In its first game of the year, the NIU Hockey Team lost to Kansas University 8-2.  Despite the score, the team held with the Kansas team, who has already played a weekend of games, for the first half of the game only being down 3-2.

NIU was down with two of their best players not with the team this weekend, as Captain Eric Madden had undisclosed school reasons and transfer defenseman Mike Mannina with personal reasons.  Assistant Captain Peter Alfano said after the game, “Not having Eric or Mike on the ice can be seen, as they both make such an impact.”
Bright spots in the game were Mike Strumbergers’ early first period goal that put the Huskies up 1-0.  Mike Strumberger and Matt Kieffer both finished with one point, and Chris Bednarek finished the game with one goal and one assist.  New freshmen goaltender Kenny Schatz played very well in his first collegiate game, allowing 5 goals on 36 shots in his two periods of play.  Brandon Colello came in the third to finish the game, and also showed the quick adjustment in net against the quick Kansas offense.
 With the team playing 7:30 on Friday night, its gives the team sometime to regroup and get ready for Saturday Nights game also at 7:30, at the Pepsi Ice Centre in Overland Park, KS.