Grand Rapids, Mich. – A new season brings a fresh sheet of ice, a locker room full of belief and 60 minutes to show what the Saints can become. Aquinas drew a formidable opening assignment in No. 14 Hope, with games on the road Friday and at home Saturday. The weekend did not have the storybook ending AQ fans were hoping for, but two September games do not write the story of this team. The Saints have a week to take what they learned, sharpen their execution and come back ready for Oakland.
Friday: No. 14 Hope 5, Aquinas 2
Hope scored twice in the first period in Holland, with Aleksander John opening the scoring and Carter Lehmann adding the second goal. Aquinas got its first goal of the season early in the second when Gavin Rozema finished a play created by Cooper Nienhuis and Parker Burns. The goal pulled the Saints within 2-1 and gave them a chance to build on their response. Jean Berthaudin kept AQ in the fight as Hope continued to put pucks on net.
The one-goal margin held until late in the second, when Drew Watz scored for the Flying Dutchmen. Aquinas then had a power-play opportunity to answer, but Logan Nickolaus scored short-handed to make it 4-1. The Saints kept after it in the third period. Parker Burns found the net with 3:31 remaining, with Nienhuis and Rozema picking up the assists. Nienhuis finished with two assists, while Rozema had a goal and an assist in the opener.
AQ pushed for another goal, but Connor Dvorak scored in the final minute to close out Hope's 5-2 win. Berthaudin made 42 saves in his first start of the season. Rozema and Burns gave the Saints their first two goals of 2026-27. The result left Aquinas with less than 24 hours to regroup before meeting Hope again at Southside Ice Arena.
Saturday: No. 14 Hope 7, Aquinas 1
The Saints came home looking for a response and another shot at the Flying Dutchmen. Hope took control of the score early, getting first-period goals from Brady Breit and Griffin Riemersma. Berthaudin was busy again in the AQ crease as Aquinas worked to stay within striking distance. Brady Kingsbury and Hunter Turkstra scored in the second period to extend Hope's lead to 4-0.
Aquinas answered on the power play with 6:51 left in the period. Rozema scored for the second consecutive night, finishing a play assisted by Easton Pratt and Parker Burns. The goal gave the Saints something to build on heading into the third. Hope took that momentum back early in the final period when Cooper Clouse made it 5-1. Logan Nickolaus then scored twice in 45 seconds to complete the 7-1 result.
Berthaudin finished Saturday with 41 saves and made 83 across the two games. Rozema scored two of AQ's three goals during the home-and-home. Burns contributed a goal Friday and an assist Saturday, while Pratt earned his first point of the weekend on the power-play goal. The Saints now have a full practice week to turn a difficult opening test into a better performance against Oakland.
Following the sweep, Aquinas is 0-2, while No. 14 Hope is 2-0.
Saints Snapshots
- A tough opening draw: Aquinas began its season with a home-and-home against No. 14 Hope.
- Rozema answers both nights: Gavin Rozema scored Friday in Holland and Saturday at Southside Ice Arena.
- Nienhuis creates chances: Cooper Nienhuis assisted on both AQ goals in the opener.
- Berthaudin battles: The Saints goaltender made 83 saves over the two games.
- The next response awaits: AQ gets a week to prepare before facing Oakland twice.
Coach's Comments
Head coach Brandon Rozema was candid about Saturday's performance and clear about where the Saints go from here.
"I'm disappointed with our execution today. We came home with an opportunity to respond, and we didn't play the kind of complete game we expect from ourselves. We have to own that, learn from it and get back to work this week. I believe in this group, and I'm confident we'll grow from this weekend, reload and keep improving each week."
Up Next
Rozema and his staff have a week to prepare Aquinas for a home-and-home with Oakland. The Saints travel to Rochester Hills on Friday for an 8:55 p.m. puck drop. On Saturday, Southside Ice Arena hosts an AQ hockey tripleheader in this order: women's hockey, men's Division III and men's Division I. The DI Saints close the day with a scheduled 7:30 p.m. start. Joey Sutherlin will stream all three games on the AQSaints YouTube Network.
Visit AQSaints.com for live statistics, streaming links and complete postgame coverage of Aquinas hockey and all other Saints sports.
It's a great day to be a Saint.
