Men’s Hockey opens 2020-21 season

MEQUON, Wis. – With the air getting colder, the CUW men's hockey team is ready to fire away on the ice. Coming off the 2019-20 season where the Falcons finished with a 12-11-2 overall record.

The season will be underway shortly, with a puck drop at 4:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 23, as the Falcons take on the USA U-18 National Development Team in Plymouth, Michigan. This brings a new and exciting experience for the Falcons as they will be able to compete against players from all across the country representing the United States.

A new but familiar face will be coaching the men's hockey team as Bill Horton takes the role of interim head coach in the 2020-21 season.

Not only will there be a new head coach for the Falcons, but there will also be seven new faces to the 2020-21 roster including a transfer student in Luke Ranallo (St. Paul, Minn.). CUW also added six freshmen in Jacob Shankar (Johnstown, Ont.), Sean Hofstetter (Columbia, Ill.), Spencer Milne (Edmonton, Alta.), Riley Morgan (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Jordan Guiney (Victoria, B.C.) and Tyler Pang (Victoria, B.C.).

Three Falcons returning this season bring academic accolades with them as they were named Krampade/AHCA Academic All-Stars. Those returners are Erik Schuette (Olathe, Kan.), Cole Pickup (Victoria, B.C.), and Nick Guiney (Victoria, B.C.).

CUW also returned five of its top-six scorers from last season. Senior Braydon Barker (Red Deer, Alta.) led the flock last year with 34 points on six goals and 28 assists. Sophomore Brandon Picard (Montreal, Que.) led the team with 15 goals in 2019-20.

The Blue and White return both goalies that started all 25 games for CUW in 2019-20.  Junior Bo Didur (West Vancouver, B.C.) led the team with 11 victories and 723 saves.

Of the 24 total spots on the 2020-21 men's hockey roster, five of these spots will be taken up by seniors. The seniors are Nick Guerra (Victoria, B.C.), Cole Pickup (Victoria, B.C.), Nick Guiney, Braydon Barker, and Luke Ranallo. These seniors look to lead the team in another victorious season for CUW in 2020-21.

After their trip to Plymouth, Michigan, the Falcons will travel to Adrian on Thursday, Nov. 5. The Falcons return home to the Ozaukee Ice Center on Saturday, Nov. 7, against Adrian for the second time of the season. Following these two meet-ups, the Falcons will head to Trine on Friday, Nov. 13th and hope that the Thunder have an unlucky Friday the 13th. CUW finishes up the fall season at home on Saturday, Nov. 14 against Trine.

The Falcons are waiting for the NCHA schedule to be released.