The Windsor Lancers men's hockey team opened their 2019-20 season with an impressive 6-3 road win over the Brock Badgers. 

The Lancers debuted a host of new talent and a physical brand of hockey. After a tight first period, Windsor scored four straight goals to take command of the game. Despite some impressive fight and a couple late goals from the Badgers, the Lancers proved too much on opening night and start their season in the win column.

GAME STATS
Jonathan Reinhart stood on his head, making 46 saves on 49 shots. Mario Cavaliere made 28 saves for the host Badgers.

In Anthony Salinitri's debut he led all players in with 3 points on one goal and two assists. Adam Berg recorded two points for Brock with a goal and assist. 

The Lancers did a great job sharing the puck, with nine assists on six goals. The Badgers recorded three assists on three goals. 

GAME FLOW
The Lancers and Badgers may have both been opening their season, but that didn't stop the them from getting physical early, amassing six combined penalties in the first 20 minutes. Despite their physicality, Windsor played the puck and scored first with Alex Friesen besting Cavaliere to put the Lancers ahead with just under five minutes to go in the opening frame. The jubilant Lancers bench was quickly silenced though when not even a minute later Brock's Mitchell Mendonca snuck one past a sprawled Reinhart to tie the game. At the first intermission both teams were deadlocked at 1-1. 

Early in the second the Badgers earned a three-on-one break, but Reinhart's glove was too quick. Right after the save, it was the Lancers on the break and Ethan Skinner found twine at 2:12 mark in the second to restore the blue and gold's lead. Just before the halfway mark of the second, Skinner scored again, this time as the beneficiary of a rebound in front from Ryan Barbosa's point shot; putting the Lancers up 3-1.  

The scoring didn't stop there as Anthony Salinitri scored in his first game with the blue and gold, pushing the lead to 4-1. The Badgers struggled to clear their zone all period but Cavaliere and this teammates made it to intermission without giving up another one. 

Reinhart opened the third period by making two more impressive sprawling pad saves. Heading into the third period, Reinhart had already rejected 32 shots. His skaters paid him back when Connor Logan found Brady Pataki who also marked his first goal as a Lancer, pushing the lead to 5-1. 

Jonathan Schaefer finally converted for Brock after the hosts pelted Reinhart with shots to cut the lead to 5-2 at the 6:47 mark. Late in the third, the Badgers persistence paid off as Adam Berg got a rebound in front and capitalized. Windsor's Ian Parker stemmed any hopes of a comeback however, nailing an empty net goal to close out the game and cement the 6-3 win for the Lancers. 

UP NEXT
After an exhibition game at Michigan this Sunday, the Lancers return to the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 11th when they host McGill in game one of a weekend doubleheader. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 pm. Season tickets can be purchased in advance at www.goLancers.ca/tickets