Bandits in the NCAA Report (Jan 15th, 2021), by Nathan Crosby:
No better way to lead off this week’s Bandits in the NCAA Report than with 2 of the hottest players in the nation, Randy Hernandez and Nick Prkusic.
These two have been tearing it up for Robert Morris, who clawed back from a 4-2 deficit on Sat, Jan 9th vs Niagara to win 5-4 in overtime.
Prkusic redirected this Hernandez pass to make it 4-3:
Great finish off an even better dish! #RMUnite | ?????? pic.twitter.com/3iPxrf2IHh
? RMU Men?s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) January 10, 2021
The former Bandit captain returned the favour to Hernandez, who blasted it from the right circle to tie the game 4-4 with a minute remaining. The Colonials ended up winning 5-4 in overtime. Hernandez chipped in another assist the next day in a 6-2 RMU win, as his team is now ranked 17th in the country. Prkusic and Hernandez are tied for 6th in the nation for scoring with 16 points.
????Hernandez ties it! RMU scores with the extra attacker with one minute left! #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/x7XA713NYF
? RMU Men?s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) January 10, 2021
The goaltender who backstopped the Bandits to a National Junior A Championship in 2019 made his NCAA debut on Fri, Jan 8th. Pierce Charleson saw 48:26 of relief action for Michigan State against their arch rivals Michigan. The 2019-20 Bandits MVP made 23 saves in a loss to the Wolverines.
3-0 U-M. Pierce Charleson takes over in goal for the Spartans with 8:26 to go in the 1st.
? MSU_Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 9, 2021
The Spartans got revenge the next day, as defenceman Dennis Cesana chipped in an assist in a 3-2 MSU win. The 2017-18 AJHL leader in defenceman scoring has 7 points in 12 games this year for the Spartans, and if you missed it, check out this great feature on his journey from Rhode Island to Brooks to East Lansing.
“There’s going to be highs and lows along the way but if you stick with it and try your best at everything, I’ve found its always worked out for me.”@DennisCesana | @MSU_Hockey
Learn more about Cesana’s life in the rink. pic.twitter.com/T8qoQKuqzY
? Spartan Athletics (@MSU_Athletics) January 12, 2021
Colgate’s Josh McKechney scored his 1st of the season on Sunday, Jan 10th in a 1-1 tie with St. Lawrence. Arnaud Vachon picked up an assist on the play.
Scoring Colgate’s second shorthanded goal of the year is senior Josh McKechney ?? pic.twitter.com/2pUIfiqrRT
? Colgate Men’s Hockey (@ColgateMIH) January 10, 2021
Simon Boyko potted his 1st goal of the season, as the Vermont Catamounts forward scored on Sat, Jan 9th vs Maine. Feeding him the puck was captain Andrew Lucas, both of whom won a National Championship with Brooks in 2019.
5:42 | 2nd | 3-1 Maine#VCats Goal!
Simon Boyko takes a feed from Andrew Lucas and sneaks it in by the post for his first of the season.
? UVM Men’s Hockey (@UVMmhockey) January 9, 2021
Arizona State defenceman Jarrod Gourley scored his 2nd of the season in a 5-3 win over Notre Dame on Sun, Jan 10th:
Our rush has been better than the King today… ??
??: @NHLnetwork pic.twitter.com/AmmyThXVKs
? Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 10, 2021