The Florida Gulf Coast University D3 hockey team gears up to host the West Mall Lightning at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 at Germain Arena. Game two of the series is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. Tickets are $5 at the door, but free with your EagleID.
West Mall is a U21 “AAA” hockey team from the Canadian Greater Toronto Hockey League. Florida Gulf Coast University is an affiliate of the WMHA.
“West Mall should be a pretty solid team, as they usually are,” Coach Kevin Mixon said. “It should be a good opportunity to get some more ice time for the guys and promote FGCU Ice Hockey to potential future students.”
The D3 Eagles traveled to Lake Worth to take on the Palm Beach State Panthers at the Palm Beach Ice Works on Friday, Oct. 31. The Eagles returned home for round 2 of the match up on Saturday, Nov. 1.
FGCU destroyed the Panthers on Friday night by a score of 11-0. Saturday’s win was defaulted to the Eagles when the endangered Panthers surrendered by forfeiting.
Friday night’s bloodbath started with a goal in the second minute of play from Tyler Reichl, assisted by Nick Mucerino and Gabe Lamontagne. With a pass from Ryan McAleese, Brett Sutton slid one past Panthers’ goalie Steven Van Kuyk. The first period ended with two more FGCU goals, one from Zach Capco in the 15th minute and one from Dan Sbrocchi with one second remaining.
Second period scoring started in the first minute with a second goal from Capco. Twenty-two seconds later Sbrocchi put his second goal of the evening behind replacement goaltender Shawn Heller. McAleese, in the sixth minute of the second period, sniped one past the Panthers’ goaltender after receiving a pass from Sbrocchi. Shortly after, Reichl got his second of the evening. Closing out FGCU scoring and the second period, Lomontagne stuffed one behind PBS’s back-up goaltender Brandon Simon.
FGCU forced a third goaltender change for Palm Beach, when Heller was put back in net in attempt to thwart the relentless Eagles offense. FGCU’s Paul Moneuse was able to put two behind the struggling Panthers’ goaltender, in the third period.
Saturday night’s meeting was canceled when a defeated Palm Beach failed to bring enough players for the game. The remaining Panthers, mixed with select Eagles, completed a brief scrimmage before the Panthers packed up and returned to the East Coast.
FGCU maintained its composure and limited time in the penalty box. Goaltender Tyler Toyota held onto the shutout with the help of a stellar Eagles’ defense. FGCU’s offense was able to take 66 shots on the helpless PBS goaltenders.