by Mackenzie McMahon
The Hope College ACHA men's hockey team began their run in the MCHC Tournament on Saturday with a win against Michigan State University, 8-1. 
Junior Lucas Barber (Lake Orion, Michigan / Lake Orion) opened the scoring in the first period before the two minute mark with hep from senior Cole Stenstrom (Caledonia, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian), pictured right, to start the Flying Dutchmen's eight goal reign of the game against the Spartans. Senior Brendan Sanders (Midland, Michigan / Herbert Henry Dow) would grab the eventual game-winner after passes from Brad Baysore (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) and Allan Hirsch (River Woods, Illinois / Deerfield). Colin Stecco, the junior from East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) would grab the third goal of the period for a 3-0 lead after one. Stecco's goals had assists from Max Mones and Mason Weiss.
Weiss, the Flushing, Michigan (Michigan Connections Academy) native, grabbed the first of two goals within the second period, Mones (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central) tacking on a goal of his own later on in second period play. The Weiss goal had assists from Stecco and Stenstrom while Mones' goal to give Hope a 5-0 lead had helpers from Logan Faustyn (Okemos, Michigan / Okemos) and Luke McKinch (Plymouth, Wisconsin / Plymouth Comprehensive).
Three more goals were found in the final period of play, with junior Gabe Gunneson (Rockford, Michigan / Forest Hills Northern) joining the score sheet with a snipe, while Stecco and Barber each added another goal to their repertoire for the night. Baysore, Stenstrom, Mones, Gunneson and Kevin Healy (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) with the assists on the three Hope College third period goals. Michigan State would put their lone goal in the net on the powerplay late in game play during the final period, for an 8-1 final.
Freshman Maclane Shick (Kohler, Wisconsin / Kohler) was in net for the Flying Dutchmen, collecting the win along with 26 saves. The offensive zone for the orange and blue had 53 shots on the Michigan State goaltender.
Hope College moves on in the MCHC Tournament play with a new opponent in Central Michigan University in the semi-finals. Their matchup is set for Friday, Feb. 25 with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop time at Griff's Icehouse West. If they take the win over Central Michigan, they move on for a second time to the championship game on Saturday, Feb. 26 with their opponent being the winner of Grand Valley State University/the University of Michigan.
