After starting the 2021-22 season with a pair of victories followed by pair of defeats, Kent State University coach Zack Nowak and his coaching staff challenged the team with a goal that has immediately paid dividends.

     Nowak impressed upon his team the need to commit fewer penalties than their opponents in every game.

     The challenge was issued, the team bought into the concept and the result has been four straight victories for the Golden Flashes. Among those four victories was Kent’s first win in the College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA) league, a 3-1 win at West Virginia University.

     That CHMA win followed an 11-0 win against Eastern Michigan University.

     “It shows that when we committed ourselves to playing five-on-five hockey, we can play some really good hockey,” observed Nowak.

     Kent is playing their initial season in the CHMA and earning their first win on the road was an impressive feat for the Golden Flashes.

     “We had a really hot start and pretty much dominated the first period,” offered Nowak while discussing the victory at West Virginia. “West Virginia has some hard-working kids on that team, and they play a really defensive brand of hockey.”

     “It was a hostile environment, and you love to see rinks that are packed with fans,” commented Nowak. “Our guys were very excited to get their first win in the CHMA.”

     The Golden Flashes followed up the West Virginia victory by sweeping the University of Toledo (8-4 and 7-3) in a home-and-home series.

     During the weekend series against Toledo, Kent went 7-for-10 on the power play for a 70% power play percentage while allowing a single goal” on the penalty kill. For the season, the Golden Flashes have a 32.4 power play percentage and an 82.2 penalty kill percentage.

     “We moved some things around on the power play and, obviously, things worked out,” declared Nowak.

     The Flashes are heading to Western New York this weekend for the Melt Down Tournament in Buffalo. Kent will skate against Villanova and Niagara in the event’s preliminary games.

     “This will be a good test for us. I know Niagara is a really good team and we have never played Villanova. It is good for us to get these extra (non-league) games in,” said Nowak.

      “This will set the tempo for us coming into two important league games. Hopefully, we can compete hard and then go into league games ready to rock and roll."