# 2022–23 Lindenwood Lions men's ice hockey season

The 2022–23 Lindenwood Lions men's ice hockey season was the inaugural season of varsity play for the program. The Lions represented Lindenwood University and were coached by Rick Zombo, in his 13th season.

## Season

With nearly two years lead time into their first season, Lindenwood was able to compile a full slate of games against Division I opponents. Predictably, as the team was still populated by club team players, the Lions were one of the worst squads in the nation. However, among the poor results there were bright spots. Lindenwood got a baptism of fire by playing both Minnesota and Michigan, two prohibitive favorites for the NCAA championship, in the first two weeks of the season. While the Lions lost all four games, they did show the ability to score. Over the course of the year, Lindenwood averaged just over 3 goals per game, which was well on par with most other D-I programs.
The biggest problem for the Lions was keeping the puck out of their own net. Lindenwood allowed an average of almost 42 shots against per game, much higher than the nominal 30 shots. Their three besieges goalies were unable to handle the sheer volume of chances that were thrown in their direction with each surrendering more than 4 goals per game on average. The defensive situation didn't get any better as the season progressed but that didn't stop the Lions from winning several games in their first season.
Despite having several extended layoffs during the campaign, as well as mostly playing on the road, Lindenwood was able to win 7 games during the season. While each victory came against a team with a low national ranking, they had performed far better than other recent entries to D-I (Stonehill, St. Thomas) and would look to continue their transition to the top level of college hockey next year.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Coltin Craigo | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Praveen Dhaliwal | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Vegard Faret | Forward | Norway | Graduation (retired) |
| Blake Finley | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Stephen Friedland | Goaltender | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Max Helgeson | Forward | United States | Transferred to Alaska Anchorage |
| Ryan Leonard | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Zach Martin | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Niki Molson | Defenseman | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Brendan Murphy | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Kyler Newman | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Ethan Paulin-Hatch | Goaltender | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Jack Radley | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Hayden Ursulak | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Adisen Brueck | Forward | United States | 21 | Plantation, FL |
| Adam Conquest | Forward | United States | 22 | Milford, MI; transfer from Bowling Green |
| Cade DeStefani | Forward | United States | 21 | Bedford, NH |
| Kabore Dunn | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Mill Bay, BC; transfer from Maine |
| Hunter Johannes | Forward | United States | 18 | Eden Prairie, MN; transfer from American International |
| Drew Kuzma | Forward | Canada | 19 | St. Albert, AB |
| Matt Ladd | Goaltender | United States | 24 | Getzville, NY; graduate transfer from Canisius |
| Shane LaVelle | Forward | United States | 21 | Chaska, MN |
| Max Neill | Forward | Canada | 21 | Portage la Prairie, MB |
| Joe Prouty | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Apple Valley, MN |
| Kieran Ruscheinski | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Calgary, AB; selected 206th overall in 2019 |
| Roni Salmenkangas | Goaltender | Finland | 23 | Tampere, FIN; graduate transfer from Ferris State |
| Coltan Wilkie | Defenseman | United States | 22 | Elkhorn, NE |

## Roster

As of August 16, 2022.

## Standings

2022–23 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 |
| #15 Alaska | 34 | 22 | 10 | 2 | 104 | 74 |
| Alaska Anchorage | 28 | 8 | 19 | 1 | 66 | 106 |
| Arizona State | 39 | 18 | 21 | 0 | 115 | 112 |
| Lindenwood | 30 | 7 | 22 | 1 | 92 | 134 |
| Long Island | 36 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 116 | 123 |
| Stonehill | 25 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 102 | 95 |
| 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 #2 Minnesota* | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BSN+ | Burnham | L 0–4 | 6,867 | 0–1–0 |
| October 2 | 7:00 PM | at #2 Minnesota* | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BSN+ | Ladd | L 4–6 | 5,985 | 0–2–0 |
| October 7 | 6:00 PM | at #7 Michigan* | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan | BTN+ | Burnham | L 4–7 | 5,062 | 0–3–0 |
| October 8 | 6:00 PM | at #7 Michigan* | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan | BTN+ | Salmenkangas | L 1–3 | 5,371 | 0–4–0 |
| October 14 | 7:10 PM | Air Force* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | Burnham | W 7–6 | 2,065 | 1–4–0 |
| October 15 | 2:10 PM | Air Force* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | Ladd | L 3–5 | 1,073 | 1–5–0 |
| October 22 | 6:05 PM | at American International* | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Salmenkangas | L 0–5 | 343 | 1–6–0 |
| October 23 | 2:05 PM | at American International* | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Ladd | L 3–5 | 146 | 1–7–0 |
| October 28 | 6:05 PM | at Bentley* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Burnham | W 7–3 | 1,405 | 2–7–0 |
| October 29 | 3:05 PM | at Bentley* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Burnham | L 1–3 | 1,205 | 2–8–0 |
| November 4 | 6:00 PM | at Army* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Burnham | W 2–1 | 1,133 | 3–8–0 |
| November 5 | 3:00 PM | at Army* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Salmenkangas | W 5–3 | 1,214 | 4–8–0 |
| November 18 | 7:00 PM | at Wisconsin* | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BSW+ | Burnham | L 3–4 | 5,550 | 4–9–0 |
| November 19 | 7:00 PM | at Wisconsin* | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BSW | Ladd | L 1–5 | 6,974 | 4–10–0 |
| December 16 | 8:00 PM | at #1 Denver* | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | Altitude 2 | Salmenkangas | L 0–5 | 4,944 | 4–11–0 |
| December 17 | 7:00 PM | at #1 Denver* | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Burnham | L 4–5 | 5,268 | 4–12–0 |
| December 30 | 6:00 PM | at Vermont* | Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont | ESPN+ | Ladd | L 2–4 | 2,343 | 4–13–0 |
| December 31 | 3:00 PM | at Vermont* | Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont | ESPN+ | Burnham | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,057 | 5–13–0 |
| January 6 | 7:07 PM | at North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco | Burnham | L 3–4 | 10,354 | 5–14–0 |
| January 7 | 6:07 PM | at North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco | Burnham | L 2–4 | 11,616 | 5–15–0 |
| January 20 | 2:00 PM | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | Salmenkangas | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 422 | 5–16–0 |
| January 21 | 8:00 PM | at Long Island* | Northwell Health Ice Center • East Meadow, New York | ESPN+ | Ladd | L 4–6 | 250 | 5–17–0 |
| February 10 | 7:10 PM | Stonehill* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | Burnham | W 5–2 | 2,008 | 6–17–0 |
| February 11 | 4:10 PM | Stonehill* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri | | Ladd | W 10–3 | 1,163 | 7–17–0 |
| February 17 | 9:00 PM | at Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | | Burnham | L 2–8 | 4,670 | 7–18–0 |
| February 18 | 9:00 PM | at Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | | Salmenkangas | L 3–5 | 5,045 | 7–19–0 |
| February 24 | 6:00 PM | USNTDP* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri (Exhibition) | | | L 4–12 | - | |
| February 25 | 6:00 PM | USNTDP* | Centene Community Ice Center • St. Charles, Missouri (Exhibition) | | Burnam | L 1–6 | - | |
| March 3 | 10:07 PM | at #18 Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Burnham | L 1–4 | 2,417 | 7–20–0 |
| March 4 | 10:07 PM | at #18 Alaska* | Carlson Center • Fairbanks, Alaska | FloHockey | Salmenkangas | L 0–8 | 3,562 | 7–21–0 |
| March 10 | 10:07 PM | at Alaska Anchorage* | Seawolf Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska | | Burnham | T 7–7 $^{OT}$ | 455 | 7–21–1 |
| March 11 | 9:07 PM | at Alaska Anchorage* | Seawolf Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska | | Burnham | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 475 | 7–22–1 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Central Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| David Gagnon | LW | 30 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 16 |
| Hunter Johannes | F | 28 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 87 |
| Andy Willis | F | 26 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 12 |
| Kyle Jeffers | F | 28 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 26 |
| Ryan Finnegan | F | 29 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 6 |
| Cade DeStefani | C | 26 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 42 |
| Adam Conquest | RW | 22 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 |
| Aiden Yakimchuk | D | 30 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 8 |
| Caige Sterzer | F | 26 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 48 |
| Joe Prouty | D | 30 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 36 |
| Caleb Price | D | 30 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 |
| Mitch Allard | LW | 30 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 48 |
| Jack Anderson | D | 30 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 23 |
| Kabore Dunn | D | 23 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
| Drew Kuzma | F | 30 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 28 |
| Coltan Wilkie | D | 26 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 12 |
| Zachary Aughe | C | 26 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 19 |
| Shane Lavell | F | 25 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 23 |
| Kieran Ruscheinski | D | 29 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 20 |
| Max Neill | LW | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| Jackson Wozniak | F | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Sam Watson | F | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Mason Kruger | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adisen Brueck | F | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Ladd | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roni Salmenkangas | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Trent Burnham | G | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 92 | 161 | 253 | 517 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Trent Burnham | 16 | 946:02 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 67 | 610 | 0 | .901 | 4.25 |
| Roni Salmenkangas | 8 | 438:33 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 32 | 269 | 0 | .894 | 4.38 |
| Matt Ladd | 7 | 417:54 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 33 | 238 | 0 | .878 | 4.74 |
| Empty Net | - | 12:21 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 30 | 1812:50 | 7 | 22 | 1 | 134 | 1117 | 0 | .893 | 4.44 |

## 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.