MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – The Lindenwood men's hockey team (14-14-0) made history on Saturday night as they competed in the program's first ever outdoor game. The Lions took on the United States National Team Development Program in an exhibition at The Barn at Centene Community Ice Center.

Game Overview
On a chilly evening in St. Louis County, Lindenwood fell by a score of 6-3 despite outshooting the USNTDP 51-29. The Lions went 0-2 on the power play while the National Team was able to convert one of two power play opportunities.

Lindenwood was on the front foot early, creating a substantial 19-5 advantage in shots during the first period and finding the game's first goal with a close-range score by Olivier Houde five minutes in.

However, after taking the 1-0 lead into the first intermission, the USNTDP surged ahead with a pair of goals in the second period, first by Wyatt Cullen at the 9:49 mark before AJ Franciso touched twin a little under five minutes later for the go ahead score.

The National Team expanded their lead in the first half of the third period, with Lucas Zajic scoring at 5:49 to make it 3-1 and Wyatt Cullen bagging his second goal of the night on a power play at the 7:29 mark.

Lindenwood got one back soon after, as Ty Hipkin lit the lamp to cut the deficit back to a pair, but the Lions were unable to find another score before the USNTDP added two more late in the frame, with Victor Plante finding the back of the net at 16:30 followed by Carter Meyer with under two minutes remaining.

The Lions would add one more goal with a minute left, as defensemen Ethan Elias scored from the blue line to make the score 6-3.

Next Up
Lindenwood will play one more exhibition against the USNTDP on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. back inside Centene Community Ice Center before beginning preparation for the United Collegiate Hockey Cup, which will be held in Maryland Heights on March 5-7.