Grand Rapids, Mich. — As the calendar turned to mid-October, the Aquinas Men's DI hockey team continued its hunt for that elusive first win of the 2025 campaign. Head Coach Brandon Rozema and his staff have emphasized growth, discipline, and resilience — knowing that with every shift, every period, and every game, this young Saints team is inching closer to its breakthrough moment. The two-game road trip to Hammond, Indiana, to face Purdue Northwest offered another chance for Aquinas to build on its foundation and put together a complete 60-minute performance against a strong ACHA opponent.

Monday, October 13, 2025

Purdue Northwest 4, Aquinas 1

Aquinas battled hard in the opening matchup, showing grit and energy throughout despite falling 4–1 to Purdue Northwest. The Saints' defense, led by Logan Boettcher and Nick Dashner, held strong early as goaltender Jean Berthaudin turned aside over 50 shots to keep AQ within striking distance. After three unanswered goals by the Pride, Gavin Rozema finally broke through for the Saints late in the third, finishing a smooth setup from Arseniy Malyutin to put Aquinas on the board. The line of Braylen Outwater, Alex Johnson, and Ben Cesario generated sustained offensive pressure, while Zachary Burns and Easton Pratt anchored the penalty kill with aggressive forechecking and blocked shots. Despite the scoreline, the Saints left the rink knowing their structure and compete level were improving with each period.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Purdue Northwest 8, Aquinas 3

The Saints returned to the ice less than 24 hours later, determined to respond — and they did with one of their most spirited offensive outings of the season. Gavin Rozema, continuing his strong play, opened the scoring for Aquinas off a perfect feed from Arseniy Malyutin. Freshman Braylen Outwater followed with a goal midway through the second period, capitalizing on a loose puck in front to cut the deficit. Later, Alex Johnson buried a third-period tally off an assist from Zachary Burns, marking his first goal of the year. Goalie Simon Johnson faced relentless pressure but made several highlight-reel saves to keep the Saints battling until the final horn. Defensively, Austin Plumert, Evan Doan, and Ignazy Drozd played physical minutes, while Cooper Nienhuis and Justin Lagrow sparked transition play through the neutral zone. Though the Pride pulled away late, the Saints showcased improvement in offensive execution and energy across all four lines.
The two-game set wrapped up with Aquinas moving to 0–8–0 overall and 0–2–0 in ACHA conference play, as they continue searching for that first breakthrough win.

Inside the Numbers (Both Games)

     • 4 goals scored by four different Saints (Rozema 2, Outwater 1, Johnson 1)
     • 77 combined saves from goalies Jean Berthaudin and Simon Johnson
     • 6 players recorded at least one point over the two games
     • 2 straight games with multiple goals scored for the first time this season
     • 100+ total shots faced, showcasing the resilience of the AQ goaltending corps

Coaches' Comments

Following the second game, Coach Brandon Rozema reflected on his team's effort and mindset during the two-game trip:

"Our guys continue to compete, and that's what I love about this group. It's easy to get frustrated when results don't come right away, but their energy and attitude have stayed positive. Every game, we're learning something — about execution, effort, and what it takes to finish plays at this level. The staff and I believe in this team, and we're focused on helping them stay confident, stay connected, and keep building. We're close, and once it clicks, I think we'll take a big step forward."

Up Next

Coach Rozema's squad will be back in action this weekend with another tough test — a home-and-home series against UM-Dearborn. The Saints will host the Wolverines at Southside Ice Arena on Friday night before heading to Dearborn Ice Arena on Saturday. Please note: Friday's game will not be streamed (we apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause). Fans are encouraged to follow along with live stats, scores, and recaps at AQSaints.com.