The University of Arkansas Division III Ice Hockey Club opened their season with a hard-fought weekend series against Dallas Baptist University (DBU) at the Jones Center in Springdale, Arkansas. The Razorbacks secured a victory in the first game but fell short in the second, resulting in a split series.

Game One: Arkansas 3, DBU 2

The Razorbacks kicked off their season with a thrilling 3-2 victory on September 20, holding off DBU in a tightly contested match.

First Period:
DBU took the early lead with a goal by Christian Beckett (#13) at 7:27. Both teams exchanged penalties in the first period. Arkansas saw infractions from Brayden Asher (#74) for tripping at 14:49, followed by Landon Miller (#79) for roughing at 11:08. DBU also had two penalties, with Buddy Barrett (#9) penalized for holding at 11:08 and Caleb Redings (#3) for holding at 7:03.

Second Period:
Arkansas found their rhythm in the second period. Tanner Freeman (#48) tied the game at 7:47 with an unassisted goal. DBU regained the lead with an unassisted goal by Buddy Barrett (#9) at 19:25. The Razorbacks faced a slew of penalties in the second, including a two-minute penalty for hooking by Landon Miller (#79) at 17:54 and roughing penalties for Robert Wohlitz (#86) at 12:31. Jason Gifford (#42) was ejected after receiving both a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 10-minute misconduct penalty.

Despite the penalty trouble, Arkansas stayed composed and kept the game within reach heading into the third period.

Third Period:
The Razorbacks rallied in the final period to secure the win. Zack Kilgore (#75) tied the game at 15:23, assisted by Carter Vann (#13). With just over two minutes remaining, Jack Lubahn (#63) netted the game-winner, assisted by Robert Wohlitz (#86), pushing the Razorbacks to a 3-2 victory.

While Arkansas incurred additional penalties—including two roughing penalties by Luke Yeary (#90)—their defense held strong to close out the win.

Game Two: Arkansas 1, DBU 4

The second game on September 21 saw Dallas Baptist University bounce back, taking a decisive 4-1 victory over Arkansas.

First Period:
Arkansas struck first, with Robert Wohlitz (#86) scoring at 18:30, assisted by Lucas Chretien (#83) and Corey Warden (#60). However, DBU quickly responded with two goals from Caleb Redings (#3), one at 8:11 with an assist from John Canavan (#25) and an unassisted goal at 2:35. Arkansas was hindered by penalties in the first period, with infractions by Mark Risser (#40) for high-sticking at 8:21, Logan Shipley (#8) for roughing at 4:36, and Sam Karraker (#36) for slashing at 2:51.

Second Period:
The Razorbacks were unable to capitalize offensively in the second period, while DBU extended their lead. Logan McKenzie (#7) scored at 8:49, assisted by John Canavan (#25) and Buddy Barrett (#9), bringing the score to 3-1. Arkansas’ Landon Miller (#79) was given a two-minute slashing penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct at 4:10, further compounding their struggles.

Third Period:
Arkansas fought hard in the third, but DBU maintained control. A final goal from DBU sealed the victory. The Razorbacks continued to battle, but penalties, including two cross-checking infractions by Logan Shipley (#8) and Luke Yeary (#90), stymied their efforts to close the gap, resulting in a 4-1 loss.

Coach’s Remarks:

Greg Betzold, Director of Player Development and DIII Head Coach, offered his thoughts on the weekend’s performance:

“Game one was a great display of resilience by our guys. We dug deep in the third period and found a way to win. Unfortunately, we couldn’t carry that momentum into game two. DBU played a solid game, and we struggled with penalties that ultimately cost us. We’ll learn from this and make sure we’re ready for our next challenge.”

Looking Ahead:

The D3 Razorbacks will face the University of Nebraska on October 3 at 7:30 PM at the Jones Center in Springdale, Arkansas.