On Friday, Nov. 9, the Rhode Island men’s hockey team traveled down south to the Fred Rust Arena to take on the University of Delaware men’s hockey team for a two-game series.
It took almost half of the first period, just over the eleven-minute mark, for URI to get on the board. Forward Danny Ryan scored one for the Rams to give them the lead as neither team would have luck scoring for the rest of the opening period.
Going into the second period it was all Delaware as they went on to score four goals. The goal-scoring bonanza started as Michael Nisky sunk one in at the 58-second mark. That was followed by a Harrison Chuma score at just over the 10-minute mark, Chris Mazzella at the 10-minute mark and followed up again by Nisky this time just before the end of the period.
Trying to come back and make this a close game, URI tried all they could to take the third period for the Rams. Unfortunately, Delaware was not done yet with the scoring frenzy as they would go onto score two more goals, another one by Mazzella again just before the five-minute mark and a game-sealing goal by Gavin Hulser.
Both teams were hit with many penalties. Rhode Island led the penalty count with seven and Delaware at six.
Not wanting to go home this weekend with two losses, the Ram’s hockey team had some fire burning to split the series against the University of Delaware.
The first period of this final game between both teams this past weekend was filled with back and forth action as both teams would score two goals in the opening period. Goals were scored by Blue Hen forwards Jake Nimeh and Nisky, scoring on a power play, at the 31-second mark. URI would find the back of the net twice one by Daniel Caruso and the other off the stick of Matthew Kowash.
The second period was owned solely by the Rams as they would finally take the lead as Nick Centauro would score on a power play. Rhody would score again on a power play goal to close the period. Mazzella of Delaware would put one in the net to pull the blue hens within one score.
In the final period, Delaware would strike first as Nisky would score his second goal for Delaware just before the eight-minute mark. Rhody would come back to score a goal of their own from Danny Green in what would be the deciding goal to give Rhody the win, as Delaware could not find the back of the net again.
The Rams face off against the University of Illinois, on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m., and either the University of Nevada Las Vegas or Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 18 with an unknown start time. Both will be played in Chicago.