The SCSU men’s hockey team was able to edge the Engineers on Friday night at the National Hockey and Events Center by a final score of 2-1 earning them a series split. The non-conference opponent, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was in town for a Thursday/Friday series. 

On Thursday night the Huskies were able to strike first in the opening period but couldn’t hang on to the lead in the second period as RPI scored three unanswered goals. The Huskies made things interesting in the third period thanks to a goal by Cory Thorson to tie things up. The Engineers fought back and scored the game winning goal with less than five minutes to play in the game. Kalle Kossila and Jonny Brodzinski rounded out the goal scoring for the Huskies in the 4-3 loss. It was freshmen Joey Benik‘s first career game after recovering from a broken leg that happened during the first practice of the season. Benik notched an assist on the Thorson goal to earn his first collegiate point.

Game two of the series took place on Friday night and was a close fought battle as St. Cloud State prevailed 2-1. The Huskies got help from the upperclassmen who notched both goals in the second period. Ben Hanowski scored the Huskies first goal with help from Drew LeBlanc and Nic Dowd. With just seconds remaining the second period Drew LeBlanc put the game winning goal in the back of the net off the sticks of Jonny Brodzinski and Kalle Kossila.

Hanowski now has 96 career points just four shy of the century club. Drew LeBlanc became a member of the 100 point club earlier this season, currently leading the team in points on the season and leading all of Division One hockey with 22 assists so far this season. On his career he has 125 points putting him eleventh in all time points leaders for SCSU.

This week the team moved up one place in the USCHO polls now holding down spot 15. On Friday and Saturday the team will host Northern Michigan University at the NHEC. On Friday night the action begins at 7:15 with the pregame show on the KVSC airwaves. The puck will drop at 7:37. On Saturday night the puck will drop at 7:07 with a 6:45 pregame show. Follow the latest in husky hockey news on our Twitter page.