The Arkansas Razorbacks(9-0) took down the Dallas Baptist Patriots(7-11-1) in three straight games, sweeping DBU in the 5-game season series. After a cancelled series with Iowa State, DBU was willing to fill the void by stopping by for a Sunday matinee game. The 1st period saw a stalemate between the two teams, but the Hogs would break that with a goal 6 minutes into the 2nd period. Zach Riley found Cameron McAtee streaking through the slot who put the backhander into the top corner. DBU would respond 2 minutes later with a goal of their own. But the Hogs tallied the game-winner as Kyle Patterson drove hard to the net, and McAtee found him with a pass. Jozef Dusenka secured the 2-1 win in net, his 6th win of the season.
DBU returned to The Jones Center on Friday, March 5th, and the Razorbacks jumped out with speed in the 1st period. Chris Salmon broke through on a mad scramble in front that saw Griffin Sugasawara and Brad Estrada credited with assists. The Hogs weren’t done though, as Kevin LaPlante picked the top left corner with just 5 seconds left in the 1st period. Estrada and Sugasawara each picked up another assist on the goal. Michael Ellis continued the scoring early in the 2nd period, when he found the short side off a pass from Trevor Borlace. DBU would eventually break through two minutes later. But the Hogs could not be stopped, as Brian Romero sent the puck to the net and Brendan Bomay backhanded the deflected puck past the DBU goaltender midway through the second period. Cameron McAtee would add another goal for Arkansas off passes from Jordan Deskeere and Salmon, making it 5-1 Hogs headed into the final period. Arkansas would get into penalty trouble in the 3rd period, but the penalty kill would turn the tides with two shorthanded goals in the final minutes. Sugasawara found Salmon on the backdoor for his 2nd goal of the game and Sugasawara’s 3rd assist. Kevin LaPlante would send a pass across to Zach Riley on a 3-on-1 break to give the Hogs the 7-1 win. Jozef Dusenka notched his 7th win of the season.
Arkansas looked for the season sweep of DBU on Saturday, March 6th. Nick Valentini found a lose rebound from a Pavel Salter shot and Brendan Bomay deflection to start the Hogs off. DBU would even the score early in the 2nd, but Cameron McAtee finished off a rebound from a Jordan Deskeere shot to put the Hogs up 2-1. DBU again tied things up early in the 3rd period. However, Kevin LaPlante would put the Hogs back out in front with an assist from Brendan Bomay. LaPlante would add another, this time on the powerplay off a pass from Pavel Salter. McAtee would put the finishing touches on the weekend with an end-to-end unassisted goal to give Arkansas the 5-2 final. Jozef Dusenka grabbed his 8th win with the victory.
The University of Arkansas Men’s Hockey team plays in the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association. The 2020-21 season will be the team’s thirteenth season as a member of the ACHA competing in Division III. The team’s schedule can be viewed here. All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale, AR.
