DII Flames featuring 17 newcomers regroup after opening losses, ready to challenge Virginia Tech this weekend

Even after being swept by High Point (N.C.) University in the team's 2025-26 season-opening series last weekend at the LaHaye Ice Center, Liberty University Division II men's hockey first-year Head Coach Christian Garland sees plenty of promise for the future of the team that is seeking to qualify for the ACHA DII National Championships for a seventh year in a row.

"I feel really good about where we are," Garland said as the Flames prepare for a home-and-home series against Virginia Tech on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Lancerlot Sports Complex in Vinton, Va., and Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the rematch at the LIC. "We are very young with 17 freshmen on the team, and we have to learn and grow. We looked really good for how young we are. It is going to take time to adjust to the pace of the game, and how we want to play moving forward."

He said Liberty will be a work in progress throughout the early stages of the season with so many newcomers added to the mix, which was evident in the 4-1 and 3-2 setbacks against the Panthers, who transitioned from AAU to ACHA DII last season and improved to 8-2 all-time against the Flames.

"We need to preach to our team that we want to win every time out, but that it is going to be a process, and we want to do it the right way," Garland said. "Credit to High Point, a highly skilled team that is very well coached."

He noted it was the first time he had seen the Panthers in his eight seasons with the program, and they came in better prepared.

"We only had a handful of practices before our first games, and with that many new guys — seven new defensemen and eight or nine new forwards — it's going to take time to put it all together," Garland said. "A lot of guys just need to adjust to the emotions of the game, the speed of the game, playing a team game."

He said the series was invaluable for getting a gauge on where the Flames stand and what areas they need to improve in.

"Honestly, it gave us a lot of good film to review as a coaching staff and to build on," Garland said. "What we mainly need to work on is our discipline. In Friday night's first game, we took 30 minutes of penalties, so we killed 16 minutes of that. It is tough to stay in games when we are shorthanded."

He realizes Liberty will be tested by fire this fall, as the team faces one of the most difficult schedules in program history. The Flames' youthful resilience will be a factor in their favor.

"I feel really optimistic about the future of this team, this group," Garland said. "This is really a very moldable, coachable group, and they have the energy and a high level of compete. They move the puck really well and skate well, and they are bought in to our philosophies and the systems they need to work on."

Garland and Assistant Coach Josh Graham have designated four alternate captains for this season's squad — graduate forward Cory Owens, who is in his third season on the team after transferring from former MACH rival Rowan (N.J.) University, sophomore forward Anthony Emme, senior forward Josh Martin, and senior defenseman Kade Pawluk.

"They are doing a great job so far and are all dialed in to understanding the vision of the coaching staff and where we want to go," Garland said.
They are also leading the team spiritually, as Emme, Owens, and Pawluk also serve as Disciple Makers along with graduate defenseman Nate Cox, who played his undergraduate career on the Flames' DI squad, and junior defenseman Mac Graham.

Garland is eager to re-establish a rivalry with the Hokies, which finished first in the ACCHL Premier Division last season, going 24-4-1. The Flames haven't faced Virginia Tech since winning all three meetings between the two teams in Garland's first season as assistant coach in 2018-19.

"I am hoping that we have meshed together more and play with more cohesiveness after getting three more practices under our belt," he said.

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

DII Flames featuring 17 newcomers regroup after opening losses, ready to challenge Virginia Tech this weekend

Players Mentioned

Anthony Emme

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