WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Manhattanville University men's hockey team was defeated in its 2025-26 season opener on Friday afternoon, falling 4-1 at Wilkes University. The Valiants drop their third-straight contest against the Colonels dating back to 2023.

Wilkes opened up the new year with a pair of goals from Christian Blomquist and Liam O'Donoghue across the first ten and a half minutes to open up a multigoal lead. The Valiants responded in the closing minutes of the period, capitalizing on a cross check penalty that sent Trevor Belak to the penalty box. The first look of the Valiant power play was a good one as Manhattanville fired four shots on goal with the man advantage. Johno Hoins (Telluride, Colo./The Frederick Gunn School / Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)) delivered the big strike, scoring from Justin Fernet (Sherbrooke, Quebec/Taft School) and Lane Paddison (100 Mile House, Canada/Canmore Eagles (AJHL)) for the first goal of the season with 1:37 left in the opening period and cutting the deficit in half.

After outshooting Wilkes 13-9 in the first period, the Valiants were limited to just four shots in the second. Manhattanville was on the defensive for most of the stanza after having to fend off nine minutes of penalty time. Wilkes reestablished a two-goal cushion 8:09 into the period when Cam Lowe beat William Billequey (Montreal, Quebec/Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) on the Colonels' second power play of the night.

Manhattanville's offense returned to form in the third with another 13 shot period, but could not solve Duncan Rolleman over the rest of the night. Wilkes added one more insurance tally with 13 minutes left in regulation off the stick of Patrick Roginski.

Billequey finished with 25 saves to open up his junior season after his UCHC Co-Goaltender of the Year campaign last season. He recorded nine saves in both the second and third periods.

While held off the scoreboard, last year's leading scorer Nicholas Rogers (Broad Channel, N.Y./Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NA3HL)) was a presence on the ice all night long, leading all skaters on both teams with seven shots on net. Hoins, Paddison and Ryan McKenna (Spokane, Wash./Sheridan Hawks (NA3HL)) finished with three apiece.

McKenna also handled a majority of the Valiants' faceoff duties, winning 12 of his 20 total draws. The junior finished with the most faceoff victories of any player on either team.

Up Next
The Valiants take to home ice at the Playland Ice Casino for the first time this season in a week's time, hosting Cortland at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7.

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