From MTSU Sidelines
By Geo Finnemore
Middle Tennessee State University hockey (0-2-0) opened its season losing a two-game series against the University of Arkansas (2-0-0) at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, Tennessee.
MTSU’s new style of play did not produce offensively like last season, a year in which Middle Tennessee scored five goals or more 19 times. With 10 new players on the roster and working on team chemistry, confidence remains high for the Blue Raiders.
“It’s new systems, we’re a new team, a lot of new guys,” MTSU captain Tommy Chunchukov said. “We don’t have the same skill we had last year but we still have skill. I think once we get our systems down and we’re all on the same page, we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Game 1
After a physical back-and-forth battle full of big hits and penalties, Arkansas came away with a 3-2 win.
Chunchukov opened the scoring with a power-play goal with 6:27 remaining in the first period, punching home a rebound off a shot from senior forward JJ Landers, putting the Blue Raiders up 1-0.
“It was good to get that monkey off my back early because I was putting a lot of pressure on myself,” Chunchukov said.
Arkansas forward Jake Bamback quickly answered with a goal for the Razorbacks, stuffing a wrist shot past Ayden Kopec at the 6:10 mark of the first period. With 11:47 to play in the second period, Bamback cut into the zone to score a powerplay goal, deking and flying a wrist shot over Kopec’s glove side and putting the Razorbacks ahead 2-1.
MTSU freshman forward Brady Friedman scored his first collegiate career goal on the power-play with 6:42 remaining in the second period, flicking a shot past Arkansas goaltender Logan Bruns off a feed from Landers to tie the game 2-2.
Early in the third period, Razorback defenseman Darrel Smith slung a shot from the blue line past Kopec for the game-winning goal.
Game 2
The physicality continued, and tempers started to flare as Arkansas captured the victory over the Blue Raiders,4-3. Each team committed three penalties in the first period and most stoppages in play were extended by extra pushing and shoving.
“These guys really care about each other,” MTSU hockey President Zack Giblin said. “They don’t like seeing each other get roughed up and they’re going to protect their teammates Occasionally that’s going to bite us in the butt for penalties but the energy is where it needs to be, the passion is where it needs to be. We’re really happy about that.”
After fighting for and gaining control of the puck along the boards, Arkansas forward Deacon Rose sent a pass to the slot from behind the net to teammate Luke Yeary for a one-timer goal, putting the Razorbacks ahead 1-0 at the 7:35 mark of the first period.
Will Sloan and Liam Pouliot each added a goal for the Razorbacks in the second period, giving them a comfortable 3-0 lead.
With 1:25 left to play in the second period, Landers put a wrist shot past Bruns to make the score 3-1.
Landers scored his second goal of the evening with 18:29 remaining in the third period after receiving a pass back from senior forward Anthony Paponetti and gliding the puck past Bruns, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
The Blue Raiders fought back and gained momentum before Sloan scored his second goal of the night for the Razorbacks with 16:11 remaining, whipping the game-winner past MTSU goaltender Grant Williams from the top-left of the zone.
MTSU forward Donovan Yesnach scored with 10:51 to play. The Blue Raiders pulled Williams from goal for the final 1:58 of the game but were unable to even the score, falling 4-3.
Landers tallied five points in the series for MTSU with two goals and three assists. Friedman added a point of his own in each game with one goal and one assist, while team captain Chunchukov scored his first goal of the season on opening night.
Kopec and Williams each got a start in net for the Blue Raiders, Kopec posting a .912 save percentage and making 31 saves.
MTSU hockey continues its season hosting West Virginia University at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, Tennessee, Sept. 12, 2026.
(Originally published at https://mtsusidelines.com/2026/09/06/mtsu-hockey-drops-back-to-back-games-to-arkansas-to-open-its-season/)
