By Eric Czerwonka · Rowan D2 Ice Hockey celebrates the win against Penn State University’s D2 team. Glassboro, N.J. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of The Goalfat…
Rowan D2 Ice Hockey celebrates the win against Penn State University’s D2 team. Glassboro, N.J. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 (Photo courtesy of The Goalfather Photography)
This past weekend, the Rowan Men’s D2 ice hockey team (10-4-2) swept Penn State University’s (PSU) D2 team (7-3-2) in a two-game series in an ACCHL Premier Conference matchup.
On Saturday, the Profs played at home in the Hollydell Ice Arena and won with the final score of 4-3 to keep Rowan in first place over Penn State University in their respective conference.
It wasn’t easy, though, as Rowan was up 4-1 with six minutes to go in the third, and PSU was marching its way back into the game with two goals in five minutes.
Things would get hectic for the Profs as PSU would pull their goalie with a minute left, and send the extra attacker.
But, even with PSU sending out the extra attacker, sophomore goalie Bobby Kennedy did everything he could to shut the PSU comeback down, including a breakaway chance for PSU, to which he denied.
“I needed to do whatever I can to keep the boys in it and give us a win,” said Kennedy. “We’re out here three times a week, just practicing, and we love everyone in the locker room, it’s huge.”
Although Rowan struck first in the first period, PSU would shortly tie it back up later in the period. The two would remain deadlocked throughout the second period.
But Rowan came out firing in the third, as they collected three goals in nine minutes against PSU.
The team’s chemistry has only continued to grow with each game, as the duo of senior captain Nick Thomas and freshman Riley Capecci shone in the win, each assisting and scoring off one another.
One play in particular came when Capecci found Thomas on a breakaway, and Thomas went five-hole to extend the Profs' lead in the third period.
This is a huge couple of wins for Rowan, as in previous seasons, they would struggle against PSU.
“It’s just huge for the group,” said head coach Brien Bennett. “When the room is tight and you have a special group, then special things happen on the ice.”
Even with a difficult three-game road trip in New York last week, as they collected a regulation loss and an overtime loss, Rowan stayed consistent.
“Everyone has made a commitment,” said Bennett. “By nature, if guys are making commitments, then it starts to build and grow.”
The team is young, consisting of 13 freshmen this season, which has been one of the key reasons that Rowan has been able to click so well.
“We have a group that just clicked when we got here,” said freshman forward Matthew Allen. “The group that tried out was the group that made it, and we just stuck together ever since.”
This upcoming week, Rowan will face Georgetown (4-5) at home in the Hollydell Ice Arena at 9:15 p.m., and the following week, the team will head to the Fall Classic ACCHL Showcase in Virginia.