Liberty stuns Stony Brook with 8-2 victory

  • Flames victory partially due to two hat tricks and strong offense from Flames hockey.
  • Momentum from the first period carried over into the rest of the game for what the team views as an important victory.

One hat trick in a game usually makes the headline, but in Friday’s Division 1 ice hockey game between Liberty University and Stony Brook, Liberty’s Jordan Bochinski and Brock Thompson both had hat tricks in the 8-2 win at home.

 

“I was proud of our guys, they played hard for 60 minutes tonight,” head coach Kirk Handy said. “Stony Brook is a good hockey team, and they are someone who we battle with all the time, so hats off to our guys.”

 

The Flames (9-4, 8-1) bounced back quickly after being swept by Ohio University last weekend. They seemed to have no issue with the Seawolves (9-1-1, 6-1), who were ranked ninth in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL).

 

“We are a group that hates to lose,” Cole Gammer said, referring to two losses against Ohio University. “We know that it was unacceptable, both of those games against Ohio were winnable games. I think we felt a little cheated and tonight we really took it to them.”

 

Thompson got his second hat trick of the year and now leads the team in goals with 11 goals on the season. Bochinski also received his first hat trick in a Liberty uniform. He has advanced his goal total to six.

 

Aside from scoring more goals, the Flames won most of the other categories, including shots on goal (41-22) and faceoff wins (50-23).

 

The teams came into the first period strong, with quick skating and good execution on both sides of the puck. Around halfway through the first period, Thompson scored his first of three goals of the night.

 

This goal resulted from solid passes and puck movement. Sophomore forward Quinn Ryan and sophomore defenseman Matt Cruickshank were credited for assists.

 

“I am real proud of Grant Garvin, Quinn Ryan and Thompson’s line,” coach Handy said. “I challenged them a bit this week, and they responded really well. They are talented players and they led us offensively big-time tonight.”

 

In the second period, Stony Brook came off the bench ready to go, getting its first goal within the first 15 seconds of the period. This goal scored by senior Brendan Calello was a power play goal after Ryan was put into the penalty box for a delay of game.

 

The Flames answered the Seawolves by putting up three more goals before the second period came to a close. Bochinski, Thompson and Gammer all scored goals. While Gammer was credited for scoring the goal, Coach Handy said it was really scored by sophomore Victor Blomberg.

 

“Blomberg has been a guy who’s gotten better every night,” coach Handy said. “It is his compete level, he competes every time he’s out there.”

 

With four goals in two periods, the Flames went on to score four more goals in the final period.

 

“We just made sure not to let go when we had control of the game,” Gammer said. “We just learned to stick it to them and keep our foot on the gas pedal.”

 

Seconds after Liberty recovered from a penalty, Bochinski scored his second goal of the game. Minutes after his goal, Garvin scored with an assist from Thompson.

 

Stony Brook answered with its second and final goal of the game. Defender Brendan Pepe shot a long goal nearly from center ice which surprised Liberty’s goalie, Cole Burak, who was out of the net.

 

Thompson and Bochinski then scored their third goals of the game respectively during the final minute and a half of the game. Fans threw their hats on the ice in celebration.

 

“We take wins and losses with these guys (Stony Brook) very personally, so we know that these games are really important, especially for the standings,” Gammer said. “We are going to keep going and we’ve got to win this next one.”

 

The following day, Saturday, Nov. 4, the Flames fell to Stony Brook 5-3 in the LaHaye Ice Center. Despite the 8-2 loss the night before, Stony Brook was able to force the 1-1 split.

 

According to libertyflames.com, the Seawolves outshot the Flames 29-26. Forward Kevin Murphy gave Stony Brook its first goal of the game after rebounding a deflected shot.

 

The Flames tied the game 1-1 in the second period when sophomore defenseman Garrett Nelson shot from between the faceoff circles. Although the Flames scored two more goals, they could not prevent the Seawolves from stealing the second game of the series.

 

Liberty’s next game will be against the University of Delaware Nov. 10 for a two-game series in the LaHaye Ice Center.

 

 

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