BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fredonia State Men's Hockey Team (0-1, 0-0 SUNYAC) kicked off their season on Friday afternoon as part of the Bengal Hockey Classic hosted by Buffalo State. The Blue Devils dropped a 5-2 decision to Wilkes University (1-0).
 
Fredonia State opened the scoring for both teams ten minutes into the first period. First-time players Johnny Malandruccolo (Auburn, N.Y.) and Jake Blackwell (Hamden, Conn.) connected, with Malandruccolo recording the goal.
 
The lead didn't last for long. 40 seconds later Wilkes' Nick Fea scored the equalizer.
 
The Blue Devils were quick to answer with a goal to take the lead back. Just over three minutes later Antonio Demacopoulos (Hickory Hills, Ill.) converted the set-up from Malandruccolo and Gregg Lee (Aliso Viejo, Calif.).
 
That would serve as Fredonia State's last lead of the game.
 
Wilkes' second period proved to be the game-winning 20 minutes. The Colonels scored three of the final four goals of the game in the second stanza. The goals came at 38 seconds, 4:44, and 13:34, making the score 4-2 at the second intermission.
 
Wilkes would finish its four-goal run with an insurance goal at 11:35 in the third period from Cole Jungwirth.
 
Malandruccolo led all scorers with two points on their goal and assist. Blackwell, Demacopoulos, and Lee all finished with one point.
 
Parker Brakebill (Yorba Linda, Calif.) led the team with four shots.
 
Logan Dyck (Calgary, Alberta) started and played all 60 minutes in net in his first appearance for Fredonia State. The netminder recorded 32 saves.
 
Fredonia State returns to action tomorrow at 3:30 PM for the second day of the Classic. The Blue Devils will play the winner of Buffalo State and Albertus Magnus.