation games are played Wednesday in Torino.
Liberty's five players and the team's equipment manager John Cimba are planning to fly back to Lynchburg, Va., next Thursday, in time for the Flames' Jan. 24-25 series against No. 7 Niagara University at the LIC. The opener of that series will be the third and final Midnight Mayhem matchup of the season for Liberty and those returning from Italy will be adjusting to a six-hour time change.
"We've already looked it up," Kalandyk said. "It will feel like a 6 a.m. game for us."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Â
Additionally, Lady Flames senior forwards Haley Battles and Brielle Fussy are on Team USA's women's hockey roster for that tournament being played simultaneously at the Winter World University Games. Battles netted a hat trick in Team USA's 5-0 victory over Kazakhstan on Wednesday, the team's first win in three pool play games.
The United States men's team, making its 15th appearance in the World University Games, started competition in Group A on Sunday in Torre Pellice, Italy, with a 6-2 victory over Poland sparked by goals from freshman forward Michael DeBrito and sophomore forward Ryan Finch, who also assisted DeBrito's goal. It then routed Japan, 5-1, on Tuesday, getting goals from junior defenseman Laz Kaebel, assisted by senior forward Jacob Kalandyk, and DeBrito off a feed from Finch while sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch recorded the win in net.
On Wednesday, Team USA edged Slovakia, 6-5 in a shootout, with Kausch stopping five of six shootout attempts by Slovakia. It then concluded pool play on Friday with a 5-1 triumph over Ukraine with Kausch again earning the victory and DeBrito and Kalandyk recording goals.
That sets up a quarterfinal showdown with South Korea on Sunday's quarterfinals after it finished fourth in a Group B pool that also included Canada, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, and Sweden. With a win, Team USA will advance to Tuesday's semifinals before championship and consolation games are played Wednesday in Torino.
Liberty's five players and the team's equipment manager John Cimba are planning to fly back to Lynchburg, Va., next Thursday, in time for the Flames' Jan. 24-25 series against No. 7 Niagara University at the LIC. The opener of that series will be the third and final Midnight Mayhem matchup of the season for Liberty and those returning from Italy will be adjusting to a six-hour time change.
"We've already looked it up," Kalandyk said. "It will feel like a 6 a.m. game for us."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Â
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's D1 Hockey
F
/ Men's D1 Hockey
F
/ Women's D1 Hockey
F
/ Men's D1 Hockey
G
/ Men's D1 HockeyRock The Rink Podcast: September 2 - New Season
Friday, September 05
Liberty MD1 Hockey Top 10 Plays of the Year
Sunday, July 20
Rock the Rink Podcast - 2024-2025 Season Finale
Tuesday, July 08
Rock the Rink Podcast - Summer Break
Monday, June 30