NORTH ANDOVER, MA—Merrimack College men's ice hockey team scored four times in the first period and cruised to a 8-2 win and weekend sweep over the Minnesota State Mavericks on Saturday night at Lawler Arena. 

Merrimack got off on the right foot as Caelan Fitzpatrick blocked a point shot and sped off with the puck scoring on a breakway unassisted for his fourth goal in four games. Nathan King found the net for his first of the year a few minutes later and after being awarded a powerplay, Nick Pierre would score his third of the weekend and the team's third of the night, prompting a goaltending change for the Mavericks. Merrimack added one more before the break as Caden Cranston made it back to back nights with a goal and the Warriors in the process notched their first four-goal period since February 3rd, 2026 against Stonehill. 

The Warriors caught lightning in a bottle to start the second period as Ty Daneault scored his first two goals of the season in the first 28 seconds to stretch the lead to six, before Justin Gill added the extra point with a nifty move down the middle to take a 7-0 lead into the room.

Minnesota State added two consolation goals but Nathan King scored his second of the game to make it eight on night.

Ryan Keyes collected the win with an even 20 saves.

Seamus Powell had three assists on the night and Caelan Fitzpatrick and Ty Daneault had three points each.

Up Next: Merrimack heads to South Bend, Indiana for the first of two against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 23rd.

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