When the John Carroll University Men’s ACHA D1 hockey team returns to the ice on January 19th for a non-league two game series against Aquinas College (Michigan) they will have played 22 of their 30 scheduled games.

      Following the weekend in Michigan, the Blue Streaks will compete in six College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA) league games prior to the CHMA playoffs.

       At the holiday break, John Carroll is 14-6-2 overall and is in second place with a 4-1-1 record in the CHMA.

      “We are off to a good start. It’s crazy to think we really only have eight games left. It’s kind of a sprint when we get back,” observed John Carroll coach Scott Shantery. “Our break is a little longer than I like.  We will have to get ready fast.”

     “Our league tournament champion is going to get the bid to nationals, and it looks like we’re only going to be a one bid league this year, so it’s going to come down to that weekend (CHMA playoffs) in February. We have eight games to get ready for that.”

      The Blue Streaks qualified for the ACHA National tournament in 2022.

       “We have a veteran group with eight or nine seniors and seven or eight juniors,” Shantery said. “It has been really helpful, and we have been able to do some different things. The guys already know the basic systems, so we have tried to add some things to our game to make it more dynamic and tougher to play against. I think that has been helpful for us as we progressed through that first semester.”

      While the veterans have provided leadership for the team, Shantery noted the contributions of the underclassmen as well.

     “We have some young guys playing in key roles too,” offered Shantery. “Particularly in net, but also at forward. We have had some key injuries so some of those freshmen and sophomores have had to step up. Our depth has carried us through the first semester.”

     “There is a line, Sam Herr (sophomore), Anthony LaGreca (freshman) and Austin Malley (freshman) that is our ‘third line” and those guys have been really instrumental in our success so far,” continued Shantery. “They play with a lot of energy and it’s nice to see those young guys play some meaningful minutes and having an impact.”

       Buffalo native and junior forward Sean Deakin leads John Carroll in scoring with 31 points via 17 goals and 14 assists.  Gilmour Academy alumnus Charlie Tuggey has netted 11 goals and earned 14 assists for 25 points while defenseman Payton Fogarty and Tyler Putnam have contributed 23 points each.

      Goaltenders Jack Zuchlewski and Brodie Lerch have appeared in nine games each with Zuchlewski owning a .930 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average and Lerch earning a .888 save percentage and 3.94 goals against average.

BlueLineNotes:

> Shantery is in his sixth season as head coach at John Carroll.

> The Blue Streaks remaining home schedule (at Gilmour Academy) includes hosting Mercyhurst on January 27th and Duquesne University on February 3rd. Both of those contests begin at 6:00 PM. On February 9th, Robert Morris University travels to Gilmour Academy for an 8:10 PM faceoff against John Carroll to conclude the regular season.

> Northeast Ohio rival Kent State University hosts John Carroll at the KSU Ice Arena on Thursday February 8th at 7:30 PM.

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