DI Flames tame Wildcats with special teams, finish 2-1 in Maryville Showcase

Saturday, November 22

St. Louis, MO

12:55 PM EST

Liberty University Club Sports

University of Arizona

Senior goalie Nick Bernstein makes a save against Maryville University in a game played Oct. 20, 2023. (Photo by Chase Gyles)

DI Flames tame Wildcats with special teams, finish 2-1 in Maryville Showcase

11/22/2025 4:55:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

The fourth-ranked Flames improved to 15-4 with its 3-1 victory over Arizona, setting up a Dec. 5-6 showdown with No. 3 Minot State at the LaHaye Ice Center.

Special teams were the name of the game once more for Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team, which scored two power-play goals and killed off all four penalties in Saturday's 3-1 victory over the University of Arizona.

"Our power play was 2-for-3, and we had four PKs including one five-minute penalty," Head Coach Kirk Handy said. "That's a recipe for success when you can win the special teams battle, especially the way we did today. It was a good way to cap off (the weekend)."

The fourth-ranked Flames finished 2-1 in the showcase at the Maryville University Ice Hockey Center in Chesterfield, Mo., rebounding from Thursday's 3-1 loss to the No. 10 Saints with wins over No. 6 Calvin (Mich.) University and the unranked Wildcats.

Liberty capitalized on its first power play with 15:51 remaining in the first period when junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau received passes from senior forwards Ryan Finch and Michael DeBrito near the top of the left circle and launched a shot through traffic that deflected past Arizona's goalie into the back of the net.

DeBrito later cleaned up a loose puck with the Flames on a man advantage, finishing assists from Finch and junior forward Luke Munroe.

"There was a bit of a scramble in front," Handy said. "We had guys going to the net, and DeBrito got the puck in the slot and buried it."

Trailing 2-1 after the second period, Arizona came out on attack to start the third, but Liberty extended its lead to 3-1 on Finch's third goal in as many games, skating up the right wing and into the circle before firing a wrist shot into the top-left corner of the cage at the 16:43 mark.

"Ryan's playing fantastic for us," Handy said. "Finch and DeBrito, both those guys have been excellent for us, offensive catalysts who have had a great semester."

The Flames outshot the Wildcats, 34-22, and senior goalie Nick Bernstein made 21 saves to secure the win, improving to 6-2 on the season.

"It was both (goalkeeping and defense)," Handy said of the team's defensive performance after limiting opponents to three goals against Maryville, two against Calvin, and one against Arizona. "Nick (Bernstein) played a real solid game for us tonight, making some big, timely save on the PK, and our penalty kill was excellent."

Liberty's players went out in different directions after Saturday's game, many returning home for Thanksgiving Break before regrouping in Lynchburg, Va., for and last two tests of the fall semester — against No. 3 Minot State, starting with the last Midnight Mayhem matchup of the season on Dec. 5 — followed by exam week.

"Those will be a great set of games," Handy said.

The Flames will then enjoy their Christmas Break before embarking on their third trip to Finland coordinated by LU Send and Operation Mobilization early in the New Year.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer