LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The men's D2 ACHA hockey team had a busy weekend at the Louisville Showcase in Louisville, Ky. with three games in three days against a few talented Midwest opponents. The team lost their first two contests to Kentucky (6-2) on Friday and Indiana (7-5) on Saturday. That did not faze them as they rebounded on Sunday for a 3-2 win over the host Cardinals at Icelands Sports Complex. DU is now 3-2 overall this season.

The Wildcats of Kentucky used a strong second period to propel them to the four-goal outcome. The teams traded goals in the first stanza as Kentucky led 3-2 after 20 minutes. Luke Nickolaus and Jacob Demeter each scored for the Panthers and the Wildcats scored twice on the power play. All five first period goals were scored in the final 6:34 of the period.

UK extended their lead to 6-2 in the dominant second period with goals by Dan Quartapella, Drew Carlson, and Gio Lanera all at even strength. All goals were scored in the third period. The final shots on goal were 42-31 in favor of Big Blue Nation and they finished 2-for-3 on the power play. Brenden Bogema got the start in net and made 15 saves before being lifted for Drake Deering. He finished the final 36:32 and stopped 21-of-23 shots.

The Indiana game was a back-and-forth affair as the teams traded goals all night. The Hoosiers scored four of their seven goals in the third period for the victory. The Panthers scored once in the first, twice in the second, and two more times in the third. Ryan Gamber scored in the first period with assists from Nathan Hartline and Brody White.

Spencer Sandberg and Arian Starin each scored in the second period. Hugo Fonovic and Demeter continued the balanced scoring in the third period. The Fonovic goal was scored on the power play from Jack Sanko and Sandberg. The Hoosiers clinging to a 6-5 lead late in the game was awarded a penalty shot and converted to seal the win.

The weekend ended on a high note with the 3-2 win over Louisville. Deering got the start between the pipes against the Cardinals and made 32 saves to earn the win. He allowed just two goals in the first period and then settled in. Jeff Rahilly scored in the first period on the power play from Sanko.

Fonovic continued his hot start to 2021-22 with a second period tally from Rahilly and Cole Uzzell. Sandberg would score in the game-winning goal with one minute left in the contest from Fonovic.