Recap by student-staff writer Jonah Boyea 

GARDNER, MASS. (2/20/2024) -- The Franklin Pierce Men's Ice Hockey Team secured their first home playoff game in ten years but couldn't take advantage of home ice as their in-state rival Saint Anselm Hawks cruised to an 8-2 win and advanced to the second round of the NE10 tournament.  

Score: Franklin Pierce 2, Saint A's 8 
Records: Franklin Pierce (13-15-0, 10-10-0 NE10); Saint A's (10-17-2) 
Location: Gardner Veterans Arena, Gardner, Mass. 
Date: Tuesday, February 20^th, 2024 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Scoring got started early for the Ravens in an odd sequence. Austin Pick (Troutdale, Or) went to dump the puck to the Hawk goaltender Cam Carroll to force an offensive faceoff, but Carroll mishandled the bouncing puck, and it found its way off his stick and crossing the red line giving the Ravens and early lead just three minutes into the opening period. 
• The Hawks would answer at the 14-minute mark when a pass from the left faceoff circle found Patrick Demarinis in front of the net and was able to tap it in tying the game up at 1 and concluding the first period.  
• It didn't take long for scoring to resume as not even a minute into the second period, Alec Grace found his teammate Liam Lyons in the crease and was able to net it, giving the lead to the Hawks 2-1, a lead they would never relinquish.  
• The Hawks would pick up their third goal nine minutes later when Max Burum got the puck behind the net and shot it off Raven goaltender Jeremy Connor (Hazlet, NJ), extending the lead to 3-1.  
• The Hawks would strike again six minutes later when Luke Linart entered the zone and took it himself with a wrist shot that found its way into the net pushing the lead to 4-1. 
•  Max Banoun (Alpine, NJ) would relieve Connor in goal for the Ravens and was tested three minutes later when yet again Max Burum was able to get open in the slot and net it past Banoun making it 5-1 Hawks.  
• Scoring would not resume until the third period when the Hawks would come out strong scoring two goals just ten seconds apart and a minute into the period from Luke Linart and Hunter Bracket 
• The Ravens would eventually get back on the board when Devin Rohrich (Pittsburgh, PA) from the circle took a nice wrist shot and got the Ravens their second goal making it 7-2.  
• Then a little over the halfway mark in the third period, Will Christensen netted the final goal for the Hawks making it 8-2 and securing their ticket to the second round of the NE10 playoffs.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• Jeremy Connor made 23 saves on 27 shots and took the loss, while Max Banoun who relieved him, made 18 saves on 22 shots for the Ravens. Cam Carroll made 49 saves on 51 shots.  
• Franklin Pierce outshot Saint A's 51-49 
• The Ravens were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Hawks were 0 for 1. 

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: 

• With the loss, the Ravens season ends, hosting a home playoff game for the first time in 10 years and finishing 13-15-0, 10-10-0 NE10 in the 2023-2024 season.