FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The first semester has been short of expectations for the Fredonia men's hockey team.

The Blue Devils went into the season determined to put more shots on goal than in recent seasons. While that has happened, the goals have yet to come with similar frequency.

One more chance remains this semester -- a Friday night visit from the Johnson & Wales Wildcats. Game time is 7 p.m. in the Steele Hall Ice Arena.

The Blue Devils have taken 333 shots en route to a 1-5-3 record to date. By comparison, the opposition has 340 shots. Yet the margin in goals scored is wider -- 39 for the opponents compared to 18 for Fredonia.

Johnson & Wales has both figures in its favor -- 300 to 280 in shots, 28 to 19 in goals scored -- heading into tonight's game. The Wildcats, coached by former Blue Devil assistant coach Erik Noack, are 5-3-1 overall and 3-2-0 in the ECAC Northeast conference.

"It will be nice to see Erik," said Blue Devil head coach Jeff Meredith, whose sent several other former assistants on to college head coaching jobs. "In the time Noey has been at Johnson & Wales, he has done a great job and every year has his team in the hunt for the championship of his league."

COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY: The Blue Devils, in conjunction with DFT Communications, will host a family open skate session at 3 p.m. Saturday. Following the hour-long free skate, the Blue Devils will play pick-up hockey with children from the Northern Chautauqua County Youth Hockey Association from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Children wishing to take part in the pick-up game portion must wear proper safety equipment. (See attached flyer, above).