This past weekend, the Razorbacks (14-1-0) traveled to Michigan to play four games in four days against the University of Michigan (4-0-0), Oakland University (5-4-1), and Grand Valley State University (6-4-0). The Ice Hogs opened the trip on Saturday against Michigan. Michigan would score one goal in the 1st period, two goals in the 2nd period, and three goals in 3rd period en route to a 6-0 win and the Hogs’ first loss of the season. Jozef Dusenka saved 31 of 37 shots in the loss.
On Sunday, Arkansas would face off against Oakland University. The Razorbacks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st period on goals from Evan Kerr, Chris Stovall, and Chris Salmon. Oakland added a goal of their own before Tyler Valdron scored in the last minute of the period to give the Hogs a 4-1 lead after one period. Oakland opened the scoring in the second period before Alex Kueser scored the Razorback’s 5th goal of the game. Oakland would answer back with two goals to cut the Hogs’ lead to 5-4 entering the third period.
Halfway through the 3rd period, Evan Kerr tallied his second goal of the game to put Arkansas up 6-4, but Oakland tied the game on two goals late in the third period to send the game to overtime. The Razorbacks ended the game quickly as Kerr scored the game-winning goal to complete his hat trick, racking up five points on the game and sending the Hogs to a 7-6 victory. Alex Kalmes stopped 40 of 46 shots to earn his seventh win of the season.
Following a short drive across the state to Grand Rapids, the Hogs faced defending national runner-up Grand Valley State. Both teams would trade goals in the first period, with Trevor McLain scoring the Razorbacks’ goal. Alex Kueser and Zach Wilson put the Hogs back in front before GVSU cut the Hog lead to 3-2 at the end of the second period. GVSU tied the game at 3 early in the third period. Both teams traded goals again, with Tyler Valdron netting the Hogs fourth goal of the contest. Captain Alex Kueser then came up clutch, scoring the Hogs’ fifth and sixth goals of the game in the final five minutes, giving Kueser a hat trick and the Razorbacks the 6-4 win. Jozef Dusenka stopped 38 of 42 for his seventh win of the season.
Arkansas rounded out the 4-game road trip on Tuesday with a rematch against GVSU. The Razorbacks would put three goals up in the first period from Tyler Valdron, Brendan Bomay, and Evan Kerr. GVSU would get their only goal of the contest in the second period, but Alex Kueser gave the Hogs a 4-1 lead heading into the final period. The third period was all Arkansas, as they put up six goals and produced a final 10-1 win. Griffin Sugasawara scored three goals, notching the Hogs’ third hat trick of the weekend. Trevor McLain and Dyaln Odelein also scored, and Kyle Patterson got his first goal as a Razorback. Alex Kalmes turned away 26 of 27 shots to complete his eighth win of the season.
This weekend the Ice Hogs hit the road once again, bound for Huntsville, AL to face off against three rivals as part of the Rocket City Collegiate Hockey Showcase. The Razorbacks will take on Alabama (2-1-1) on Friday at 6:30 pm, followed by Georgia (5-4-0) on Saturday at 1:00 pm, and Florida (3-4-0) on Sunday at 9:00 am. All-time in the Division III era, the Razorbacks are 14-5-1 against Alabama, 3-4 against Georgia, and 8-2 against Florida. Broadcast information of the games is available here.
The University of Arkansas Men’s Hockey team plays in the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference. The 2019-20 season will be the team’s thirteenth season as a member of the ACHA competing in Division III. The team’s schedule can be found here. All home games are played at The Jones Center for Families in Springdale.
