Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Nights Lead Weekend Full of First Goals and Comebacks

by ECHC Communications

This weekend saw a full slate of in-division matchups and exhibition games as the regular season is now in full swing. Teams across all three ECHC divisions battled for early-season momentum. From hard-fought comebacks to first career goals, and Hockey Fights Cancer awareness nights bringing communities together, it was an exciting weekend of action both on and off the ice.

Hockey Fights Cancer:
Several ECHC teams participated in Hockey Fights Cancer awareness events this weekend. Quinnipiac University hosted their "Pink the Rink" night on Saturday in partnership with Kappa Alpha Theta, raising breast cancer awareness. Similarly, the University of New Haven held a "Pink Out" night, debuting special pink jerseys for the occasion and raising donations for a breast cancer foundation during their home opener.

In-Divisional Games:
Purple Division: Fairfield University (DI) traveled to Newark, DE, for a two-game series against the University of Delaware. Delaware took Game 1 with a 7-3 win, but Fairfield bounced back with a 4-2 victory in Game 2. On Saturday night, Farmingdale State College (DI) secured a 7-3 win against Quinnipiac University.

Black Division: Ramapo College staged an impressive comeback, scoring twice in the third period and sealing a 5-4 overtime win against Fordham University. Later that night, Columbia University edged out reigning Black Division champions, Sacred Heart University, in a tight 6-5 victory.

Silver Division: Fairfield University (DIII) had a strong weekend, defeating Stony Brook University 5-2 on Friday night and rallying from a 0-2 deficit to beat the University of New Haven 6-3 on Saturday. Stony Brook rebounded from Friday’s loss with a 4-2 win over Hofstra on Sunday.

Other Exhibition Games:
In Friday night action, Hofstra University fell to Farmingdale State College (DII), 7-3. Stevens Institute of Technology played a high-scoring game against the University of Albany (DIII, UNYCHL), but ultimately lost 8-7. On Saturday, Sacred Heart shut out Kutztown University (DII, DVCHC), 6-0, while Ramapo College defeated Neumann University (DII, DVCHC), 7-1. Quinnipiac beat Fordham University 7-1 on Sunday, while Farmingdale State College (DII) bested Fairfield University (DIII) 5-3 to close out the weekend.

First Career Goals:
Congratulations to the following players who scored their first collegiate goals this weekend:

  • Fairfield University (DI): Sam Ianella
  • Farmingdale State College (DI): Thomas Konkowski
  • University of Delaware: Henry Long
  • Farmingdale State College (DII): Noah Lavoie and Lawrence Lena
  • Fordham University: Luke Lowe and Piotr Kszczot
  • Ramapo College of New Jersey: Daniel Phillips and Matthew Cochran
  • Sacred Heart University: Anthony Marazzito
  • Columbia University: Troy Daniels
  • Fairfield University (DIII): Jonathan Vitka
  • Stevens Institute of Technology: Thomas Vella
  • Stony Brook University: John Braccia
  • University of New Haven: Evan Fassett

Photo Credit: Tom Mangiacapre I @ruval_d_photography (Instagram)