# 2021–22 Sacred Heart Pioneers men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Sacred Heart Pioneers men's ice hockey season was the 29th season of play for the program, the 24th at the Division I level, and the 19th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Pioneers represented Sacred Heart University and were coached by C. J. Marottolo, in his 13th season.

## Season

Sacred Heart spent the entire season hovering around the .500 mark. The team was effectively average in all aspects of the game; neither their offense nor defense were particularly strong, but both couldn't be called weaknesses either. Over the course of the season, Sacred Heart's longest losing streak was just three games but they weren't able to put together any long stretches of winning hockey. The Pioneers got mostly reliable goaltending from junior Justin Robbins but also buoyed his efforts with stints from both Josh Benson and Luke Lush.
Probably the best performance from the team came in the Connecticut Ice semifinal when they lost to #2 Quinnipiac into overtime. The Pioneers had led late, only to see the Bobcats tie the score after pulling their goalie.
The Pioneers' 5th-place finish in Atlantic Hockey earned them an automatic bid into the conference quarterfinals. Despite outplaying RIT for a majority of the three-game series, Sacred Heart's offense was lacking and scored just once in their two losses.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Josh Allan | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Derek Contessa | Forward | United States | Transferred to Endicott |
| Carson Gallagher | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Plattsburgh State |
| Michael Gilroy | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Marcel Godbout | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Pensacola Ice Flyers) |
| Marc Johnstone | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays) |
| Marcus Joseph | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Max Luukko | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Emil Öhrvall | Forward | Sweden | Signed professional contract (BIK Karlskoga) |
| David Tomeo | Goaltender | United States | Signed professional contract (Utica Comets) |
| Evan Wisocky | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Logan Britt | Defenseman | United States | 22 | Crystal Lake, IL; transfer from Quinnipiac |
| Troy Conzo | Forward | United States | 24 | Nesconset, NY; graduate transfer from Colorado College |
| Daniel Ebrahim | Forward | Canada | 21 | Brooklin, ON |
| Dante Fantauzzi | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Woodbridge, ON; transfer from Alaska Anchorage |
| Conner Hutchison | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Hicksville, NY; transfer from Vermont |
| Dante Palecco | Forward | United States | 23 | Whippany, NJ; graduate transfer from Yale |
| Dakota Raabe | Forward | United States | 24 | Capistrano Beach, CA; graduate transfer from Michigan |
| Justin Robbins | Goaltender | United States | 22 | Alpine, NJ; transfer from Arizona State |
| Rourke Russell | Defenseman | United States | 23 | Long Beach, CA; graduate transfer from Miami |
| Hunter Sansbury | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Lomita, CA |
| Neil Shea | Forward | United States | 22 | Marshfield, MA; transfer from Northeastern |

## Roster

As of August 23, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 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 |
| #18 American International †* | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 97 | 61 | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 134 | 95 |
| Canisius | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 76 | 67 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 99 | 97 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 75 | 68 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 98 | 100 |
| RIT | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 69 | 82 | 38 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 92 | 115 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 72 | 70 | 37 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 95 | 100 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 76 | 80 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 99 | 127 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 79 | 39 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 114 | 129 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 79 | 36 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 82 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 78 | 36 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 94 | 117 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 56 | 72 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 77 | 108 |
| Championship: March 19, 2022 † indicates conference regular season champion * 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 2 | 4:05 PM | at Connecticut* | XL Center • Hartford, Connecticut | | Benson | L 3–6 | 2,417 | 0–1–0 |
| October 9 | 7:00 PM | at Merrimack* | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | | Robbins | L 2–4 | 1,152 | 0–2–0 |
| October 15 | 7:30 PM | at #12 Boston University* | Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | | Robbins | W 3–2 | 3,158 | 1–2–0 |
| October 16 | 7:00 PM | at #12 Boston University* | Agganis Arena • Boston, Massachusetts | | Robbins | L 1–4 | 3,201 | 1–3–0 |
| October 22 | 7:30 PM | at Maine* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Robbins | W 1–0 | 4,142 | 2–3–0 |
| October 23 | 5:00 PM | at Maine* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | | Robbins | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,136 | 2–3–1 |
| October 29 | 5:35 PM | Niagara | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Robbins | L 1–6 | 413 | 2–4–1 (0–1–0) |
| October 30 | 1:05 PM | Niagara | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Robbins | W 3–1 | 353 | 3–4–1 (1–1–0) |
| November 5 | 7:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Robbins | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 889 | 3–4–2 (1–1–1) |
| November 6 | 4:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Robbins | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 697 | 3–4–3 (1–1–2) |
| November 19 | 9:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Robbins | L 2–3 | 1,925 | 3–5–3 (1–2–2) |
| November 20 | 7:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Benson | W 3–1 | 1,390 | 4–5–3 (2–2–2) |
| November 22 | 9:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Benson | W 4–2 | 1,350 | 5–5–3 (3–2–2) |
| November 23 | 9:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Robbins | W 3–1 | 1,207 | 6–5–3 (4–2–2) |
| December 2 | 7:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Benson | L 1–4 | 1,068 | 6–6–3 (4–3–2) |
| January 7 | 7:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | | Benson | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 537 | 6–7–3 (4–4–2) |
| January 8 | 5:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | | Lush | W 2–1 | 538 | 7–7–3 (5–4–2) |
| January 11 | 4:00 PM | RIT | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Lush | L 2–3 | 179 | 7–8–3 (5–5–2) |
| January 14 | 7:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Robbins | W 5–1 | 689 | 8–8–3 (6–5–2) |
| January 15 | 5:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Lush | L 3–4 | 874 | 8–9–3 (6–6–2) |
| January 18 | 6:05 PM | Army | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Robbins | W 4–2 | 313 | 9–9–3 (7–6–2) |
| January 21 | 6:05 PM | American International | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Robbins | L 2–4 | 243 | 9–10–3 (7–7–2) |
| January 22 | 1:05 PM | American International | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Lush | L 1–3 | 253 | 9–11–3 (7–8–2) |
| Connecticut Ice ||||||||||
| January 29 | 7:00 PM | #2 Quinnipiac* | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut (Connecticut Ice semifinal) | SNY | Robbins | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 9–12–3 |
| January 30 | 1:00 PM | Yale* | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut (Connecticut Ice consolation game) | SNY | Benson | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 0 | 10–12–3 |
| February 1 | 2:00 PM | vs. RIT | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Benson | L 1–5 | 0 | 10–13–3 (7–9–2) |
| February 4 | 7:00 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Robbins | L 0–1 | 197 | 10–14–3 (7–10–2) |
| February 5 | 7:00 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Robbins | W 4–1 | 798 | 11–14–3 (8–10–2) |
| February 10 | 7:05 PM | Bentley | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Robbins | W 5–3 | 231 | 12–14–3 (9–10–2) |
| February 11 | 6:05 PM | Bentley | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Robbins | W 3–1 | 341 | 13–14–3 (10–10–2) |
| February 18 | 7:05 PM | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | | Robbins | L 1–3 | 585 | 13–15–3 (10–11–2) |
| February 19 | 7:05 PM | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | | Robbins | L 1–3 | 803 | 13–16–3 (10–12–2) |
| February 25 | 6:05 PM | Army | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Benson | W 5–2 | 853 | 14–16–3 (11–12–2) |
| February 26 | 4:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Benson | T 6–6 $^{SOW}$ | 1,814 | 14–16–4 (11–12–3) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 11 | 7:00 PM | at RIT* | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York (Quarterfinal game 1) | | Robbins | L 0–1 $^{OT}$ | 1,104 | 14–17–4 |
| March 12 | 7:00 PM | at RIT* | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York (Quarterfinal game 2) | | Robbins | W 3–1 | 1,195 | 15–17–4 |
| March 13 | 5:00 PM | at RIT* | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York (Quarterfinal game 3) | | Robbins | L 1–3 | 805 | 15–18–4 |
| Sacred Heart Lost Series 1–2 ||||||||||
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Neil Shea | F | 37 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 10 |
| Braeden Tuck | F | 35 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 2 |
| Austin Magera | C | 30 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 25 |
| Ryan Steele | F | 34 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 29 |
| Logan Britt | D | 37 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 30 |
| John Jaworski | F | 37 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 13 |
| Andrius Kulbis-Marino | D | 35 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 17 |
| Nick Boyagian | F | 34 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 2 |
| Todd Goehring | F | 36 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 10 |
| Kevin Lombardi | RW | 18 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 6 |
| Troy Conzo | F | 33 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 10 |
| Hunter Sansbury | D | 36 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 18 |
| Conner Hutchison | D | 25 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
| Rourke Russell | D | 36 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 26 |
| Dante Palecco | LW | 34 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Dakota Raabe | F | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
| Adam Tisdale | C | 27 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Patrick Dawson | D | 37 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 35 |
| Alex Bates | D | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Jeppe Urup Mogensen | D | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ryan Doolin | F | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Dante Fantauzzi | D | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| Tim Clifton | C | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Justin Robbins | G | 28 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Daniel Petrick | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack O'Dea | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cody Hoban | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Lush | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Anderson | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh Benson | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Ebrahim | LW | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Total | | | 95 | 171 | 266 | 288 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Luke Lush | 6 | 202 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 99 | 0 | .925 | 2.37 |
| Justin Robbins | 29 | 1539 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 61 | 609 | 1 | .909 | 2.38 |
| Josh Benson | 13 | 491 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 196 | 0 | .887 | 3.05 |
| Empty Net | - | 25 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2258 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 100 | 904 | 1 | .900 | 2.66 |

## 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 |
| 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 (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 |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Neil Shea | Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Scoring Trophy |
| Logan Britt | Atlantic Hockey Second Team |
| Neil Shea | Atlantic Hockey Second Team |
| Braeden Tuck | Atlantic Hockey Third Team |