MADELINE RAINERI | Reporter
The men’s American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I team took its first win against the University of Oklahoma.
On Sept. 22 at the Blazers Ice Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Lions won 3-0.
After the first period, the Lions had advanced with a 1-0 lead against the Sooners after a goal by junior forward Tommy Heinzman with assistance from senior Brad Edwards and freshman Caleb Ernst. They led the shots 14-9.
In the second period, the Lions took their final 3-0 lead with two goals. The first goal of the period hit home by sophomore forward Jordan Klimovsky assisted by Alexander Carlsson and Cade Owad. The second goal of the period was scored by Edwards after a play made by Hayden Dawes and Austin Wilk to help the Lions claim their first win against the Sooners.
Klimovsky was excited to score a goal in the first regular season game and said, “Scoring was great. It felt like I never left the game. A weight lifted getting that first one out of the way.”
The win was also a plus, and Klimovsky said, “It felt great to get the win. The boys knew we had a job to do, and we went out and got it done.”
The 3-0 win signaled the first shutout for senior goalie Michael Hails as well.
Prior to this win, the Lions stayed in eighth place in the ACHA preseason rankings, with other teams moving around. The University of Oklahoma stayed eight spots behind the Lions in 16th place, and the No. 1-ranking University of Central Oklahoma continued to sit in first place. Minot State won its first two games against Central Oklahoma and advanced from third to second place in the rankings.
The Lions will face off again tonight against the Sooners at the Blazers Ice Center. The puck drops at 6 p.m.
