From Hope College Athletics
By Alan Babbitt
The Hope College men’s hockey team opened the 2026-27 ACHA Division I season with a home-and-home sweep of Aquinas College, winning 5-2 on Friday and 7-1 on Saturday.
On Friday, the Flying Dutch never trailed after jumping to a 2-0 first-period lead at Holland Ice Arena.
Sophomore center Logan Nickolaus (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center / Wisconsin Windigo NAHL) and freshman left wing Drew Walz (Freeland, Michigan / Freeland / Biggby U18AAA) each recorded a goal and an assist.
Junior goalie Sebastian Wigfield (Blue Hill, Maine / Saint Ignatius College Prep / Battle Creek Kernels USPHL Premier) stopped 14 Aquinas Shots.
On Saturday, Hope led 2-0 after the first period at Southside Ice Arena in Byron Center.
Nicklaus and senior right wing Brady Breit (Byron Center, Michigan / Byron Center) scored two goals apiece.
Freshman goalie Leif Ekblad (Williston, North Dakota / Michigan International Prep / Mercer Chiefs NCDC) made 16 saves.
Hope’s next series is on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 2-3, at Kent State University.
(Originally published at https://athletics.hope.edu/news/2026/9/30/acha-mens-ice-hockey-sweeps-aquinas-to-start-season.aspx)
