ADRIAN, Mich. - The Adrian College men's hockey team opened up the 2010-11 season with a 7-3 win over Marian University (Wis.) on Friday (Nov. 5) at Arrington Ice Arena. Junior Jordan Watts, playing in his first game at Adrian, netted a hat trick and also added an assist for four points. The RPI transfer helped Adrian win for the 30th straight time at home dating back to 2008. Adrian also won their 56th straight Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association regular season game against a Sabre squad that pushed them to the limit in the final of the Harris Cup back in March.
It would not be that close in this one and Adrian flexed its muscle in the first two periods building a 7-0 lead before Marian scored the final three goals in the last 7:49. Senior Joel Workman got the ball rolling at 5:13 of the first as his shot went into the top right corner from the left wing on a tough angle. Kyle Watson and Jeff Young had an assist on the even strength tally. Sophomore Zach Graham put Adrian ahead 2-0 at 17:51 as Young got out of the penalty box and took a pass from Jeremy Klaver near mid-ice. Young carried into the offensive zone on a 2-on-1 and fed the puck to Graham who delivered a backhand deke into an open net. The Bulldogs scored 1:17 later as Watts got his first of the game on a one-timer from the right wing on a pass from Brad Houston. Eric Miller also had an assist as Adrian led 3-0 after 20 minutes.
Adrian tacked on three more in the second period as Shawn Skelly scored the first power play goal of the season at 3:06 on a 4-on-3 from the right wing. It was his 39th career power play goal and the 82nd goal of his career. Mike Dahlinger and Josh Cousineau had assists on the goal. Watts scored the next two at 12:14 and 15:50 with his third goal of the night coming on the power play. The back side of the net was wide open and he took a shot from left wing with assists from Houston and Skelly.
Senior Sam Kuzyk got the final Adrian goal at 0:21 of the third period on the power play as Watts took a shot and Kuzyk cleaned up the rebound in front to give AC a 7-0 lead. Marian's Brendan Hull scored the next two goals at 12:11 and 13:53 at even strength and Tommy Fitzpatrick scored on the power play at 14:24 to make the game somewhat respectable.
Adrian had 41 shots on goal and were 3-for-8 on the power play. Last year the Bulldogs led Division III in penalty kill and started this year where they left off holding Marian to 1-for-10. Houston finished with three assists and earned the second star of the game. Brad Fogal improved to 53-0 in MCHA regular season contests making 23 saves in 60 minutes. Alex Bjerk started in net for Marian but was pulled after the fourth goal making 12 saves. Josh Baker played the final 36:54 and made 22 saves for the Sabres. These two teams will conclude the weekend series tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.
