Men’s Hockey Drop MASCAC Clash to Salem, 3-2

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Ice Hockey team welcomed Salem State University into the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink for a MASCAC matchup with the Vikings. The Trailblazers were led by a pair of Sams with Sam Zis and Sam Perdion scoring the goals for the home team, but it was a two-goal effort by Eric Whitelaw that secured the 3-2 win for the Vikings.

THE BASICS

• Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
• Score: Salem 3, MCLA 2
• Records: Salem State University Vikings 5-11-3 (MASCAC 3-3-2) | MCLA Trailblazers 4-11-3 (MASCAC 2-4-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Vikings posted a pair of goals in the first period. Eric Whitelaw (PP, 9:04 of 1^st period, assisted by Greatorex & Wilkie) with assists going to Landyn Greatorex and Mitch Wilkie. They would double their lead about two and a half minutes later when Zach Dill (11:40, Tatro) put home a pass from James Tatro. The 2-0 score would hold into the first intermission.
• MCLA entered the second period with a bit more urgency, outshooting Salem 15-5 in the second frame. The Trailblazers would only convert that advantage into a single goal when sophomore forward Sam Zis (Boulder, CO / Connecticut Chiefs) (10:45 of 2^nd period, White) scored off a faceoff win by junior forward Cody White (Orange, CT / East Coast Wizards) in the right faceoff circle. White won the draw cleanly and passed it back to Zis in the slot, who got off a wrist shot that wound through traffic and into the back of the goal.
• The home team continued to press going into the third period, holding a nine-to-six advantage in shots. MCLA would find an equalizer with 14 and a half minutes to play when freshman forward Sam Perdion (Strongsville, OH / Charlotte Rush) came out of a scrum along the left boards that included junior forward Cade Herrera (Brentwood, CA / Seahawks H.C). Perdion (5:25 of 3^rd period, Herrera) split a pair of defenders and was able to get off a shot as he was falling to the ice, lighting the lamp for the home team.
• The tie would only hold for about four minutes because the Vikings went back in front on Whitelaw's (9:23, Dill & Francis) second goal of the night, helped by Dill and Aren Francis.
• Salem goalie Wil Nepveu recorded 28 saves on 30 shots to secure his fifth win of the season, advancing to 5-9-3 on the year. For the Trailblazers, it was freshman goalie Roco Stolz (Denver, CO / Charlotte Rush) drawing the loss, falling to 4-7-2 after recording 18 stops.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Shots: Salem 21, MCLA 30
• Saves: Salem 28, MCLA 18
• Faceoffs Won: Salem 26, MCLA 42
• Penalty/Minutes: Salem 2/4:00, MCLA 3/6:00
• Power Plays: Salem 1 for 3, MCLA 0 for 2

UP NEXT

On Saturday, MCLA will be back in action when it travels to Worcester State University and the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center for a MASCAC matchup with the Lancers. The puck will drop at 7:20 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

For the latest on MCLA Athletics, follow the Trailblazers via our social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter).