These Hens are on fire, and they are looking to extend their six game winning streak into this weekend against the Rutgers Ice Knights! On Friday night the teams will be playing at the Fred Rust at 7:00, and on Saturday at 3:00 in the ProSkate Ice Arena in New Jersey.
This past weekend the Hens swept the NYU Violets. On Friday night, the team played a chippy game. There were a lot of penalties called on both teams, and that hindered the Hens’ ability to play a full 60 minutes. The Blue Hens won 3-2, and goals were scored by Shane Mullin, Michael Nisky and Harrison Good. Goalkeeper, Stephen East, made a total of 21 saves. The Saturday matinee resulted in a 3-1 win for the Hens. This game was high intensity with much less penalties. This allowed the team to find their flow, and which translated into making smarter plays. Goals were scored by Cole Zucker, Shane Mullin, and Mike Redgate, and East made a total of 30 saves.
The Ice Knights just completed a series against Stony Brook University, and came out with no points. Rutgers has yet to win a game this season, but in the past, they have always been good competition for the Hens. One of the keys to success will be for the Hens to stay out of the sin bin because games against Rutgers are known to be scrappy. Delaware will have to capitalize on all chances in front of the Ice Knights’ net, and especially on the inevitable power plays they will be on. The Blue Hens will also need to stay strong on the penalty kill. Chris Mazzella said, “Rutgers always gives us a good game, so it’s going to be important for us to play a full 60 minutes in both games.”
Player to watch for the weekend is assistant captain, Mike Zidansek! So far this season Mike has scored two goals and has had three assists. Since the start of his career as a Blue Hen, Zidansek has been a playmaker in our defensive zone. He is a player that the defense relies on to continuously make smart plays and use his strength to ward off opponents.
Be sure to make your way down to the Rust on Friday night. The team will also be pairing up with the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition to raise awareness this month of October to Breast Cancer. Come on out to learn more and support this great cause, all while watching a great hockey game!
As always, to keep up with all things UD Hockey related, follow their social media pages for updates!
Twitter: @udhockey
Instagram: @udicehockey
Facebook: University of Delaware Men’s Division 1 Ice Hockey
Written By: Analisa Vizzoni
