Flames welcome Panthers for first-ever series, first of three Midnight Mayhem matchups this season

Friday, October 23

11:59 PM

Liberty University Club Sports

Drury University

Senior center and alternate captain Tucker Shields takes a faceoff at center ice in a game earlier this season at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Ethan Smith)

10/21/2026 6:27:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey

Liberty, which moved into the top five in this week’s national rankings, will be severely tested by No. 7 Drury (Mo.), which also competes as an independent ACHA DI program

After traveling to Michigan and splitting its series at No. 2 Adrian College over Fall Break, Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team climbed a spot, trading places with Niagara (N.Y.) University at No. 5 in this week's national rankings.

"We played really well at Adrian to get the split," said graduate forward and alternate captain Tucker Shields, who scored twice in the Flames' 4-1 series-opening win. "That's some of the best hockey I've seen our team play, and that's our standard. We just worked as hard as we possibly could, (and) we played our system well. Obviously, we didn't come out with the sweep, which is what we wanted, but we did some really good film (analysis) and made some corrections to our game, so we're coming into this weekend's series against Drury ((Mo.) University) really, really confident."

The Flames (8-1) will entertain the No. 7 Panthers in the first-ever meetings between the two programs — starting with the first of three Midnight Mayhem matchups this season, with the puck dropping Friday at 11:59 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center.

"Midnight games are always exciting," Shields said. "We always have really good student sections for Midnight games. It's really fun for them, and it's really fun for us."

Drury is the program Liberty junior goalie Jozef Kuchaslo transferred from over the summer.

"Joe's coming from there, so that gives us extra incentive to win," Shields said. "It's helpful when you have a guy on your team who came from their program, who knows their guys, knows their systems, knows their program. But ultimately, we're more concerned with our game and executing what we know how to do."

Shields' offensive line, which features three of the Flames' five captains this season, played exceptionally well against Adrian, and he expects the trio to remain on the prowl against the Panthers this weekend.

"I'm in the middle, centering (graduate) Sam (Feamster) on my right wing and (senior) Mac (Ratzlaff) on my left, and both of those guys are playing terrific," Shields said. "I just feel like all three of us are dogs on a bone. We're all tenacious and relentless and it really helps our team win. Sam's doing a really good job of leading this team and being our (head) captain. He's playing so hard every single game, making plays, scoring good goals. Mac's doing the same exact thing. He's playing like a true leader on and off the ice. With Mac's level of tenacity and aggression, he's really driving this team forward, scoring big goals and making a lot of great plays with his poise."

He said the three of them, plus graduate defenseman Nick Pomerleau and senior forward and fellow alternate captain Luke Munroe have embraced their leadership roles. The squad is complemented by senior defenseman Luke Anderson, senior forwards Brad Barker and Kal Essenmacher, and graduate forward Ryan Finch, who serve as the team's Disciple Makers.

"It's a huge honor to be in a position to lead this team and what the school represents, what the hockey team represents," Shields said. "As captains, the standard is higher. We're meant to embody that standard and lead everyone so we can be a light to those around us in all regards: spiritually, academically, and at the rink as well."

For the Flames to defeat Drury in their first two meetings, he said they must execute their game plan efficiently and persistently, and to finish their opportunities with authority.

"It's just about bringing that relentless work ethic that we brought to Adrian," Shields said. "It's getting pucks behind the defense, making them turn their hips, getting in their zone, using our points (defensemen), moving the puck from low to high, and ultimately just playing our system. We're not overly concerned with what Drury's bringing to the table. We're really focusing on refining our systems and how we play the game. If we just take that mindset and that heart that we brought to Adrian and combine it with our technical systems, we're going to have success."

Scouting Preview, Games 10-11: No. 7 Drury (Mo.) University (6-1) at No. 5 Liberty (8-1), Friday at 11:59 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

All-time Series: First meeting

Liberty Scouting Report: The Flames have outscored opponents by a 51-19 margin through nine games this season, with their plus-32-goal differential fourth in the nation behind No. 1-ranked defending ACHA Division I national champion Ohio University (+50), No. 2 Adrian College (+38), and No. 6 Niagara (+33).

Two defenseman, senior Mason Smith (4 goals, 7 assists) and Pomerleau (3G, 8A), are tied atop Liberty's scoring leaders. They are followed closely by forwards Essenmacher (6G, 4A), Finch (5G, 5A), and junior Zach Nicolas (4G, 6A), a transfer from NCAA Division I Stonehill (Mass.) College. Munroe (3G, 6A) ranks sixth in scoring and is tied with Smith with two game-winning goals.

Between the pipes, freshman Austin Caley (5-1, 1.17 goals-against average, 94.7 save percentage, 1 shutout) has been a regular the past four games and now has twice as many starts as Kuchaslo (3-0, 3.67 GAA, 85.9 SP), who went 32-6 with a 2.14 GAA and 92.0 SP in his two seasons at Drury.

Drury Scouting Report: The Panthers are in their third season competing at the ACHA Division I level and have posted a combined 37-9 record, advancing the National Championships the past two seasons. Drury won its first two games before being eliminated by Minot State in 2025 and was ousted in the first round by Calvin University, 4-3, last March.

Drury split its series this season against the No. 4 Beavers, winning the Oct. 2 opener at Brightspeed Ice Park in Springfield, Mo., 3-2 in overtime, before dropping the rematch, 6-4. The Panthers had the first game of their series against the University of Mary (N.D.) canceled due to rink issues before defeating the No. 10-ranked Marauders, 5-2 on Oct. 10 at the CarShield Sportsplex in Chesterfield, Mo.

Offensively, Drury is sparked by forwards Luke Aston (5G, 3 GWG, 6A) and Ethan O'Rourke (6G, 3A). The Panthers have plenty of depth, featuring nine other players with at least five points.

In goal, Drury has effectively platooned Matthew Candusso (3-0, 1.67 GAA, 94.6 SP, 1 SO) and Brett Sweet (3-1, 2.72 GAA, 89.7 SP).

Coaches: Kirk Handy, in his 27th season as Head Coach, has a career record of 588-241-39 since taking the helm of the Flames in 2000. He has led Liberty to 10 consecutive ACHA DI National Championship appearances and four Final Four appearances in the 20 seasons since the program was elevated to the ACHA Division I level in 2006-07. Handy is three wins away from tying former Lady Flames NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Head Coach Carey Green (591-240) as Liberty's all-time winningest coach at any level. Jeremy Law, the second head coach in the Panthers' history, is 76-21 in his fourth season at the helm. Previously, he spent six seasons (from 2017-23) as head coach at Missouri State University, guiding the Ice Bears to the ACHA DI National Championships tournament five times. In 2022-2023, Law was named assistant coach for the ACHA Team Canada World Cup of University Hockey. Prior to joining the Ice Bears, Law coached for multiple teams in the now defunct WSHL, finishing with an overall record of 239-135-23 in 13 seasons as head coach of the Fort Worth Texans, Tucson Tilt, Texas Brahmas, and Springfield Express. In 2005, his first WSHL season, he led the Texans to the WSHL Thorne Cup Championship.

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer