# 2023–24 Stonehill Skyhawks men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Stonehill Skyhawks men's ice hockey season was the 45th season of play for the program and 2nd at the Division I level. The Skyhawks represented Stonehill College and were coached by David Borges in his 10th season.

## Season

For their second season as a D-I team, Stonehill was able to put together a schedule mostly against their contemporaries. Unfortunately, the team was not yet up to Division I standards. Stonehill's offense was lacking in firepower, averaging only about 20 shots per game which resulted in well under 2 goals per match. Conversely, the team's defense was porous and the goaltending suffered; the Skyhawks allowed more than 40 shots against per contest, resulting in just under 6 goals against per game. That is a recipe for disaster and the team's record bears that out.
From the very start of the season the Skyhawks netminders were under siege and were rarely able to catch their breaths. Dylan Meilun, the primary starter during the year, turned in a few decent performances but for the first 28 games the offense was too weak to take advantage. Even in the few matches against lower-tier clubs, Stonehill was unable to find a way to earn a victory and the team seemed destined for a winless campaign. Late January saw the team show some signs of life when the offense produced its best effort on the year. Though they lost to Lindenwood in overtime, the next series between the two saw Stonehill finally get its first win against a Division I opponent (albeit one of the worst teams that year). Not satisfied with just one victory, the Skyhawks won their next game as well, winning their final two home games. Their winning streak ended as soon as they hit the road and Stonehill lost their final six games to end the year.
Stonehill was able to avoid total ignominy with their two wins but that didn't stop the team from being ranked among the worst teams in college hockey history. While others have had worse records (1961 Brown, 1962 Colorado College) there haven't been many. Stonehill's 34 losses on the year put them one shy of the all-time record, held by 2014 Alabama–Huntsville.
Shortly after the end of the season, head coach David Borges announced his retirement, bringing his 26-year coaching career to a close.
A game with Saint Anselm scheduled for February 13 was cancelled due to inclement weather.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Will Cohen | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| John Day | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Drew Gardner | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Ohio |
| Andrew Gotts | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Richard Hall | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Thomas Horak | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Teddy McElaney | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Brendan Nehmer | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with EG Diez-Limburg) |
| John Peloso | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Austin Pick | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Matthew Pimental | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Pat Sunderland | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Matt Talarico | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Matt Allen | Forward | United States | 24 | Smithfield, RI; graduate transfer from Union |
| Charlie Banquier | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Oakville, ON |
| Justin Barker | Forward | Canada | 20 | Calgary, AB |
| Dominick Campione | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Kohler, WI |
| Devon Carlstrom | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Palm Beach Gardens, FL |
| Anthony Galante | Forward | United States | 21 | Morganville, NJ |
| Cam Gaudette | Defenseman | United States | 23 | Braintree, MA; transfer from Northeastern |
| Joseph Grainda | Forward | United States | 21 | Carmel, IN |
| Hunter Hastings | Forward | United States | 21 | Scottsdale, AZ |
| Greg Japchen | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Doylestown, PA; transfer from Union |
| Jake LaRusso | Forward | United States | 21 | Colts Neck, NJ; joined mid-season |
| Dylan Meilun | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | Winnipeg, MB; transfer from Wisconsin–Superior |
| Conor Ronayne | Forward | United States | 21 | Plymouth, MI |
| Henri Schreifels | Forward | United States | 23 | Agoura Hills, CA; transfer from Rensselaer |
| Alexander Tertyshny | Defenseman | United States | 23 | Philadelphia, PA; transfer from American International |

## Roster

As of September 20, 2023.

## Standings

2023–24 NCAA Division I Independent ice hockey standingsvte :
| | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Alaska | 34 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 110 | 86 |
| Alaska Anchorage | 34 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 95 | 105 |
| Arizona State | 38 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 129 | 94 |
| Lindenwood | 28 | 6 | 18 | 4 | 74 | 121 |
| Long Island | 37 | 16 | 20 | 1 | 115 | 103 |
| Stonehill | 36 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 62 | 213 |
| Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 7 | 7:00 pm | at #19 Northeastern* | Matthews Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 0–7 | 2,621 | 0–1–0 |
| October 13 | 7:00 pm | at #13 Providence* | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 1–7 | 2,969 | 0–2–0 |
| October 14 | 5:00 pm | Long Island* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | FitzPatrick | L 3–7 | 275 | 0–3–0 |
| October 20 | 7:00 pm | at Bentley* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Meilun | L 0–2 | 1,350 | 0–4–0 |
| October 21 | 6:00 pm | at Bentley* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Meilun | L 1–4 | 1,243 | 0–5–0 |
| October 29 | 2:00 pm | at Brown* | Meehan Auditorium • Providence, Rhode Island | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 2–7 | 488 | 0–6–0 |
| October 30 | 7:30 pm | Long Island* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 2–4 | 183 | 0–7–0 |
| November 3 | 10:00 pm | at #16 Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | | Meilun | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 4,444 | 0–8–0 |
| November 4 | 10:00 pm | at #16 Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | | Meilun | L 2–3 | 4,487 | 0–9–0 |
| November 10 | 7:00 pm | Alaska* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 1–3 | 311 | 0–10–0 |
| November 11 | 4:00 pm | Alaska* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 1–8 | 318 | 0–11–0 |
| November 18 | 5:00 pm | Anna Maria* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | FitzPatrick | L 2–4 | 279 | 0–12–0 |
| November 24 | 7:00 pm | at Union* | Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 2–5 | 1,283 | 0–13–0 |
| November 25 | 4:00 pm | at Union* | Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 0–4 | 1,115 | 0–14–0 |
| December 1 | 7:00 pm | at Utica* | Adirondack Bank Center • Utica, New York (Exhibition) | WKTV | Meilun | L 2–7 | 3,998 | |
| December 3 | 4:00 pm | Brown* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 1–4 | 217 | 0–15–0 |
| December 8 | 7:00 pm | at Clarkson* | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 1–5 | 2,133 | 0–16–0 |
| December 31 | 2:00 pm | at Merrimack* | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 2–3 | 2,038 | 0–17–0 |
| January 5 | 7:00 pm | at Robert Morris* | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | FitzPatrick | L 1–8 | 606 | 0–18–0 |
| January 6 | 5:00 pm | at Robert Morris* | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | FitzPatrick | L 3–7 | 658 | 0–19–0 |
| January 12 | 7:00 pm | at #15 Michigan* | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan | | FitzPatrick | L 4–12 | 5,800 | 0–20–0 |
| January 13 | 7:00 pm | at #15 Michigan* | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan | | FitzPatrick | L 1–7 | 5,800 | 0–21–0 |
| January 19 | 2:30 pm | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | FitzPatrick | L 2–8 | 250 | 0–22–0 |
| January 20 | 2:00 pm | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | FitzPatrick | L 0–10 | 300 | 0–23–0 |
| January 26 | 8:10 pm | at Lindenwood* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | FitzPatrick | L 1–7 | 821 | 0–24–0 |
| January 27 | 2:10 pm | at Lindenwood* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | FitzPatrick | L 5–6 $^{OT}$ | 672 | 0–25–0 |
| February 2 | 7:00 pm | Long Island* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 1–3 | 153 | 0–26–0 |
| February 3 | 4:00 pm | Long Island* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 0–5 | 198 | 0–27–0 |
| February 9 | 7:00 pm | Lindenwood* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | L 1–10 | 113 | 0–28–0 |
| February 10 | 5:00 pm | Lindenwood* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | W 4–2 | 178 | 1–28–0 |
| February 14 | 7:00 pm | Assumption* | Bridgewater Ice Arena • Bridgewater, Massachusetts | NEC Front Row | Meilun | W 3–1 | 207 | 2–28–0 |
| February 23 | 2:30 pm | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 2–7 | 300 | 2–29–0 |
| February 24 | 2:00 pm | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | Meilun | L 2–4 | 300 | 2–30–0 |
| March 1 | 11:07 pm | at Alaska Anchorage* | Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska | | Meilun | L 3–9 | 680 | 2–31–0 |
| March 2 | 7:07 pm | at Alaska Anchorage* | Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska | | FitzPatrick | L 2–12 | 580 | 2–32–0 |
| March 6 | 11:07 pm | at Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Meilun | L 1–9 | 1,978 | 2–33–0 |
| March 7 | 11:07 pm | at Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Meilun | L 1–4 | 2,001 | 2–34–0 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Frank Ireland | F | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 23 |
| Henri Schreifels | F | 36 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 28 |
| Greg Japchen | D | 30 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 10 |
| Dean Schwenninger | F | 36 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 32 |
| Jake Cady | F | 26 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 25 |
| Kyle Heath | F | 35 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Anthony Galante | F | 33 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| Conor Ronayne | F | 35 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 32 |
| Dominick Campione | D | 24 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 41 |
| Joseph Grainda | F | 22 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| William Tripp | D | 25 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Justin Barker | F | 24 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Cameron Gaudette | D | 35 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| Max Pineo | F | 30 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Jake LaRusso | F | 19 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Matt Allen | F | 22 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 25 |
| Alexander Tertyshny | D | 30 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| Charles Banquier | D | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 28 |
| Devon Carlstrom | D | 35 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Ryan Davies | D | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Nolan FitzPatrick | F | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| Ryan King | F | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Cameron Collins | F | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Dylan Meilun | G | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Gavin FitzPatrick | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Mannion | D | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Dylan Ghaemi | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Martignetti | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Hunter Hastings | D | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Jack Shemligian | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | | | 62 | 96 | 158 | 460 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Dylan Meilun | 26 | 1456:41 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 122 | 850 | 0 | .874 | 5.03 |
| Dylan Ghaemi | 1 | 18:20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | .867 | 6.55 |
| Gavin FitzPatrick | 14 | 675:03 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 85 | 380 | 0 | .817 | 7.55 |
| Empty Net | - | 15:49 | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2165:53 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 213 | 1243 | 0 | .854 | 5.90 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.