Lindenwood’s Mitch Allard (10) and Air Force’s Mitchell Digby chase after the puck during Sunday’s NCAA hockey game at the US Air Force Academy. (Photo courtesy: Lindenwood Athletics)
| NCAA Hockey – Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindenwood (0-1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Air Force (1-0) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| NCAA Hockey – Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lindenwood (1-1) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Air Force (1-1) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Jason Barnes
Staff Writer
US Air Force Academy, CO — The Lindenwood University men’s hockey team opened its 2023-24 season over the weekend with a two-game series against the United States Air Force Academy. The Lions and Falcons split two exciting games when they met last season. And the same thing happened this year, as the two clubs began the new season.
Air Force won the season opener 4-1 on Saturday. But Lindenwood responded by winning Game 2, in exciting fashion, 4-3 in overtime.
Friday’s game began with a scoreless first period, as the two clubs felt each other out. But the action picked up big time in the second, as both clubs found the back of the net to put themselves on their board.
Air Force got the first score, 10 minutes in, to go up 1-0. But Lindenwood answered right back, when freshman Drew Kuzma scored from in front of the net, thanks to a nice set up by teammates Jake Southgate and Kyle Jeffers to even the score at 1. The Falcons responded with another goal of their own to head into the final period up 2-1.
In that final period, Air Force scored twice — including an empty-netter — to cap the scoring and win the game 4-1.
Saturday’s game was similarly back and forth. But this time it was the Lions who scored first and eventually came out on top.
And it was Kuzma who got his club going again. This time, on a set up by Southgate and Caleb Price, Kuzma zipped a shot past the Air Force goalkeeper to put Lindenwood up 1-0.
Air Force tied the score on a power play goal a couple minutes later that ended the first period 1-1.
Lindenwood dominated the ice during the second, scoring twice and only conceding one goal.
At 11:43, Southgate scored on a pass from Ethan Zielke and Kabore Dunn. A few minutes later, at 15:11, Dunn and Kieran Ruscheinski smoothly slid the puck to Caige Sterzer, who scored a goal that put the Lions up 3-1.
Air Force scored a goal late in the period to send the game to the final stanza with Lindenwood ahead 3-2.
The third period was ultra exciting, with Lindenwood playing defensively and trying to close out the game and Air Force trying every trick in the book to try to tie it, which the Falcons did with one second left in regulation.
That forced overtime and both teams had scoring chances, but it was Lindenwood’s David Gagnon who won the game at the 2:32 mark, with a blistering shot off a pass from Jeffers. It was Gagnon’s first goal of the season and Jeffers’ second assist.
Lindenwood will return home for the week, then head east this weekend for a two-game matchup with No. 15-ranked Ohio State. Friday’s game will begin at 6 p.m., with Saturday’s contest set for 4 p.m.
There’s a chance Friday’s game may be televised on the Big 10 Network. The schedule hasn’t been set yet, but the Lindenwood-Ohio State game is one of the possible choices.
Lindenwood Lions Men’s Hockey 2023-2024 Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 13, 2023 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | #15 Ohio State University | Columbus, OH |
| October 14, 2023 (Saturday) | 4:00 p.m. | Away | #15 Ohio State University | Columbus, OH |
| October 20, 2023 (Friday) | 7:07 p.m. | Away | University of St. Thomas | St. Paul, MN |
| October 21, 2023 (Saturday) | 6:07 p.m. | Away | University of St. Thomas | St. Paul, MN |
| October 27, 2023 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | #4 University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
| October 28, 2023 (Saturday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | #4 University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
| November 10, 2023 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Augustana University (SD) | Centene Community Ice Center |
| November 11, 2023 (Saturday) | 7:10 p.m. | Home | Augustana University (SD) | Centene Community Ice Center |
| November 17, 2023 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Long Island University | Centene Community Ice Center |
| November 18, 2023 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Long Island University | Centene Community Ice Center |
| November 24, 2023 (Friday) | 3:00 p.m. | Away | #11 Penn State University | University Park, PA |
| November 25, 2023 (Saturday) | 3:00 p.m. | Away | #11 Penn State University | University Park, PA |
| December 1, 2023 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | #7 Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| December 2, 2023 (Saturday) | 5:00 p.m. | Away | #7 Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI |
| January 5, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | #7 Western Michigan University | Centene Community Ice Center |
| January 6, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | #7 Western Michigan University | Centene Community Ice Center |
| January 12, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | University of Wisconsin | Madison, WI |
| January 13, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | University of Wisconsin | Madison, WI |
| January 26, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | Stonehill College | Centene Community Ice Center |
| January 27, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Stonehill College | Centene Community Ice Center |
| February 2, 2024 (Friday) | 8:00 p.m. | Away | Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ |
| February 3, 2024 (Saturday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ |
| February 9, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Stonehill College | North Easton, MA |
| February 10, 2024 (Saturday) | 4:00 p.m. | Away | Stonehill College | North Easton, MA |
| February 16, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Home | University of Alaska Anchorage | Centene Community Ice Center |
| February 17, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | University of Alaska Anchorage | Centene Community Ice Center |