SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 31, 2025) – The Golden Bears opened their 2025-26 season on home ice on Friday with Matt Smith behind the bench for the first time as the Golden Bears' head coach. The Owls would start with a flurry of goals in the first period, scoring five in the first 20 minutes. How would the Golden Bears answer? Four consecutive goals in the second period, with two from Stepan Kuznetsov. They cut the lead to 5-4 before a sixth Westfield State goal. The goal was what the Owls needed to secure the win, as they scored two more goals in the third period and ultimately won the contest 8-5.

Records:

Western New England: 0-1-0 (0-0-0)

Westfield State University: 1-0-0 (0-0-0)

How it Happened:

First Period:

• Aiden Winslow and Nikita Volsky would get the start in between the pipes for the Owls and Golden Bears, respectively.
• The teams traded shots early, both looking to get comfortable on the ice.
• The Owls would open the goal-scoring in the fourth minute thanks to a William Chausse goal assisted by Cannon Bonifay and Emile Pichette. Westfield State led 1-0.
• WNE was called for a penalty in the 5th minute, and in the sixth minute, the Owls scored their second goal in as many minutes. Jesper Seeberg scored on the power play off Raphael Seguin and Emile Pichette's assists. WSU led 2-0.
• The teams traded shots for a little longer before Louis Ouellet found the back of the net for the Owls to make the score 3-0 in the 10th minute of the first period of the season. Liam Krupcyznski assisted the goal.
• The Golden Bears tried to respond, but Winslow would make a save and stop the clock, leading to a faceoff.
• Liam Krupcyznski scored in the 14th minute, unassisted. Westfield State had a 4-0 lead.
• Lochlan Lauer would then enter as the new WNE goalie.
• Lauer would make a couple of saves before a WSU powerplay led to a Daniel Finegan goal in the 18th minute of the opening period. Steven Sedivy-Blengino and Emile Tremblay were credited with the assists. WNE trailed 5-0.
• The first period ended with WNE on the power play. They had four shots on the power play before the period ended.
• First period stats: WSU led in shots on goal, 13-11, powerplay goals 2-0, faceoffs won 15-8, saves 11-8, and blocked shots 2-1. WNE led in penalties 2-1 and shots 18-17.

Second Period:

• The Golden Bears would answer after that tough first period right away. Stepan Kuznetsov found the top-right corner of the goal, just over the goalie's shoulder, in the first minute of the second period for his first Golden Bear goal. Everest Schneider and Jimmy Mettler had the assists. WNE trailed 5-1.
• WNE would dominate the shots after the goal, going on a 12-3 run. That would spark even more momentum for the Golden Bears, leading to a Brayden Patricia goal, assisted by a Matty Zdanowicz faceoff win. WNE trailed 5-2 in the 5th minute of the second period.
• Both teams would pick up a couple of shots after that. Then, WNE would pick up a third consecutive goal. Michael Bottrell scored his first career Golden Bear goal by tipping the puck into the goal after assists from Mario Scalise and Philippe Longchamps. WNE only trailed 5-3 7:46 into the second period of play.
• WNE then went on the power play. They had five shots, with Winslow making four saves before a second Westfield State penalty was called, and WNE had a 5-on-3 chance. WNE had three shots but could not convert on the 5-on-3 opportunity.
• However, they would convert the second power play chance. It was Stepan Kuznetsov scoring his second goal of the evening, 9:54 into the second period, to cut the WNE deficit to one goal. Brayden Patrica and Jimmy Mettler were credited with the assists. WNE trailed 5-4.
• WNE continued to control the majority of the shot chances. However, a little after a Nicolas Coppola shot wide of the goal, Damon Warren and Xavier Tremblay would work together to get the puck to Colin Roe, who scored for the Owls, to stop the Golden Bear run. WSU led 6-4 in the 14th minute of the second period.
• The teams would trade shots for the next few minutes until a WSU powerplay began with 1:19 left in the second period. Five shots were taken before the horn sounded and the second period ended. WNE still trailed 6-4.
• Second Period stats: WNE led in shots 37-20, shots on goal 27-11, powerplay goals 2-0, faceoffs won 17-12. WSU led in saves, 23-10, and penalties, 2-1. Both teams had three blocked shots.

Third Period:

• The final period of play started with fewer fireworks than the first two. WNE would kill off the Owls' powerplay. However, they could only pick up one shot in the first five minutes.
• Westfield State had nine shots to WNE's two to start the third period. They gained momentum, and it would pay off for the Owls.
• Xavier Tremblay scored in the 8th minute of the third period after an assist from Brett Williams, and the Owls led 7-4 with under thirteen minutes remaining in the game.
• Forty-six seconds later, the Owls doubled their lead via a Julian Boisclair goal assisted by Liam Krupcyznski. WSU led 8-4 with 12:07 left in the contest.
• WNE earned a powerplay chance in the 10th minute of the third period. Brayden Patricia would net the fifth Golden Baear goal of the evening, the second of the game for him. Everest Schneider and Matty Zdanowicz were credited with the assists. WNE trailed 8-5.
• The Golden Bears controlled the shot chances for the next three minutes after that goal and gained momentum towards a sixth goal.
• The Golden Bears would get called for a penalty first, though. That led to the Owls sending multiple shots at Lauer in net, who made each save, and the Golden Bears would kill off the penalty.
• The teams traded a few shots as the game headed towards an end, and as the horn sounded, the Owls had their first win of the season, and the Golden Bears fell 8-5 versus Westfield State.

Inside the Crease:

• The Owls defeated the Golden Bears.
• First Period (3:41) – Westfield State goal scored by William Chausse, assisted by Cannon Bonifay and Emile Pichette. WSU led 1-0.
• First Period (5:38) – Westfield State goal scored by Jesper Seeberg on the powerplay, assisted by Raphael Seguin and Emile Pichette. WSU led 2-0.
• First Period (9:48) – Westfield State goal scored by Louis Ouellet, assisted by Liam Krupcyznski. WSU led 3-0.
• First Period (13:20) – Westfield State goal scored by Liam Krupcyznski, unassisted. WSU led 4-0.
• First Period (17:11) – Westfield State goal scored by Daniel Finegan on the powerplay, assisted by Steven Sedivy-Blengino and Emile Tremblay. WSU led 5-0.
• Second Period (0:39) – WNE goal scored by Stepan Kuznetsov on the powerplay, assisted by Everest Schneider and Jimmy Mettler. WNE trailed 5-1.
• Second Period (4:48) – WNE goal scored by Brayden Patricia, assisted by Matty Zdanowicz. WNE trailed 5-2.
• Second Period (7:46) – WNE goal scored by Michael Bottrell, assisted by Mario Scalize and Philippe Longchamps. WNE trailed 5-3.
• Second Period (9:54) – WNE goal scored by Stepan Kuznetsov on the powerplay, assisted by Brayden Patricia and Jimmy Mettler. WNE trailed 5-4.
• Second Period (13:39) – Westfield State goal scored by Colin Roer, assisted by Xavier Tremblay and Damon Warren. WSU led 6-4.
• Third Period (7:07) – Westfield State goal scored by Xavier Tremblay, assisted by Brett Williams. WSU led 7-4.
• Third Period (7:53) – Westfield State goal scored by Julian Boisclair, assisted by Liam Krupcyznski and Louis Ouellet. WSU led 8-4.
• Third Period (10:25) – WNE goal scored by Brayden Patricia on the powerplay, assisted by Everest Schneider and Matty Zdanowicz. WNE trailed 8-5.
• The Final Stats: WNE led in shots 67-54, shots on goal 43-37, and powerplay goals 3-2. Westfield State led in faceoffs won, 42-35, and blocked shots, 8-5. Both teams had four penalties.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will be back in action on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 8:10 PM as they host their first conference opponent of the season, the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards, inside the Olympia Ice Center.