Eagles stay cold on fresh ice
UTM Men’s Hockey was unable to find a win in their season opener.
On Tuesday, October 24, the UTM Men’s Hockey team took on St. George Black at Varsity Arena – the team responsible for ending their playoff hopes last season. Despite the whirlwind of anticipation leading up to the season opener, the Eagles ultimately skated away in a hard-fought defeat.
Eagles take to the rink
Despite missing key players like Mathew Chekay, Everton Smith, and Devon Facchinato, the Eagles hit the ice with determination, a well-practiced strategy, and a fine-tuned game plan they’d been working on since September. However, St. George Black quickly capitalized on a crucial turnover in the Eagles’ defensive zone right after a first-period faceoff, taking an early lead.
Undeterred, the Eagles kept up the pressure, creating numerous scoring opportunities. The game’s intensity increased as they found their rhythm, with Michal Buczek hitting the posts multiple times, breathing life into the Eagles bench.
By the end of the second period, both teams had registered an equal number of shots, fueling the Eagles’ determination to find the back of the net. With the score still locked at 1-0 in favor of St. George Black, the stage was set for a thrilling final period.
During the intermission, coaches Peter Christopoulous, Dan Mui, and Ryan Mui offered words of encouragement to their team. They emphasized the need for strong defensive play to support starting goalie Noah Csaky-Schwede, who was delivering an impressive performance between the pipes, keeping the Eagles in the game.
After a short intermission, the third period began with both teams surging onto the ice, energized and eager to claim victory. Every player, driven by an insatiable hunger to score, raised their game to a new level. The intensity skyrocketed — passes became sharper, shots packed more power, and the window to make decisions with the puck shrank rapidly. The game now highlighted the sheer skill and high hockey IQ on display, as both teams showcased their best under pressure, each move more calculated and precise than the last, but in the end, the Eagles couldn’t manage to make the comeback.
Following the game, a few significant voices in the locker room made some noteworthy statements about the outcome.
“Tonight wasn’t our best, but we’re learning from it. We’ve got the talent and the drive, and we’ll come back stronger for the next one,” said Ethan Defarias, assistant captain for the Eagles.
Returning second-year player Chris Lamont also commented on the team’s performance. “I think the boys played hard, but we failed to capitalize on our scoring chances and didn’t clear the front of our net well which set us back.”
Notably, Tuesday’s game marked the debut of several fresh faces for the UTM Eagles, including Devon Lakhanpal, Jeremy Krolewski, Phoenix Walker, and Colin Furlong. Each of them showed tremendous heart and pride while donning the blue and white uniform, contributing to the team’s effort with energy and determination in their first of many appearances as UTM Eagles.
Eagles head coach Peter Christopolous was also positive about the new environment in the Eagles locker room. “Considering it was the season opener, I thought the team provided a solid effort and skated hard throughout the entirety of the game,” said Christopoulous. “Obviously not the outcome we wanted, but many positive things to take from it as well as things to learn from. Goaltending by Noah was phenomenal, and he made some solid saves for us. We will regroup at practice and get ready for the next game!”
The men’s team will look to bounce back with even more energy when they return to Varsity Arena on November 5 at 8:00 PM to face off against the St. George Red. With high stakes and a renewed focus, the atmosphere promises to be electric, and a win seems within reach for our Eagles!
Stay tuned for more information and news about UTM’s Tri-Campus league!
