From MTSU Sidelines
By: Geo Finnemore
Middle Tennessee State University hockey (2-3-0) split its two-game series hosting McKendree University (5-1-0) at the Ford Ice Center in Antioch, Tennessee. The Bearcats captured the victory in the opener Friday evening, with Middle Tennessee coming away with a win Saturday night.
Struggling through penalties and players adapting to new systems, the Blue Raiders were able to give McKendree its first loss of the season before MTSU begins conference play.
“I think guys have bought in to what me and coach Murphy have been preaching,” MTSU head coach JJ Murray said. “We have a blue-collar identity.”
Game 1
On Friday evening, penalties remained a problem for the Blue Raiders as McKendree pulled ahead late in the second period to grab a 4-1 win. Coming off a 6-0 win over West Virginia University Sept. 12, MTSU leaders say the team came in unprepared and played outside of its systems.
“Guys thought we were going to steamroll because we just came off a big win,” MTSU team captain Tommy Chunchukov said. “Guys weren’t prepared. We were too loose before a game, we got to be more professional.”
After losing the opening faceoff, MTSU controlled the puck early in the first period. However, at the 14:46 mark, officials sent Blue Raider forward Donovan Yesnach to the penalty box for a roughing call. The Bearcats quickly capitalized on the man-advantage, winning the offensive zone faceoff off the penalty and controlling the puck.
McKendree sophomore winger Connor Tloczkowski put it past MTSU senior goaltender Ayden Kopec from the center of the ice, pulling ahead 1-0.
Middle Tennessee possessed the puck for the majority of the first period, closing off McKendree passing lanes and creating turnovers. At the 5:37 mark, MTSU senior forward Cam Hawkins gathered the puck, loose off a hit from freshman Brady Friedman, and slung it past Bearcats goaltender Dominic Hite to tie the game 1-1 – for Hawkins’ first goal of the season.
Both squads traded possession often in the second period, trapping the puck along the boards and fighting for control. At the 9:35 mark, McKendree freshman center Levin Berden scored a goal tapping a pass from forward Jake Demacos past Kopec’s glove side, putting the Bearcats ahead 2-1.
Bearcats forward Rycol Davis fired a shot past Kopec top center at the 1:28 mark to end the period 3-1.
McKendree junior defenseman Blake Miller added a goal at the 18:43 mark of the third period for a 4-1 final. MTSU committed six penalties in game one, killing off four-of-five power plays. Kopec made 24 saves on 28 shots.
“I think the boys’ emotions just get too high,” Chunchukov said. “Coaches preach to get in their face, talk to them, and I think the boys are just taking it a little bit too far. We got to know the line.”
Game 2
Following a player-led team meeting Friday night and a pregame film session on Saturday, MTSU won game two, 5-2. Chunchukov called for the meeting following Friday’s loss and scored two goals in the Blue Raiders’ Saturday night victory.
“We had the team meeting and we just kind of reset,” Chunchukov said. “From now on this is how we play. All the boys are bought in, and we’re not changing the way we play now.”
The Blue Raiders controlled the puck throughout the first period, outshooting the Bearcats 9-2 at the 3:49 mark. MTSU assistant captain Justin Beachler fired a one-timer past Hite for a power play goal to give Middle Tennessee its first lead of the series, 1-0.
In the second period on a four-on-three power play for MTSU, Chunchukov put home a rebound off a shot from Friedman to put the Blue Raiders ahead 2-0 with 12:57 to play.
MTSU sophomore defenseman Aydin Suss added another goal 54 seconds later, tapping in a pass from freshman forward Kasper Thuresson for his first goal of the season.
Chunchukov added his second goal of the night at the 11:08 mark of the second period, flying the puck past Hite off a behind the net pass from Hawkins, forcing McKendree to make a goalie change. Blue Raiders junior forward JJ Landers scored his third goal of the season in a crowded slot at the 6:08 mark to put MTSU ahead 5-0.
McKendree forward Thomas Durrett scored a power play goal on MTSU freshman goalie Drew Stratton with 0:15 left in the second period Stratton’s first goal allowed in his career. Durrett added a second power play goal at the 7:45 mark of the third period, the last goal of the evening for a 5-2 final.
Stratton made 22 saves on 24 shots to start his collegiate career 2-0-0 as starting goaltender. Thuresson earned his first career point.
“We got back to our game tonight,” Murray said. “We played our systems. Got the puck deep, played physical, and drove the net. We took more shots.”
MTSU hockey opens College Hockey South play, making its first road trip of the season for a two-game series versus the University of Alabama (3-2-0) at the Pelham Civic Complex in Pelham, Alabama, Oct. 2-3.
(Originally published at https://mtsusidelines.com/2026/09/27/mtsu-hockey-splits-weekend-series-against-mckendree-university/#)
