FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team takes a break from Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) play this weekend for a single nonconference bout against LIU on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m. at the Martire Family Arena. 

Sacred Heart vs. LIU
    Saturday, Nov. 22 – 5:00 p.m.
Martire Family Arena – Fairfield, Conn. 
LIVE on FloHockey / WFSB 

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
In his 100th career game on Friday against Canisius, Felix Trudeau did something he had not done in the first 99. The senior from Terrebonne, Quebec, netted his first career hat trick in a 6-1 SHU win over the Golden Griffins. Austin Magera was the last Pioneer with a hat trick, as he netted three goals on Feb. 16, 2021, against Bentley. 

BETTER IN PAIRS
After SHU's dominant weekend against the Griffs, the Pios collected two Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) weekly awards on Tuesday, as Trudeau was named the Forward of the Week and Ajeet Gundarah the Goaltender of the Week. Trudeau finished the weekend with five of the team's nine goals, scoring the first two goals in the Pios' 3-2 win on Saturday after Friday's hat trick. He now paces the AHA with nine goals this season and is tied for second with 12 points. Gundarah went 2-0-0 on the weekend with 50 saves, a 1.50 goals against average and a .943 save percentage. The sophomore is now third in the league in both save percentage (.929) and goals against average (1.99).

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers skated to a sweep of Canisius in their last game action, winning 6-1 in the opener on Friday and 3-2 in the finale on Saturday. Trudeau stole the show on Friday with his first career hat trick, while first year Gavin Bryant (2-1-3) broke out with a three-point showing. Trudeau was again outstanding on Saturday with the game's first two goals. Joshua Barnes netted the game-winner in the first three minutes of the third period. Gundarah stopped 50 of the 53 shots he faced in the series as he continued to show why he is one of the best backstops in the country. The AHA sweep is SHU's second of the year as it took both games of its season-opening weekend at RIT. 
 
SCOUTING THE SHARKS
LIU heads into the weekend with a 5-6-0 overall record this season, as it plays Merrimack at home on Friday before heading to Sacred Heart. LIU was riding a four-game win streak before falling to RV Minnesota in its most recent game. The Sharks defeated Merrimack, Robert Morris (2x) and the Golden Gophers during the streak, all of which came on the road as LIU's first home game will be Friday. Other standout results for the Sharks include a one-goal loss to No. 6 Penn State and a two-goal setback to No. 2 BU. The Sharks' offense has propelled the team's early success, ranking 14th in the country in scoring offense (3.45 gpg) and 19th in power-play percentage (23.3%). However, LIU's defensive unit has not been as efficient, as the team ranks 32nd in scoring defense (2.91 gpg) and 42nd in penalty kill percentage (78.0%). The trio of Dylan Kinch, Brett Rylance and Sixten Jennersjö lead the LIU offense with 15, 14 and 13, points, respectively. Rylance paces the team with seven goals, while Kinch and Jennersjö have tallied a team-leading nine assists. In goal, sophomore Daniel Duris owns a 5-5-0 record with a .915 save percentage and a 2.89 goals against average. 

ALL-TIME SERIES
SHU has played the Sharks just one time before Saturday's contest. LIU got the better of the Pios with a 2-1 decision on Nov. 5, 2023, at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Saturday's meeting will mark the first time the Sharks have played at the Martire Family Arena. 

UP NEXT
Sacred Heart travels abroad for its Thanksgiving break, heading to the Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The event begins on Friday, Nov. 28, with a 9 a.m. bout against Union.