Division I heads to Philadelphia; Division III takes on SMU

This past weekend the Division I Razorbacks played their first home games of the 2018-19 campaign against WCHL conference rivals, Arizona and Arizona State. On Thursday, October 4, the Hogs took on Arizona State. The Ice Hogs got on the board early in the first period thanks to a goal from Alex DeGuire (assisted by Shaun Foster and Chris Stovall). About seven minutes later, Division I newcomer Alex Kueser scored to put the Hogs up 2-0 (assisted by rookie Andy Williams). But the Sun Devils cut the lead to one with about three minutes left to make the score 2-1 Hogs going into the second period.

Late in the second period Dominic de la Guardia scored, assisted by Chris Stovall, to put the Hogs up 3-1. Then, early in the third period, Chris Stovall scored a goal of his own to increase the lead to three as the Hogs went up 4-1. But the Sun Devils would go on to score five unanswered goals and took the lead, 6-4. With six minutes left in the game, veteran Luc Gradisar cut the Devils’ lead to just one. The Hogs lost the contest by a final score of 6-5.

On Friday, October 5, the Wildcats of Arizona came to town and the game was eerily similar to the previous night’s contest. The Hogs jumped out to the lead in the first period as Tyler Valentin and Chris Stovall each scored to put the Hogs up 2-0. In the second, the Wildcats scored to make the score 2-1. Less than a minute later, Cory Delisle scored to put the Hogs up 3-1 entering the third period. But the Wildcats scored four unanswered goals and defeated the Hogs by a 5-3 margin.

Arkansas got some measure of revenge against on Arizona on Saturday the 6th. The Wildcats got on the board in the first period and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The second period was all Hogs as Matt Lasky and Cory Delisle each scored to give the Hogs a 2-1 lead after forty minutes. Five minutes into the third period, Josh Staenz scored to increase the lead to 3-1. Luc Gradisar notched an assist and, in doing so, earned his 100th collegiate point with the Razorbacks. Arizona would score one more but the Hogs took the victory and in doing so won their first game of the season, 3-2.

The Division I Razorbacks hit the road this weekend, traveling for the first time to Philadelphia, PA, to take on four first-time Division I opponents. Games begin on Friday, October 12, when the Hogs face West Chester (4-2-0) at 7:00 pm CST. On Saturday the 13th, Arkansas will face Temple (3-4-0) at 1:30 PM CST. Then, on Sunday the 14th, the Razorbacks will tangle with Villanova (2-5-0) at 12:10 CST. The long weekend will close on Monday evening at 6:05 CST when Arkansas will face Drexel (4-1-0).

Meanwhile, the Division III Ice Hogs (6-0-0) will put their undefeated record on the line when they travel to Texas to take on the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University. These two teams have never met before. Game one against SMU begins at 3:00 PM CST on Saturday the 13th and puck drop for the rematch is set for 12:30 PM CST on Sunday the 14th.

The University of Arkansas fields two hockey teams.  The Division I team recently released its 2018-19 schedule (view here). It has, since 2015, competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference (learn more here). All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.