GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The opening home series of the season yielded a couple of wins over John Carroll University for the Davenport ACHA D1 hockey team. The Panthers improved to 4-1 this season and have never lost to the Blue Streaks in eight chances.

Friday night's win (4-3) was the fourth straight one-goal game for the Panthers to start the season. Camden Martin gave John Carroll the early lead just 27 seconds into the game. Jake Alton tied the game at the 8:24 mark with his second goal of the season with assists by Jack Kelly and Ethan Wallace.

Sammy Mielock gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead on the power play at 8:23 of the second period with his third goal of the season as Wallace got his second assist. Liam Bland five minutes later increased the lead to 3-1 with his first tally of the season from Sammy Mielock.

The Blue Streaks got within one at the 12:38 mark of the third period on a 4-on-4 situation. Benny Mielock gave DU a 4-2 advantage at 15:54 with his first goal as a Panther from Tony Kauffman and Ryan Blackburn. Tanner Plinta made it 4-3 at 17:27 for JCU, but Henry Cseh took a penalty just 30 seconds later to hinder the chances of getting the tying goal. Kyler Lowden would get the win in net for Davenport.

Saturday's game saw Davenport start with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Bland got his second goal of the weekend at 8:08 from Luke Mikkola. Sammy Mielock also scored at 13:34 from Mikkola and Wallace.

JCU stormed back with three straight goals to start the second period. Colin Cronin, Cseh and Zach Zemrac each scored on the power play off a five-minute major slash by Benny Mielock. Davenport got the tying goal at 19:03 from Kelly with his fourth of the season on the power play from Kauffman.

In the third period, DU buckled down and fought off three penalties for a total of nine minutes. Sammy Mielock took a five-minute charging major at 7:15 and the penalty kill and Lowden made it happen by keeping JCU off the board. Alton scored on the power play at 2:31 from Dylan Jouppi and Kauffman to provide the winner. The insurance goal was scored by Matt Carlson into an empty net at 19:03 for his second on the season assisted by Sammy Mielock. 

Next up for DU will be a two-game series against Indiana Tech with Friday's 4 PM game in Fort Wayne followed by Saturday's game at Patterson Ice Center starting at 6:35 PM.