With only 12 games and 36 possible points in the regular season standings available in the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL), Kent State’s victory over Eastern Michigan last Saturday night was well-needed.

     Especially when considering the Golden Flashes dropped the Friday night weekend series opener after outshooting the Eagles 48-17 en route to a 5-3 loss.

     The three points Kent State earned in the victory were their first in four GLCHL games this season.

     “It’s very important to get your first league win of the season,” affirmed Kent State head coach Jim Underwood. “Every single point matters and we are a little behind there (after four games), but it’s always good to get your first one.”

     “We felt really good going into Saturday. When you outshoot a team on Friday night and control the play from start to finish; we felt comfortable.”

      Kent’s Saturday night 5-1 success was a result of an impressive performance by their special teams as the Golden Flashes netted a pair of power play goals, a pair of short-handed goals and a single even strength goal.

       Alex Halupnik and Zach Zwierecki accounted for the power play tallies while Halupnik and Ian Hermann scored the short-handed efforts. Zwierecki also had an even strength goal.

     “Our special teams were phenomenal and won us the game. When your special teams can go +4 in one game you are going to win a lot of hockey games,” Underwood said.

       This weekend the Golden Flashes host Calvin College. The Knights bring a 4-2-1 record into the Kent State University Ice Arena and are 17th in the ACHA Division I National rankings.

       “We’re excited to see Calvin College. Over the past few years we have matched up well against them,” offered Underwood. “They are a good team. In terms of league games, there is not one night that should be considered a night off. Every game is a struggle and a battle.”

Report card:

     Kent State (3-9) has completed one-third of their 2019-20 regular season campaign and Underwood offered a few observations of his team’s performance and outlook.

     “From the start of the season where we are now, we are a different team; a better team,” Underwood declared.

     “Our last four games kind of sums that up for us. When you go to two overtime games against Robert Morris, ranked 21st at the time (currently 19th) and out play Eastern Michigan on Friday and end up on the bad end of the score and out play them on Saturday, we are starting to see things come together.”

     “Our power play is starting to click at about 20 percent, and we are getting some guys back that were banged up.”

     “We had a slow start to the season but at the one-third mark I am happy with our progress and expect us to get better every week,” surmised Underwood.

BLUELINENOTES:

     -This weekend is Alumni Weekend for the Kent State hockey program. According to Underwood the event is geared toward several chapters in ice hockey history at Kent State. “We are tying in several eras of hockey to our alumni. It is not catered toward the Clippers teams of the 1970s or the varsity team of the 80s and 90s or our ACHA team that we have had for 20 or 25 years. We will get a good mix of alumni and have a good time.

    -Start times for both games (Friday and Saturday) against Calvin College at the Kent State Ice Arena is 7:30 PM

    -The Kent State DIII faces off against Robert Morris University Saturday afternoon at 2:30 PM at the Kent State Ice Arena.

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