# 2022–23 Bentley Falcons men's ice hockey season

The 2022–23 Bentley Falcons men's ice hockey season was the 46th season of play for the program, the 24th at the Division I level, and the 20th in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Falcons represented Bentley University and were coached by Ryan Soderquist, in his 21st season.

## Season

With more than half of the players from the previous season's team departing, coach Soderquist had his work cut out for him. The new lineup displayed some obvious deficiencies early in the year, both on the offense and defense. The result was a rather poor record and a last-place position in the conference standings. Once the team returned from the winter break, they seemed to have built some amount of chemistry and produced a surprising upset over Northeastern.
The Falcons were much better in the second half of the season and nearly posted a .500 record in 2023. Towards the end of the season they were able to produce wins over both American International and RIT, the top two teams in the conference. One of the big keys to this was the emergence of Connor Hasley as the team's starting goaltender. Unfortunately, because of both their bad start and the fact that Atlantic Hockey had altered its playoff format for this season to eliminate the First Round, Bentley's 9th-place finish left them out of the bracket and without a single playoff game.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Drew Bavaro | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Notre Dame |
| Matt Clark | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Evan Debrouwer | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Jason Grande | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to Holy Cross |
| Brendan Hamblet | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Fraser Kirk | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Phil Knies | Forward | Slovakia | Graduation (signed with HK Nitra) |
| Matt Lombardozzi | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Luke Orysiuk | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Trois-Rivières Lions) |
| Ethan Roswell | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Corsaires de Dunkerque) |
| Collin Rutherford | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Kohei Sato | Forward | Japan | Graduation (retired) |
| Will Schlagenhauf | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| A. J. Villella | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Brendan Walkom | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Bees IHC) |
| Michael Zuffante | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Seth Bernard-Docker | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Canmore, AB |
| Nick Bochen | Defenseman | Canada | 22 | North Vancouver, BC; transfer from Quinnipiac |
| Stevie Castagna | Forward | Canada | 21 | North Vancouver, BC |
| Connor Hasley | Goaltender | United States | 21 | North Tonawanda, NY |
| Josh Latta | Forward | United States | 24 | West Vancouver, BC; transfer from Massachusetts Lowell |
| Pat Lawn | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Waltham, MA |
| Ethan Leyh | Forward | Canada | 21 | Anmore, BC; transfer from Quinnipiac |
| Arlo Merritt | Forward | Canada | 21 | Halifax, NS |
| Ryan Nause | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Riverview, NB |
| Nicholas Niemo | Forward | United States | 21 | Middlebury, VT |
| Jordan Schulting | Defenseman | Canada | 23 | Penticton, BC; transfer from Massachusetts Lowell |
| Joshua Seeley | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Trenton, MI |
| Matt Thomson | Forward | United States | 23 | Reading, MA; transfer from Northeastern; joined mid-season |
| Ryan Upson | Forward | Canada | 21 | West Vancouver, BC |

## Roster

As of January 1, 2023.

## Standings

2022–23 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 |
| RIT † | 26 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 57 | 85 | 55 | 39 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 127 | 100 |
| American International | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 47 | 87 | 62 | 39 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 124 | 98 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 87 | 72 | 37 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 107 | 112 |
| Canisius * | 26 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 76 | 71 | 42 | 20 | 19 | 3 | 118 | 119 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 72 | 81 | 37 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 98 | 119 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 73 | 86 | 40 | 19 | 18 | 3 | 119 | 129 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 73 | 71 | 41 | 17 | 21 | 3 | 98 | 119 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 77 | 80 | 36 | 10 | 23 | 3 | 98 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 61 | 89 | 34 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 81 | 124 |
| Air Force | 26 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 63 | 87 | 36 | 12 | 22 | 2 | 95 | 128 |
| Championship: March 18, 2023 † 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 |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 1 | 7:00 pm | at #12 Boston University* | Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | | Grabko | L 2–8 | 5,504 | 0–1–0 |
| October 13 | 7:00 pm | at Union* | Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York | | Grabko | L 1–5 | 1,455 | 0–2–0 |
| October 15 | 5:05 pm | Maine* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | W 5–1 | 1,600 | 1–2–0 |
| October 20 | 7:00 pm | at #16 Ohio State* | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Hasley | L 2–9 | 2,611 | 1–3–0 |
| October 21 | 7:00 pm | at #16 Ohio State* | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Grabko | L 1–3 | 3,005 | 1–4–0 |
| October 28 | 7:05 pm | Lindenwood* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 3–7 | 1,405 | 1–5–0 |
| October 29 | 4:05 pm | Lindenwood* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | W 3–1 | 1,205 | 2–5–0 |
| November 4 | 7:05 pm | Niagara | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | L 0–6 | 1,267 | 2–6–0 (0–1–0) |
| November 5 | 5:05 pm | Niagara | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 2–4 | 1,178 | 2–7–0 (0–2–0) |
| November 11 | 9:05 pm | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | FloHockey | Grabko | W 5–1 | 1,507 | 3–7–0 (1–2–0) |
| November 12 | 10:05 pm | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Altitude 2 | Hasley | L 0–2 | 1,353 | 3–8–0 (1–3–0) |
| November 18 | 7:00 pm | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Grabko | L 0–2 | 1,286 | 3–9–0 (1–4–0) |
| November 19 | 7:00 pm | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Hasley | L 2–5 | 1,347 | 3–10–0 (1–5–0) |
| November 25 | 4:05 pm | at Sacred Heart | Total Mortgage Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | FloHockey | Grabko | W 3–1 | 708 | 4–10–0 (2–5–0) |
| November 26 | 1:05 pm | at Sacred Heart | Total Mortgage Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | FloHockey | Hasley | L 3–6 | 687 | 4–11–0 (2–6–0) |
| December 1 | 7:05 pm | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 2–7 | 181 | 4–12–0 (2–7–0) |
| December 2 | 7:05 pm | American International | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 1–5 | 1,442 | 4–13–0 (2–8–0) |
| December 30 | 7:05 pm | Northeastern* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | W 3–1 | 1,780 | 5–13–0 |
| January 6 | 7:05 pm | RIT | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 0–3 | 1,483 | 5–14–0 (2–9–0) |
| January 7 | 4:05 pm | RIT | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | L 1–3 | 1,555 | 5–15–0 (2–10–0) |
| January 13 | 7:05 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Grabko | W 6–3 | 587 | 6–15–0 (3–10–0) |
| January 14 | 5:30 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Hasley | W 6–1 | 625 | 7–15–0 (4–10–0) |
| January 20 | 7:05 pm | Canisius | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 1–5 | 1,450 | 7–16–0 (4–11–0) |
| January 21 | 4:05 pm | Canisius | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 1,300 | 7–16–1 (4–11–1) |
| January 27 | 7:05 pm | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Hasley | L 3–4 | - | 7–17–1 (4–12–1) |
| January 28 | 4:05 pm | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Grabko | W 5–3 | 682 | 8–17–1 (5–12–1) |
| February 3 | 7:05 pm | Holy Cross | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Grabko | L 1–4 | 1,678 | 8–18–1 (5–13–1) |
| February 4 | 7:05 pm | Holy Cross | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,246 | 8–19–1 (5–14–1) |
| February 8 | 7:05 pm | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | W 4–3 | 277 | 9–19–1 (6–14–1) |
| February 10 | 7:05 pm | American International | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 1,620 | 9–19–2 (6–14–2) |
| February 17 | 7:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Hasley | L 0–4 | 2,030 | 9–20–2 (6–15–2) |
| February 18 | 5:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Hasley | W 2–1 | 2,997 | 10–20–2 (7–15–2) |
| February 24 | 7:05 pm | Army | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | L 3–5 | 1,555 | 10–21–2 (7–16–2) |
| February 25 | 4:05 pm | Army | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Hasley | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,501 | 11–21–2 (8–16–2) |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Nicholas Niemo | F | 32 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 33 |
| Nick Bochen | D | 34 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 14 |
| Lucas Vanroboys | F | 32 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 65 |
| Cole Kodsi | LW | 34 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 12 |
| Matt Gosiewski | C | 33 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 10 |
| Harrison Scott | F | 32 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 30 |
| Stephen Castagna | F | 33 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 20 |
| Dylan Pitera | F | 33 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 16 |
| Arlo Merritt | C | 28 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| Josh Latta | F | 27 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 |
| Danny Pearson | F | 22 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Ryan Nause | D | 24 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 20 |
| Joe Winkelmann | C | 30 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Seth Bernard-Docker | D | 20 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 22 |
| Ethan Harrison | F | 20 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Hunter Toale | D | 26 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Pat Lawn | D | 29 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 |
| Marcus Walter | D | 24 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Jordan Schulting | D | 15 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Eric Linell | RW | 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Tucker Hodgson | D | 33 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 35 |
| Matt Thomson | LW | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 |
| Tanner Main | D | 22 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Ryan Upson | F | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Cooper Connell | F | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Nicholas Grabko | G | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Seeley | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Hasley | G | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | | - | - | - | - | 16 |
| Total | | | 81 | 142 | 223 | 406 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Connor Hasley | 20 | 1100:07 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 54 | 544 | 1 | .910 | 2.95 |
| Nicholas Grabko | 16 | 909:33 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 56 | 428 | 0 | .884 | 3.69 |
| Josh Seeley | 1 | 27:59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 0 | .826 | 8.58 |
| Empty Net | - | 16:39 | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2054:18 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 124 | 991 | 1 | .889 | 3.62 |

## 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 | 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 | 27 (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 Today | 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 | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award | Ref |
| Nicholas Niemo | Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team | |