The M3 and M4 club ice hockey teams hosted the culminating event for PennWest California’s Homecoming festivities: two great hockey games and other activities at the CFS Bank Event Center, the Vulcans’ home rink.

The puck drop for the M4 team’s game was at 4:10 pm. In the first period, the M4 Vulcans came out strong and goals were scored by Noah Levander, Aidan Hoeft, and Brandon Kibe. The team ended the first period with a 3-0 lead.

Junior Early Childhood and Elementary Education major Kayla Bish plays defense for the M4 team.

“I think we did a great job getting into the offensive zone and just getting as many shots on net as possible, which caused a lot of rebounds that we took advantage of,” she said.

RMU scored early in the second period, and the Vulcans answered with two more goals by Drew Bird and Dayton Yanko.

The third period saw a Vulcans goal by Charlie McCormick and then two RMU goals, making the final score a 6-3 win for the M4 team.

Bish was happy with the result.

“I’d say we need to work on our power play a bit more, but it’s getting better as we’re getting used to each other. Bish also commended goalies Zack Bender and Robbie Wharton on the game.

“Our goalies played incredible and made some big saves,” she said.

After the first game finished, the hockey team sponsored free public skate and skate rental for all spectators, complete with music, disco balls, and strobe lights.

In the rink lobby, tables displayed signed memorabilia for silent auction, a 50/50, and raffle baskets donated by families of the players, BeeGraphix, the Mighty Penguins, and others affiliated with the teams. Members of the Student Activities Board sold limited-edition Vulcan Nation hockey shirts and sweatshirts in the lobby as well as sponsoring a shuttle bus to the event.

The Vulcans partnered with the Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey organization, an opportunity for adults and kids who are physically disabled to play adapted hockey.

”We’ve done events with them before, and they’re always super nice and are happy to educate us and answer questions,” Bish said.

Before the M3 game, players presented the Mighty Pens team members a large check expressing all of the funds raised over the evening from raffle ticket sales.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea, former player and announcer Phil Bourque, and Paralympic gold medalists Kelsey DiClaudio and Dan McCoy were available to sign autographs and talk to attendees. DiClaudio and McCoy also participated in a ceremonial faceoff puck drop before the second game with the starters from both PennWest Cal and RMU.

The puck drop for the M3 game was at 8:30 pm, with members of the PennWest Cal choir singing the national anthem.

RMU scored once in each of the first two periods, with lots of back and forth momentum between the teams. Eion Tiernan scored an unassisted goal in the third period for the Vulcans but the team ultimately could not fight back to tie the score, ending in a 2-1 loss for the M3 team.

During the first intermission, basket raffle winners were called, and members of a youth Pittsburgh Predators team played a five-minute hockey game as entertainment for the spectators.

The dance team also performed their routine to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” during the game, and the marching band hyped up the players and the crowd with stand tunes and cadences. The Vulcan cheerleaders showed their support through cheering and dancing in the bleachers.

Bish thought the event went well overall.

“Having so many students in the stands supporting us really brings out the school spirit,” she said.