WHAC Hockey Tournament Day One Recap

DEARBORN, Mich. - Two of three higher seeds were victorious in the opening round of the WHAC Men's Hockey Tournament on Friday. The tournament, hosted by defending tournament champions UM-Dearborn, saw the lone upset come in the #4 vs. #5 matchup with #5 Concordia defeating #4 Aquinas, 4-1 to kickoff the day. In the second game of the day, #2 Lawrence Tech took care of its matchup with #7 Rochester, winning 9-1. In the third and final game, host #3 UM-Dearborn defeated #6 Cleary 5-3. The semi-finals will feature #5 Concorida vs. #1 Indiana Tech at 3 p.m. followed by the WHAC awards ceremony. The final semi-final matchup will pit #3 UM-Dearborn against #2 Lawrence Tech.

Game One Recap: #5 Concordia def. #4 Aquinas 4-1 Box Score

The game was tied up 1-1 heading into the third period when Concordia exploded for three goals from three different players to push ahead 4-1. They never looked back as they sent away the late charge from Aquinas to earn the victory and advance to the semi-finals to meet up with top-seeded Indiana Tech.

Goals:
Kyle Hebner (Concordia), Nicola Vogel (Aquinas), Zane Rydel (Concordia), Sam Sahr (Concordia), Tyler Bieniek (Concordia)

Assists:
Quinn Bieniek (Concordia), Kirwin Johnson (Aquinas), Tyler Bieniek (Concordia), Brandon Troye (Concordia), Zachary Janis (Concordia)

Game Two Recap: #2 Lawrence Tech def. #7 Rochester 9-1 Box Score

Lawrence Tech scored two goals in the first, three in the second and four in the third period to coast past #7 Rochester in the second matchup of the afternoon. Seven different individuals had atleast one goal for the Blue Devils who will advance to play host #3 UM-Dearborn on Saturday.

Goals:
Maximus Nguyen, 2 (Lawrence Tech), Liam Bland, 2 (Lawrence Tech), Kyle Banks (Rochester), Brendan Preiss (Lawrence Tech), Nicholas Ceccarin (Lawrence Tech), Dylan Magdich (Lawrence Tech), Drake Barnish (Lawrence Tech)

Assists:
Drake Barnish, 2 (Lawrence Tech), Thimo Ey, 4 (Lawrence Tech), Justin Hubenschmidt, 2 (Lawrence Tech), Avery Pittman (Lawrence Tech), David Hoftieze (Lawrence Tech), Sean Pilet (Lawrence Tech)

Game Three Recap: #3 UM-Dearborn def. #6 Cleary 5-3 Box Score

Cleary took an early lead with a goal just five minutes into the game but #3 UM-Dearborn stormed back with three in the second and never looked back. WHAC Player of the Year Bailey Byrd scored both of his goals in the second period to put the Wolverines ahead. Four different players scored for UM-Dearborn.

Goals:
Cam Thomas (Cleary), Bailey Byrd, 2 (UM-Dearborn), Ben Gledhow (Cleary), Quest Bigelow (UM-Dearborn), Josh Weber (UM-Dearborn), Declan Flanagan (UM-Dearborn), Jonny Gardiner (Cleary)

Assists:
Devon Campbell (Cleary),  Declan Flanagan, 3 (UM-Dearborn), Bennett Sheppard (Cleary), Bailey Byrd (UM-Dearborn), Joey Cullinan (UM-Dearborn), Craig McKague (UM-Dearborn)