# 2023–24 Sacred Heart Pioneers men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Sacred Heart Pioneers men's ice hockey season was the 31st season of play for the program, the 26th at the Division I level and the 21st in Atlantic Hockey. The Pioneers represented Sacred Heart University, played their home games at the Martire Family Arena and were coached by C. J. Marottolo in his 15th season.

## Season

With a sizable amount of roster turnover, including three of its top four goal-scorers, Sacred Heart had many unanswered questions entering the season. The team was expecting to use Chase Clark as its starting goaltender, but the Quinnipiac transfer had a tough time getting to his game. The Pioneers began poorly, losing four of their first five matches but the team appeared to have sorted itself out by the end of October. Over several weeks, the team went 6–1, not allowing more than two goals in any of its games. The offense, too, got off to a slow start but then picked up the pace in the second month of the season. The line of Walsh–Joughin–Lombardi proved to be the most successful with those three finishing in the top four for team scoring.
In spite of their winning record, Sacred Heart was unable to find any success in their non-conference schedule. Though they had a weak slate of opponents, the Pioneers could not get a single win in eight games, only managing one tie to Princeton. That mark made it impossible for SHU to make the NCAA tournament without a conference title. However, the team was still able to perform well in Atlantic Hockey. Though they had a poor second half, winning just 5 of 17 games after January 1, Sacred Heart managed to finish third in the conference. The struggles began with shaky play from Clark, who was replaced as the starter by Justin Robbins. While Robbins' numbers were only marginally better than Clark's, the graduate netminder played more consistently in the latter half of the year. The offense slowed down as the season went on and the Pioneers could only manage three goals in three of the final thirteen games to end the regular season.
Though they had backed into a quarterfinal bye, Sacred Heart was hoping to use home ice to their advantage and make a run in the conference tournament. However, despite getting a week-long break to resolve their troubles, SHU saw both of its main problems recur against Niagara. The team got a two-goal lead in the opening match but could only watch as the Purple Eagles swiftly erased the advantage. Niagara scored four goals in under nine minutes of game time, including three in a 43-second span, to take hold of the match. SHU opened the scoring in the second game as well but was not able to get a second marker in the final 59 minutes despite outshooting NU nearly two to one. Robbins was in net for both games and allowed 9 goals on 53 shots (both matches had empty-net goals), ending the Pioneers' season on a low note.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Logan Britt | Defenseman | United States | Graduate transfer to North Dakota |
| Tim Clifton | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Patrick Dawson | Defenseman | United States | Graduate transfer to Northeastern |
| Todd Goehring | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Atlanta Gladiators) |
| Cody Hoban | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Julian Kislin | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays) |
| Luke Lush | Goaltender | Canada | Graduate transfer to RIT |
| Austin Magera | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays) |
| Brandon Milberg | Goaltender | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Neil Shea | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Chicago Wolves) |
| Ryan Steele | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays) |
| Jeppe Urup Mogensen | Defenseman | Denmark | Graduate transfer to Northern Michigan |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Mikey Adamson | Defenseman | United States | 22 | Quincy, MA; transfer from Massachusetts |
| Jake Bongo | Forward | United States | 20 | Ridgefield, CT |
| Mark Cheremeta | Forward | United States | 21 | Minsk, BLR; transfer from Ohio State |
| Chase Clark | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Williamsville, NY; transfer from Quinnipiac; selected 183rd overall in 2021 |
| Blake Dangos | Defenseman | United States | 21 | St. Louis, MO; transfer from Arizona State |
| Cullen DeYoung | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | Canton, MI |
| Brendan Dumas | Forward | United States | 21 | North Attleborough, MA |
| Cole Galata | Forward | Canada | 21 | Barrie, ON |
| Rylee Hlusiak | Forward | Canada | 21 | Barrie, ON |
| Liam Izyk | Forward | Canada | 24 | Blackie, AB; transfer from Boston College |
| Tyler Spott | Defenseman | Canada | 23 | Toronto, ON; graduate transfer from Northeastern |
| Garrett Sundquist | Defenseman | United States | 22 | South Glastonbury, CT; transfer from Providence |
| T. J. Walsh | Forward | United States | 23 | Shrewsbury, MA; graduate transfer from Rensselaer |

## Roster

As of September 15, 2023

## Standings

2023–24 Atlantic Hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OW | OL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #17 RIT †* | 26 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 102 | 64 | 40 | 27 | 11 | 2 | 156 | 96 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 46 | 78 | 62 | 39 | 21 | 14 | 4 | 116 | 93 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 45 | 75 | 70 | 36 | 14 | 19 | 3 | 91 | 113 |
| Air Force | 26 | 15 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 88 | 75 | 38 | 18 | 19 | 1 | 115 | 119 |
| American International | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 79 | 68 | 40 | 20 | 16 | 4 | 119 | 111 |
| Bentley | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 69 | 58 | 35 | 16 | 17 | 2 | 95 | 82 |
| Niagara | 26 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 78 | 79 | 39 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 111 | 122 |
| Canisius | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 73 | 87 | 37 | 12 | 21 | 4 | 103 | 126 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 77 | 91 | 35 | 9 | 22 | 4 | 98 | 126 |
| Army | 26 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 66 | 96 | 35 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 93 | 139 |
| Robert Morris | 26 | 7 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 60 | 95 | 39 | 11 | 25 | 3 | 94 | 142 |
| Championship: March 23, 2024 † indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy) * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 7 | 2:00 p.m. | #14 Merrimack* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut (Exhibition) | FloHockey | Clark | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 307 | |
| October 8 | 4:00 p.m. | Ottawa* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut (Exhibition) | FloHockey | DeYoung | W 8–2 | 181 | |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| October 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Colgate* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey, SNY | Clark | L 2–3 | 4,165 | 0–1–0 |
| October 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Colgate* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey, SNY | Clark | L 1–6 | 3,703 | 0–2–0 |
| October 20 | 7:05 p.m. | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Clark | L 2–4 | 2,929 | 0–3–0 (0–1–0) |
| October 21 | 5:05 p.m. | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Clark | W 5–2 | 2,764 | 1–3–0 (1–1–0) |
| October 27 | 7:00 p.m. | Niagara | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 2,852 | 1–4–0 (1–2–0) |
| October 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Niagara | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | W 4–1 | 2,538 | 2–4–0 (2–2–0) |
| October 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Army | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey, SNY | Clark | W 6–1 | 2,127 | 3–4–0 (3–2–0) |
| November 5 | 7:00 p.m. | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | Clark | L 1–2 | 349 | 3–5–0 |
| November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | Canisius | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | W 4–1 | 2,527 | 4–5–0 (4–2–0) |
| November 11 | 7:00 p.m. | Canisius | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | W 3–2 | 2,493 | 5–5–0 (5–2–0) |
| November 24 | 6:00 p.m. | at Robert Morris | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Clark | W 4–2 | 623 | 6–5–0 (6–2–0) |
| November 25 | 1:00 p.m. | at Robert Morris | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey, SNY | Clark | W 3–1 | 566 | 7–5–0 (7–2–0) |
| December 1 | 1:05 p.m. | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Clark | W 5–4 | 650 | 8–5–0 (8–2–0) |
| December 2 | 1:05 p.m. | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Clark | L 2–3 | 521 | 8–6–0 (8–3–0) |
| December 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Princeton* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | L 0–4 | 3,671 | 8–7–0 |
| December 9 | 7:00 p.m. | at Princeton* | Hobey Baker Memorial Rink • Princeton, New Jersey | ESPN+ | DeYoung | T 2–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,153 | 8–7–1 |
| December 30 | 7:00 p.m. | #16 New Hampshire* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | ESPN+ | Robbins | L 2–6 | 3,368 | 8–8–1 |
| January 5 | 7:00 p.m. | Mercyhurst | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | L 2–7 | 2,497 | 8–9–1 (8–4–0) |
| January 6 | 3:00 p.m. | Mercyhurst | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Robbins | W 2–1 | 3,063 | 9–9–1 (9–4–0) |
| January 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Army | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 2,634 | 9–9–2 (9–4–1) |
| January 12 | 7:05 p.m. | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Robbins | W 4–3 | 1,800 | 10–9–2 (10–4–1) |
| January 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Bentley | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Clark | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,242 | 10–10–2 (10–5–1) |
| January 16 | 7:00 p.m. | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Robbins | L 1–3 | 800 | 10–11–2 (10–6–1) |
| January 19 | 7:00 p.m. | Holy Cross | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Robbins | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 3,817 | 11–11–2 (11–6–1) |
| January 20 | 7:00 p.m. | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Robbins | L 2–5 | 824 | 11–12–2 (11–7–1) |
| Connecticut Ice ||||||||||
| January 26 | 3:30 p.m. | at Connecticut* | XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut (Connecticut Ice Semifinal) | SNY | Clark | L 2–6 | 4,633 | 11–13–2 |
| January 27 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Yale* | XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut (Connecticut Ice Consolation Game) | SNY | Robbins | L 2–3 | 3,927 | 11–14–2 |
| February 2 | 7:00 p.m. | American International | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Robbins | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,947 | 12–14–2 (12–7–1) |
| February 3 | 7:00 p.m. | American International | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Robbins | W 3–1 | 3,974 | 13–14–2 (13–7–1) |
| February 9 | 9:05 p.m. | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | FloHockey | Robbins | W 3–2 | 2,436 | 14–14–2 (14–7–1) |
| February 10 | 7:05 p.m. | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | FloHockey, Altitude2 | Robbins | L 0–2 | 2,422 | 14–15–2 (14–8–1) |
| February 16 | 7:00 p.m. | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Robbins | L 1–5 | 1,368 | 14–16–2 (14–9–1) |
| February 17 | 7:00 p.m. | Holy Cross | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Robbins | L 1–2 | 3,688 | 14–17–2 (14–10–1) |
| February 24 | 5:30 p.m. | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Robbins | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 2,043 | 14–17–3 (14–10–2) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Niagara* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut (Quarterfinal Game 1) | FloHockey | Robbins | L 3–6 | 2,354 | 14–18–3 |
| March 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Niagara* | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut (Quarterfinal Game 2) | FloHockey | Robbins | L 1–5 | 2,639 | 14–19–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| T. J. Walsh | LW | 36 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 6 |
| John Jaworski | F | 35 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 14 |
| Kevin Lombardi | RW | 36 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 19 |
| Marcus Joughin | F | 34 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 16 |
| Mikey Adamson | D | 34 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 12 |
| Braeden Tuck | F | 33 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 6 |
| Hunter Sansbury | D | 36 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 37 |
| Dante Fantauzzi | D | 35 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 32 |
| Daniel Ebrahim | LW | 31 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 19 |
| Mark Cheremeta | LW | 17 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 6 |
| Andrius Kulbis-Marino | D | 36 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 14 |
| Jake Bongo | F | 36 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 4 |
| Liam Izyk | F | 34 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 33 |
| Blake Humphrey | C | 23 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Conner Hutchison | D | 14 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Tyler Spott | D | 27 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
| Blake Dangos | D | 19 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
| Grant Anderson | D | 34 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
| Brendan Dumas | F | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| Chikara Hanzawa | RW | 28 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Cole Galata | F | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Rylee Hlusiak | RW | 25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Dylan Robbins | F | 35 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| Garrett Sundquist | D | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Chase Clark | G | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Aidan Connolly | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cullen DeYoung | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Robbins | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 91 | 158 | 249 | 325 |
Source:

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals against | Saves | Shut-outs | SV % | GAA |
| Cullen DeYoung | 3 | 104:01 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 50 | 0 | .943 | 1.73 |
| Justin Robbins | 17 | 956:20 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 47 | 401 | 0 | .895 | 2.95 |
| Chase Clark | 19 | 1090:20 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 55 | 482 | 0 | .898 | 3.03 |
| Empty Net | - | 32:07 | - | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2182:48 | 14 | 19 | 3 | 113 | 933 | 0 | .892 | 3.11 |

## 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.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Braeden Tuck | Atlantic Hockey Individual Sportsmanship Award |
| Sacred Heart Pioneers | Atlantic Hockey Team Sportsmanship Award |
| John Jaworski | Atlantic Hockey Third Team |