Falcons’ Power Play Freezes Finlandia

HANCOCK, Mich. – The CUW men's hockey team had a successful business trip to the upper peninsula of Michigan on Thursday night. The Falcons picked up three points in the NCHA North Standings with a 6-3 victory to improve to 5-7-0 on the year and to remain unbeaten in the conference at 3-0-0. The Lions fall to 0-3-0 on the year and in the NCHA.

The Falcons broke the school record on Thursday with five power-play goals.

Senior Cole Pickup (Victoria B.C.) put the Falcons on the scoreboard first with a power-play goal from senior Nick Guiney (Victoria B.C.) and senior Braydon Barker (Red Deer, Alta.)

The Falcons struck again on the power play 1:23 later as senior Nick Guerra (Victoria, B.C.) stuffed the puck in the back of the net off assists from freshman Jordan Guiney (Victoria, B.C.) and Braydon Barker.

Finlandia found its way onto the scoreboard with a breakaway goal.

The Falcons pushed the lead back up to two goals with a short-handed goal from junior Brandon MacKinnon (Etobicoke, Ont.) after junior Jacob Palmerio (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) created a two-on-zero breakaway to close the first period.

The Lions opened the second period scoring with an unfortunate bounce off the boards for the Falcons.

The CUW power play was clicking on Thursday and struck again with a goal from Nick Guiney after he tapped in a rebound from a Nick Guerra shot. Jordan Guiney fed the puck in for the secondary assist.

Finlandia was able to find the back of the net on the power play to close the second period.

Nick Guerra was able to provide a cushion for the lead with a power-play goal late in the third period from Jordan Guiney and Braydon Barker.

Sophomore Alex Way (Ottawa, Ont.) wrapped up the scoring after passed from senior Luke Ranallo (St. Paul, Minn.) and freshman Tyler Pang (Victoria, B.C.).

Freshman Liam McGarva (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) secured 22 saves in the victory.

The six CUW goals are a season-high for the Falcons.

The Falcons are riding their first four-game winning streak since November of 2017. 

CUW outshot the Lions on Thursday night, 48-25. Cole Pickup led the flock with eight shots.