Hope College Men’s Hockey Splits Weekend Series Against Kent State

A Hard-Fought Split on the Road

Hope College men’s hockey salvaged a weekend split against Kent State University, erasing the sting of a Friday loss with a 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday. Junior left wing Cade Pratt delivered the decisive blow, finding the back of the net just 2 minutes and 21 seconds into the extra period.

Building a Lead Under Pressure

Saturday’s contest saw the Flying Dutch looking to answer after a 4-2 defeat the previous night. The team held a steady 3-1 lead through much of the second half, anchored by freshman goaltender Leif Ekblad, who turned away 29 shots on the night. Freshman Cooper Clouse extended the lead with a power-play goal at the 11:22 mark of the period, assisted by Carter Lehmann. Sophomore Alex John had earlier broken a 1-1 tie off an assist from defenseman Ethan Ogle.

Kent State’s Late Surge

Despite Hope’s defensive efforts, Kent State refused to fold. The hosts mounted a frantic rally, scoring twice in the final two minutes of regulation to force the game into overtime.

Kent State Overcomes Early Deficit to Beat Hope

The weekend began with a different tone. In Friday’s series opener, Kent State overcame an early deficit to secure a 4-2 win. Sophomore Logan Nickolaus provided the only offense for Hope, accounting for both goals. After Hope took an initial 1-0 lead, Kent State answered with three goals in the second period to seize control of the game.

Preparing for John Carroll

The Flying Dutch return to the Holland Ice Arena with a 3-1 record to begin their next series. Hope College is set to host John Carroll University for a two-game set. Puck drop for both Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.