Grand Rapids, Mich. – It's hard to believe only one week ago, the Saints Men's DI hockey team would have sold Nelson to get a win. Now, just seven short days later, Coach Brandon Rozema's group is riding a three-game winning streak and playing their best hockey of the early season. Saturday night at Southside Ice Arena, Aquinas completed a dominant home-and-home sweep of Central Michigan, blasting the Chippewas 9–2 and proving that confidence, chemistry, and consistency can completely transform a season's outlook.

Aquinas 9, Central Michigan 2

The Saints came out buzzing from the opening faceoff, striking twice in the first five minutes behind goals from Braylen Outwater and Brendan Bourne. Assists came from Justin Lagrow, Nick Dashner, Xavier Erickson, and Austin Plumert, as AQ quickly dictated pace and possession. The relentless energy carried into the second period, where the Saints exploded for four more goals — including tallies by Outwater, Arseniy Malyutin, Zachary Burns, and Cooper Nienhuis. Aquinas' special teams were equally sharp, going 2-for-3 on the power play while the penalty kill locked down every major CMU chance, turning shorthanded shifts into momentum swings that fueled their scoring surge.

The third period opened with fireworks as Erickson scored just nine seconds in, taking a feed from Alex Johnson and Bourne to stretch the lead and set the tone for the rest of the frame. From there, Gavin Rozema and Nienhuis each found the back of the net to cap the offensive outburst. Erickson, Burns, and Rozema each had multi-point performances, while Johnson and Tyler Hilliker added helpers late. Between the pipes, Simon Johnson was calm and composed, stopping 28 of 30 shots to secure his third straight victory. Every line contributed, and it showed in the score — a total team effort from a group that's clearly finding its stride.

Inside the Numbers

     • Outwater and Nienhuis each scored twice, combining for four goals and three assists.
     • Erickson had a goal and two assists, while Burns, Bourne, Rozema, and Malyutin all added goals.
     • Johnson improved to 3–0 during the current win streak, making 28 saves.
     • Aquinas went 2-for-3 on the power play and held CMU to 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
     • The Saints recorded points from 13 different skaters, marking the most balanced offensive output of the season.

Coach's Comments

Head Coach Brandon Rozema was elated after the game, emphasizing how this team has battled through adversity and is finally finding its identity.

"What I love about this group right now is how they're buying in — every shift, every battle, every line. We've gone from pressing to producing, and that comes from hard work and trust. Winning begets winning, and we're starting to see what this team can be when they stay connected. The guys are hungry, they're having fun, and now the challenge is to keep building on that."

Up Next

The Saints will be off until Friday, November 14, when they begin a home-and-home with Rochester Christian. Friday's match-up will be on the road before AQ returns home to the Southside Ice Arena on Saturday, November 15. That game will be streamed live on the AQ Athletic Network, with Joey Sutherlin on the call. Stay tuned to AQSaints.com for full coverage, stats, and postgame recaps.