Hockey gets extra point after Kiecker-Olson’s competitive weekend

By: Kaitlyn Belile, Assistant Features Editor

The Griffs hockey team fell against Air Force on Friday afternoon 6–3, but came back the next day with a shootout win after ending the game with a score of 3–3. Senior Killian Kiecker-Olson was able to capitalize on his opportunities, scoring his second, third and fourth goals for this season. 

Friday afternoon, the three goals scored by the Griffs were courtesy of Cole Miller, Hunter Price and Kiecker-Olson. The next day, the three goals were scored by Rhys Chiddenton and two from Kiecker-Olson.

The Falcons played a physical and competitive weekend. The team had a weekend of constantly responding to Griffs goals and keeping the games tied up. On Friday, the Falcons Nolan Cunningham, Nick Sajevic, Anthony Yu, Holt Oliphant, Sam Stitz and Ren Morque were credited goals. The following day, Will Dawson and Chris Hedden found the back of the net, with Hedden getting two goals. 

Saturday, to end a physically demanding weekend, the shootout started with Air Force’s Nick Sajevic putting one past Chase Clark, and a response goal by Kiecker-Olson against Dominic Wasik. In the second round, nobody could get the one-up with missed shots by Brendan Gibbons and Hunter Andrew. To close the shootout, Will Staring missed his shot while Grant Porter was able to get one in the net to give the Griffs the extra point. 

Throughout the weekend, Kiecker-Olson found the back of the net three times in regulation and once in the shootout. He has set a new career high with four goals on the season.  His current motto for his game is “less thinking, more doing.” He has been putting in work before and after practice to better his game but does not take full credit for his successes, as he knows every game is a team effort. Kiecker-Olson says, “We’ve just had good, hard, competitive practices, guys wanting to battle, wanting to win,” which then makes him better. He has not only been working hard himself, but is also “holding guys to that standard by my actions… and… competing to the best of my ability.” 

The Griffs return to action on Friday, Dec. 5 in Rochester at R.I.T. and they follow up the next day Dec. 6 against R.I.T. at the LECOM Harborcenter.

Photo courtesy of Anthony Militello