With two losses and a suspended game, it has been a challenging start to the season for CSUN’s ice hockey team. CSUN played their home opener, hosted at Iceoplex in Simi Valley, on Sept. 29, and the second game of the week on Oct. 1. CSUN lost 3-5 to Grand Canyon University in both games. While victories are always the desired outcome, these losses can still be great opportunities for growth, especially since it is just the beginning of the season.

“We practice twice a week, and we usually play games on weekends, so it’s really important that every day we’re together, we get better,” said head coach Robert Morgan. “That’s definitely a goal – to improve as a collective group and individually in our skills, and ultimately, we want to win the regular season conference.”

Despite the two losses, CSUN played an intense first game and gave GCU a significant challenge. Defenseman Piya Tedsana scored the first goal of the night within 41 seconds of the first period on opening night.

“We love a great start, and I definitely think it put them on our heels ’cause I don’t think they were expecting us to come up that big,” said alternate captain Jake Dusterhoff.

On Sunday morning, during the second game, CSUN mounted a comeback during the second period, tying the game 2-2. However, they fell short during the third period and lost 3-5.

During their third home game on Oct. 7, against CSU Fullerton, Dusterhoff scored in the 19th minute of the first period.

Both CSUN power plays during the first period led to goals, one by Dusterhoff and the second by forward and alternate captain Isaac Anderson.

The start to the second period was a bit more challenging, with a Fullerton goal within the 19th minute by defenseman Andrew Frankos. In the 14th minute of play, a CSUN penalty resulted in a second Fullerton goal by forward Taylor Davis.

Minutes later, both CSUN and Fullerton had penalties. CSUN’s five-minute major penalty resulted in both a CSUN and a Fullerton goal.

By the end of the second period, a timeout was requested for an emergency off the ice, ultimately leading to the game being suspended in consideration of the safety of the fans.

CSUN led 4-3 by the end of the period when the game was suspended for private reasons.