The University of Delaware Division 3 men’s hockey team (12-6-2) kicked off a three-game road trip in victorious fashion, putting away the Pitt-Johnstown IceCats, 4-1, on Friday night (Jan. 12) at the historic 1stSummit Arena at Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown, Pa.
After falling to the Cats by an identical score in the Empire Classic in November, the Blue Hens found themselves trailing 12:03 in the first period. With Dylan Garrett serving a roughing minor for Delaware, Jake Bacik, typically regarded as a playmaker more than a goal scorer with 16 assists on the season, earned his third goal of the year on a power-play opportunity from Kyle Eckenrod and Ryan Phelps.
Despite the early deficit, the Hens opened the floodgates in the final thirty minutes of action in Flood City, regrouping to tally four unanswered goals. Steven Palomba equalled the score at one with an unassisted short-handed goal at the 11:55 mark of the second, four seconds before a hooking minor assessed to Shane Saladis expired. Chris Mayville, Ryan D’Emelia, and Saladis all found the back of the Pitt-Johnstown net in the third period. Saladis accounted for an assist as well, while Marty Coverdale had a pair of helpers in the Delaware attack.
Forrest Hines earned his seventh win in net for Delaware, saving 30 of 31 shots faced, while Pitt-Johnstown’s Jacob Bevan stopped 24 of 28 shots in defeat.
The Hens head southwest through the Allegheny Mountains to Morgantown, W. Va., for a weekend series against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Their Saturday (Jan. 13) game is slated for 9:30 p.m., followed by a Sunday morning rematch at 10:30 a.m.
