Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Flames forward Brad Barker battles a Stony Brook player on last season's NASCAR Night, Nov. 6 at the LaHaye Ice Center. (Photo by Ethan Smith)
11/4/2026 6:41:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
No. 6 Liberty looks to extend its 11-game winning streak against Stony Brook, now playing in the ACCHL.
Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team, which snapped a three-game losing skid with last Friday's 8-1 rout of Virginia Tech, welcomes former ESCHL rival Stony Brook on Friday and Saturday nights at the LaHaye Ice Center.
Saturday's rematch will be the annual Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by the Virginia Army National Guard, and will honor all branches of the U.S. Military leading up to Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The Flames will unveil their fourth specialty jersey, featuring a white-and-grey camouflage design, to be auctioned off after the contest. Liberty Club Sports is partnering with Vet Tix to give free tickets to those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Tickets are redeemable for games on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, when the Flames will host Syracuse in their fall semester finale at the LIC.
After starting the season at 7-0, the Flames (9-3) — who remained at No. 6 in this week's fifth national rankings — have plenty of incentive to build off of their humbling of the Hokies in this weekend's showdown with the Seawolves. Liberty was still reeling from being swept by Drury (Mo.) University in the teams' first-ever meetings, Oct. 23-24 at the LIC, one weekend after splitting its series at Adrian (Mich.) College.
"Nobody likes going on a losing streak, and those three were kind of rough on us, so it was good to get that win last week to get the confidence going into the weekend," Flames freshman forward Stone Rolston said. "That's the goal for sure (to stage a sweep) going into the weekend, and we're pretty amped up."
Drury (10-1) moved up to No. 1 in this week's national rankings for the first time, replacing reigning ACHA national champion Ohio. The No. 3 Bobcats were swept by No. 5 Niagara University at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y., this past weekend while the Panthers swept No. 2 host Minot State at Maysa Arena in Minot, N.D.
Stony Brook received votes in the top 25 for the first three rankings but fell out of it last week and remained off the list after they switched from a coaches' poll to computer rankings.
"They're a good competitive team," Rolston said. "We know that it's going to be a challenging weekend, but I know that with our group and what we've proved so far this year that we can take care of business and we'll be fired up and ready to go, for sure."
He said practices have taken on a higher intensity as the season has progressed.
"We're getting some good skates in here, just kind of working on systems and different things we've got to prep and things that Stony Brook does," Rolston said. "I think it will be a good weekend for us."
Simplifying the attack and staying in system have been effective strategies for the Flames to follow.
"Definitely, that's the plan, just sticking to playing simple hockey, getting pucks in deep, getting shots on net, sticking to the game plan, which is to just play hockey and outwork them and put some pucks in the back of the net," Rolston said. "It's all about effort at the end of the day. We've had a good compete (level in practice) and getting guys engaged in what we're doing. It's been great."
Scouting Preview, Games 13-14: Stony Brook (4-3-1) at No. 6 Liberty (9-3), Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center. The games both will be streamed live on ESPN+.
All-time series: Liberty leads 44-18-3. The Flames ended the Seawolves' four-year run as ESCHL champions by winning their first of three tournament titles in four years in 2017, their inaugural year in the league, and captured three consecutive ESCHL regular-season championships from 2018-20 before returning to independent status in 2021. Last season, the Flames swept the Seawolves for the fifth series in a row, extending their winning streak against them to 11 games.
Liberty Scouting Report: The Flames feature seven players in double digits in points, led by graduate defenseman and alternate captain Nick Pomerleau (3 goals, 15 assists) and junior forward Zach Nicolas (6G, 8A). Senior defenseman Mason Smith (4G, 9A), who was ejected for fighting against Virginia Tech, ranks third, followed by senior forward Kal Essenmacher (8G, 4A), graduate forward Ryan Finch (5G, 7A), senior forward and alternate captain Luke Munroe (5G, team-leading 3 game-winning goals, 7A), and freshman forward David Utkin (3G, 7A in 6 games).
Freshman goalie Austin Caley (6-3, 1.96 goals-against average, 91.5 save percentage, 1 shutout) was backed up by senior CJ Sehlke, a DII call-up, in last Friday's win over Virginia Tech. Sehlke filled in for an injured Jozef "Joe" Kuchaslo (3-0, 3.67 GAA, 85.9 SP).
Stony Brook Scouting Report: The Seawolves are 3-0 at home but 1-4 on the road, including being swept by then-No. 1 Ohio. The last time they defeated the Flames was Jan. 22, 2022, by a 5-0 final at The Rinx on Long Island, N.Y.
Forwards Paul DeSaro (6G, 2A), Peter Labos (5G, 3A), and Lorenzo Marra (3G, 4A) are Stony Brook's top three scorers.
All four of the Seawolves' goalies have seen action between the pipes, with Michael Foglia (3-1, 3.38 GAA, 90.8 SP) and Steven Reganato (1-1, 4.31 GAA, 86.2 SP) logging the most minutes.
Coaches: Kirk Handy, who will miss Friday's game attending the funeral for his uncle in Ottawa, Ontario, has a career record of 590-243-39 in 27 seasons at the helm of the Flames. He is one win away from tying former Lady Flames Women's Basketball Head Coach Carey Green (591-240 in 26 seasons) as Liberty's all-time leader in head coaching wins for any program — NCAA Athletics or Club Sports. After coaching the team at the ACHA Division II level from 2000-06, Handy has led Liberty to 10 consecutive ACHA DI National Championship appearances and four Final Four showings in the past 20 seasons. Stony Brook Head Coach Chris Garafalo is in his 17th season at the helm after totaling more than 100 points as a player for the Seawolves from 1992-96. He sports a 307-150-40 record.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Saturday's rematch will be the annual Military Appreciation Night, sponsored by the Virginia Army National Guard, and will honor all branches of the U.S. Military leading up to Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The Flames will unveil their fourth specialty jersey, featuring a white-and-grey camouflage design, to be auctioned off after the contest. Liberty Club Sports is partnering with Vet Tix to give free tickets to those who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Tickets are redeemable for games on Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, when the Flames will host Syracuse in their fall semester finale at the LIC.
After starting the season at 7-0, the Flames (9-3) — who remained at No. 6 in this week's fifth national rankings — have plenty of incentive to build off of their humbling of the Hokies in this weekend's showdown with the Seawolves. Liberty was still reeling from being swept by Drury (Mo.) University in the teams' first-ever meetings, Oct. 23-24 at the LIC, one weekend after splitting its series at Adrian (Mich.) College.
"Nobody likes going on a losing streak, and those three were kind of rough on us, so it was good to get that win last week to get the confidence going into the weekend," Flames freshman forward Stone Rolston said. "That's the goal for sure (to stage a sweep) going into the weekend, and we're pretty amped up."
Drury (10-1) moved up to No. 1 in this week's national rankings for the first time, replacing reigning ACHA national champion Ohio. The No. 3 Bobcats were swept by No. 5 Niagara University at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y., this past weekend while the Panthers swept No. 2 host Minot State at Maysa Arena in Minot, N.D.
Stony Brook received votes in the top 25 for the first three rankings but fell out of it last week and remained off the list after they switched from a coaches' poll to computer rankings.
"They're a good competitive team," Rolston said. "We know that it's going to be a challenging weekend, but I know that with our group and what we've proved so far this year that we can take care of business and we'll be fired up and ready to go, for sure."
He said practices have taken on a higher intensity as the season has progressed.
"We're getting some good skates in here, just kind of working on systems and different things we've got to prep and things that Stony Brook does," Rolston said. "I think it will be a good weekend for us."
Simplifying the attack and staying in system have been effective strategies for the Flames to follow.
"Definitely, that's the plan, just sticking to playing simple hockey, getting pucks in deep, getting shots on net, sticking to the game plan, which is to just play hockey and outwork them and put some pucks in the back of the net," Rolston said. "It's all about effort at the end of the day. We've had a good compete (level in practice) and getting guys engaged in what we're doing. It's been great."
Scouting Preview, Games 13-14: Stony Brook (4-3-1) at No. 6 Liberty (9-3), Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center. The games both will be streamed live on ESPN+.
All-time series: Liberty leads 44-18-3. The Flames ended the Seawolves' four-year run as ESCHL champions by winning their first of three tournament titles in four years in 2017, their inaugural year in the league, and captured three consecutive ESCHL regular-season championships from 2018-20 before returning to independent status in 2021. Last season, the Flames swept the Seawolves for the fifth series in a row, extending their winning streak against them to 11 games.
Liberty Scouting Report: The Flames feature seven players in double digits in points, led by graduate defenseman and alternate captain Nick Pomerleau (3 goals, 15 assists) and junior forward Zach Nicolas (6G, 8A). Senior defenseman Mason Smith (4G, 9A), who was ejected for fighting against Virginia Tech, ranks third, followed by senior forward Kal Essenmacher (8G, 4A), graduate forward Ryan Finch (5G, 7A), senior forward and alternate captain Luke Munroe (5G, team-leading 3 game-winning goals, 7A), and freshman forward David Utkin (3G, 7A in 6 games).
Freshman goalie Austin Caley (6-3, 1.96 goals-against average, 91.5 save percentage, 1 shutout) was backed up by senior CJ Sehlke, a DII call-up, in last Friday's win over Virginia Tech. Sehlke filled in for an injured Jozef "Joe" Kuchaslo (3-0, 3.67 GAA, 85.9 SP).
Stony Brook Scouting Report: The Seawolves are 3-0 at home but 1-4 on the road, including being swept by then-No. 1 Ohio. The last time they defeated the Flames was Jan. 22, 2022, by a 5-0 final at The Rinx on Long Island, N.Y.
Forwards Paul DeSaro (6G, 2A), Peter Labos (5G, 3A), and Lorenzo Marra (3G, 4A) are Stony Brook's top three scorers.
All four of the Seawolves' goalies have seen action between the pipes, with Michael Foglia (3-1, 3.38 GAA, 90.8 SP) and Steven Reganato (1-1, 4.31 GAA, 86.2 SP) logging the most minutes.
Coaches: Kirk Handy, who will miss Friday's game attending the funeral for his uncle in Ottawa, Ontario, has a career record of 590-243-39 in 27 seasons at the helm of the Flames. He is one win away from tying former Lady Flames Women's Basketball Head Coach Carey Green (591-240 in 26 seasons) as Liberty's all-time leader in head coaching wins for any program — NCAA Athletics or Club Sports. After coaching the team at the ACHA Division II level from 2000-06, Handy has led Liberty to 10 consecutive ACHA DI National Championship appearances and four Final Four showings in the past 20 seasons. Stony Brook Head Coach Chris Garafalo is in his 17th season at the helm after totaling more than 100 points as a player for the Seawolves from 1992-96. He sports a 307-150-40 record.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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/ Men's D1 HockeySaturday, October 31
Sunday, October 25
Sunday, October 25
Friday, October 23