In Roseville on Saturday the Hornets were playing their second game in the same number of days. After losing the night before to Fresno State, the Hornets come out ready to play against Valencia’s College of the Canyons.

Canyons only fielded nine players against the Hornet roster of 20. The lesser number of players disadvantaged the team all night.

The first period of the game was a defensive fest as the Hornets and Canyons went back and forth on the ice. Hornet left wing Mahan Malachi scored the first goal at the end of the first period to make the score 1-0 Hornets.

The second period featured both teams getting even more physical. With the Canyons out manned all night and getting constantly insulted by the Hornet home crowd, the frustration hit a boiling point as the team provoked a big fight in the middle of the second that landed four players from Canyons in the penalty box. The Canyons scored right before the end of the period to make the score tied at 1-1.

With only two minutes in the 3rd period Hornet center Kevin Bean scored to make the score 2-1. Less than a minute later Hornet forward Chase Turner scored to make it 3-1. Less than a minute after that Hornet defender Matt Van Atta scored to continue the run, 4-1. Atta would score again in the middle of the 3rd to make it, 5-1, which would be the game’s final score.

The Hornets played like a team that learned from the last game’s mistakes.

“It was a good win our players played well and showed how much heart they had,” said Hornet coach Tom Bowen.

The Hornet team would agree with its excited coach but acknowledged they had more work to do.

“It was a great win but we gotta put the puck in the goal more if we’re going to be a great team,” said Hornet team captain Jamison Meikle.

With the first weekend of Hornet hockey done the Hornets are ready and excited for their future.

“We’re coming along, our team chemistry is improving by the game and people are coming out to support us and it’s great,” said Turner.

The Hornets will travel next weekend to Fresno to play the Bulldogs. The Hornets will be looking for revenge as the Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Hornets in the first game of the season.

Lamont Weaver can be reached at [email protected]