The Arkansas Razorbacks(6-0) traveled up the road to Missouri State University(2-4) this weekend in a two-game series. Friday night’s game saw the Razorbacks get started near the end of the 1st period when Kevin LaPlante ripped a slapshot on a pass from Michael Ellis for the Hogs first goal. Brad Estrada also assisted on the goal. Both teams went back and forth, trading opportunities throughout the 2nd period, with nobody able to break through until midway through the 3rd period when Zach Wilson went between the legs while shorthanded to put the Hogs up 2-0. Missouri State would spoil the shutout with just 5 minutes left in the game. Arkansas would put the game on ice with just over a minute left when Wilson won an offensive-zone faceoff to Cameron McAtee, who scored on a sharp-angle shot to give the Razorbacks a 3-1 win. Jozef Dusenka stopped 18 of 19 shots for his 4th win of the season, as Arkansas outshot MSU 33-19 in the 3-1 win.
On Saturday, Arkansas looked to complete the season sweep. Kevin LaPlante got the Hogs off on the right foot once again, taking advantage of a Missouri State turnover and finishing off a shorthanded breakaway. Captain Grant Deacon would put the Hogs up two headed into the intermission, on assists from Trevor McLain and Michale Ellis. Griffin Sugasawara would strike early in the 2nd period on the powerplay, finishingoff a rebound from Chris Salmon and Cameron McAtee. The Hogs weren’t done, as McLain found Blake Elliott streaking out of the penalty box on a breakaway. Elliott put home the snapshot for his first collegiate goal and a 4-0 Razorbacks lead. Missouri State got on the board with 2 goals of their own late in the 2nd period, cutting the Arkansas lead in half going into the 3rd period. Sugasawara would add his 2nd powerplay goal of the game on a corss-ice pass from Jordan Deskeere. McAtee also assisted on the goal. Zach Wilson then got on the board with a shorthanded goal, thanks to assists from Salmon and McAtee. McLain added the Hogs 3rd powerplay goal of the evening, with assists to McAtee and Deacon, giving the Hogs a 7-2 win. Jozef Dusenka recorded his 5th win of the season, stopping 20 of 22 shots.
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.
