UTICA, NY - The sixth-ranked Utica University men's ice hockey team opens its 23rd season this weekend as it hosts a pair of non-conference matchups against second-ranked Adrian. The Pioneers will host the national runner-up Bulldogs on Friday at 7 p.m., and on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. 
 
Game Sponsor: Friday's regular season opener is sponsored by Parkway Drugs, which has three convenient pharmacy locations around the Utica area. Learn more about them at www.parkwaydrugs.com. 

Follow Along: Live video and stats will be available at portal.stretchinternet.com/utica, and over local radio airwaves at PioneerRadio.org and WPNR 90.7 FM. Ray Biggs '13 is back for his thirteenth season calling the action, and will be joined by Utica student Jeff Kopek on the call this weekend. Saturday's over-the-air radio coverage is subject to change due to postseason commitments.

Getting Into the Game: Fans can purchase individual tickets by visiting the Adirondack Bank Center box office, by calling (315) 790-9070 during open business hours, or by visiting Empirestatetix.com. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $3 for youth. Please note that all online ticket sales will charge the adult price and additional fees may apply on that platform. As a reminder, Utica University students, faculty, and staff receive free admission with proof of valid Utica University ID. 
 
In The Polls: Utica opened in the sixth position in the preseason US College Hockey Online Men's Division III Top 15. They were also chosen as the top team in the UCHC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
 
The Series: These will be the tenth and eleventh matchups between Utica and Adrian. The Bulldogs have claimed six out of nine contests between the two sides, and have won three in a row including a two game sweep to open last season by scores of 8-3 and 4-3. The 4-3 game went to overtime, with the winner scored by future Sid Watson award winner Matus Spodniak for Adrian. For the Pioneers, Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) led the way with a goal and two assists over the two-game series at Adrian's Arrington Ice Arena. Utica's most recent win over Adrian came on October 30th, 2021 when the Pioneers assailed a 2-0 deficit to win a 3-2 overtime thriller, with Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) scoring the game-winner. This win would prove significant in the scope of the season, as the Pioneers were the only team to defeat the eventual national champions all year. 
 
A Year To Remember: The Pioneers recorded a 25 win season for the third time in the last four years, and the third time in as many tries where the season length made it mathematically possible to have 25 wins. The 2022-23 team went 25-3-1, captured its seventh consecutive regular season conference title, its sixth straight regular season title as a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference, and won its fourth conference tournament title to earn its fourth trip into the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championship Tournament, and an appearance in a second straight year. The Pioneers bowed out in the quarterfinals to the University of New England with a 5-4 overtime loss. Defensemen Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) and Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (NCDC)), and forward Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) were all selected to the AHCA All-American Teams, with the two blue liners taking home their second All-America honors. The Pioneers had seven players earn all-conference honors, including returning players Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) and Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)).
 
Dominance At Home: Since a November 7th, 2021 loss to then-#1 Geneseo, The Pioneers have won their last 21 regular season home games. Utica's only home losses over that span have come in exhibitions, or in NCAA tournament play. 
 
Last Time Out: The US Under-18 team scored the first seven goals of the game en route to a 7-1 exhibition win over the Pioneers on Friday, October 20th. Top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Cole Eiserman led the visitors with a hat trick, while Brodie Ziemer had a goal and two assists. Eric Vitale (Toronto, ON/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) scored Utica's lone goal in the third period off an assist by John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)). Shots were even at 38 apiece for the matchup against future NHL stars. Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) combined to make 31 saves for the Pioneers, while future Notre Dame netminder Nick Kempf turned away 37 of 38. 
 
Up Front: The Pioneers will be undertaking the challenge of replenishing its offense, which led the nation at 5.69 goals per game. Of the team's 165 goals, 125 were scored by players that will not be part of this year's team. That leaves a window of opportunity for others to take ownership of the offensive end. Utica's top returning point-getter is defenseman Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)), who burst onto the scene with six goals, 21 assists, and 27 total points on his way to all-conference honors. Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) is the team's top returning goal scorer after lighting the lamp eleven times in his first season with Utica. Khristian Acosta's (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) 19 points, and Matt Wood's (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) 17 points from the 2022-23 season are certainly something to account for, as was an eight goal season for Shane Murphy (Oriskany, NY/Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL)). John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)) and Chris Carroll (Islip New York) will also be looking to amplify their contributions. Among the newcomers at forward are some exciting contributors, two of which have college experience. Graduate transfer Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) is a proven commodity at the collegiate level, and has a 2022 national championship ring to show for it. After transferring from Division I Mercyhurst to Adrian, he averaged a point a game to help boost the Bulldogs to their first national title. Another new player with collegiate experience is Central New York product Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)). Herrera played eleven games at Nazareth College before returning to junior hockey with the Utica Jr. Comets. Last year, he tore the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference to shreds with 31 goals and 21 assists for 52 points in a 49 game season. Newcomer Eric Vitale (Toronto, ON/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) scored the team's lone goal in the USA exhibition, while Shreveport Mudbugs teammate Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) had seven shots on goal in the loss. 
 
On The Blue Line: With two All-Americans out of the picture, Utica's returning leaders on the blue line will be seniors Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)). Both players have played very strong minutes and will play an even larger role this season with a freshman-laden group playing with them. Former Utica Jr. Comet Domenick Evtimov (Northbrook, IL/Oklahoma Warriors (NAHL)) returns to the city after a year playing in the North American Hockey League.  Fellow NAHL alumnus Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO/Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)) will be part of the conversation with a solid offensive side to his game, along with an imposing 6'3 frame to go with it. Multi-year BCHL vet Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) is also in the mix, as are a trio of players who played junior hockey in Ontario: Reid Oliver (Elmira, ON/Stratford Warriors (GOJHL)), Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, ON/Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)), and Austin D'Orazio (Vaughan, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)).

Between The Pipes: First team all-conference goaltender Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) returns for his junior year after compiling a 25-3 record as Utica's starter last year. He has 30 career wins and has won over 90 percent of his decisions while maintaining a 92.8 percent save percentage and 1.64 goals against average for his career. Last year, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) manned the net in five appearances for Division I St. Thomas. Although his listed hometown is Cary, NC, he has very strong family ties to the Utica area. Avery Sturtz (Cedar Rapids, IA/Maine Nordiques (NAHL)) also returns for his sophomore campaign and made five appearances last year. 
 
Shoe's On The Other Foot: Graduate student Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) is set to play his former team from Adrian this weekend. In last year's sweep for the Bulldogs, he had an assist in the second game of the weekend. These contests mark the only two times he has played against Utica, as he was a midseason transfer during the Bulldogs' national championship season. 
 
About Adrian: Last year, Adrian went 25-5-2, won the NCHA championship, and won a pair of one-goal thrillers to advance to a second straight national championship game. The Bulldogs came up just one goal short of repeating as national champions with a 3-2 loss to Hobart in a game played at Endicott College. This year they open with the #2 ranking in the USCHO poll, and while there's a strong core, they are missing some of the explosive scoring that helped them average 5.6 goals per game and rack up an absurd 43.2 percent conversion rate on the power play, including National Player of the Year Matus Spodniak. Spodniak had an eye-popping 58 total points and 30 goals last season. Established power forward Ty Enns has also moved on after rattling off a 48 point season, as has playmaking forward Alessio Luciani. All-American defenseman Chase Spencer and All-American forward Sam Ruffin also do not return. Senior forward Mathew Rehding is the team's top returning scorer with 32 points on 11 goals and 21 assists, while defenseman Jaden Shields is one of the nation's best puck-moving defensemen with 29 points last season. Ryan Pitoscia (14 goals), Riley Murphy (17 goals), and John Kaljian (11 goals) also return. In goal, Dershahn Stewart is likely to get the nod after going 10-1-2 last season. 

Next Week: The Pioneers open United Collegiate Hockey Conference play against Stevenson University at home. The Mustangs, who are receiving national poll votes, will see Utica on Friday, November 3rd at 7 p.m., and Saturday, November 4th at 2 p.m.