The first weekend of November saw the Virginia Tech Hokies travel to Northern Virginia as the team took part in the annual ACCHL Fall Showcase. Through three games, the Hokies came out victorious in two, coming up just short in the finale against Penn State in overtime.
Coming into the weekend, the Hokies were on an 11-game winning streak that dated back to September 14 at James Madison. The team took October by storm, coming out of the month undefeated with sweeps over Stevenson, Rider, West Virginia, and Maryland. Ahead of the big weekend at The St. James in Springfield, the Hokies looked to continue their dominant ways against Delaware, Rowan, and Penn State.
Friday's matchup against the Blue Hens saw the Hokies take a quick 3-0 lead after the first period. Goals from Gavin Peduzzi, Max Sullivan, and Kam Khazai would be all Virginia Tech needed. Sophomore forwards Ethan Garlock and Marshall Campbell would add two more goals in the second, which helped secure the team’s 5-1 victory over Delaware. Shane Cook dazzled in the net, stopping 25/26 to earn his second win of the season.
Saturday against the Rowan Profs saw more of the same with another 5-1 win. Similarly to the first game, Captain Gavin Peduzzi got the Hokies going in the first. It was not until the second period that the Hokies started their offensive flow with goals from Dom Fantozzi, JH Lages, and Ethan Garlock. Austin Hyrn would add the lone third-period goal.
The contest marked Garlock's ninth consecutive game with a goal, which dated back to October 5 against Stevenson. During that span, the sophomore forward from Princeton, New Jersey, had 11 goals, including a near-hat trick performance against Rider. Garlock, on the first line with fellow teammates Gavin Peduzzi and Kam Khazai, has amassed a total of 91 points in 11 games played together.
The weekend finale saw Virginia Tech square off with Penn State in a highly anticipated matchup for both teams. As advertised, the game was close throughout with the Hokies taking a 3-2 heading into the final period. Senior netminder Ian Kee was stout in net against an equally high-octane Ice Lions offense that gave Tech all they could handle. It was not until in the dying minutes of the third did Penn State capitalize off a turnover and tie the game 3-3, leading to extra time. Before Sunday, the Hokies had yet to play in extra time this season. It was not long until Penn State's Chase Tymchyshyn found the back of the net to end the Hokies’ 13-game winning streak.
After a competitive weekend, the Hokies picked up league points in all three games. They currently sit at 5-0-1 (16 points) in the ACCHL Premier South division. With a shuffling of standings from this past weekend with other teams around the league, fans will find out later next week where the Hokies stand entering the second half of their season. The team does not play ACCHL competition again until January 4, when they square off against UNC in Charlotte, playing seven straight league games during the month.
Next week will also decide where Virginia Tech ranks among all ACHA M2 teams. With a 13-1-1 record, the Hokies should be favored inside the top 10 regionally, with a chance to crack the top 25 nationally.
The Hokies have next weekend before heading back out on the ice on November 15 at home against Wake Forest. The team will host its Veteran Appreciation Night with a pregame puck drop ceremony along with other in-game activities honoring those who have served our country.
Comments