Army West Point Hockey Dominates Stonehill 6-1 in Home Opener at Tate Rink

BLACK KNIGHTS IMPROVE TO 2-0-1 WITH COMMANDING VICTORY IN FRONT OF 1,899 FANS

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point hockey (2-0-1, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey America) delivered a dominant performance in its 2025-26 home opener, routing the Stonehill Skyhawks (0-4-0) 6-1 on Sunday afternoon at Tate Rink in front of 1,899 fans.

The Black Knights seized control early and never looked back, recording their highest-scoring game since a 6-3 victory over Robert Morris on January 24, 2024. Junior goaltender JJ Cataldo was spectacular between the pipes, making 40 saves on 41 shots to backstop Army’s second consecutive victory.

The win marks Army’s first home opener victory since the 2019-20 season—a 3-2 win over Union—and continues the Black Knights’ best start to a season (2-0-1) since 2016-17, when Army finished 19-14-7 overall.

CATALDO SHINES WITH 40-SAVE PERFORMANCE

JJ Cataldo was the story of the afternoon, turning aside 40 of 41 Stonehill shots to earn his second win of the young season. The junior netminder faced a barrage of rubber throughout the game—15 shots in the first period, 10 in the second, and 15 in the third—but remained calm and composed, denying the Skyhawks at every turn.

Cataldo’s Key Saves:

• Stopped a dangerous two-on-one opportunity midway through the first period with help from defenseman Owen Nolan
• Denied multiple Stonehill power-play chances, including a flurry of six shots during a two-minute man advantage in the first period
• Turned away a series of third-period rushes to preserve the five-goal lead

Head coach Zach McKelvie praised his goaltender’s stellar performance.

“JJ’s been phenomenal. I think anybody who’s watching our games can see that. He just gives us a lot of confidence. Versus Union and Northeastern, he made some saves that kind of kept the score where it was, and our guys just fed off it. Tonight I thought we gave up a lot of shots, but not many of them were super threatening. So, he was tested tonight, but not like he was in those first two games.”

Cataldo’s 40 saves marked his second-highest career total and improved his season save percentage to .974 through three games.

SALICE LEADS OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION WITH TWO GOALS

Senior forward Vincent Salice paced the Black Knights’ offensive attack with two goals, including the game’s opening tally just 3:22 into the first period.

First Period: Salice Sets the Tone

Salice’s first goal came off a beautiful setup from Brent Keefer and Sean Vlasich, who combined to give Salice an open lane in the Skyhawks’ zone. The senior fired a shot from the left-hand circle that beat Stonehill goaltender Connor Androlewicz to give Army an early 1-0 lead.

“Getting that first goal early was huge for us,” Salice said. “It set the tone and gave us confidence. We knew if we kept playing our game, the goals would come.”

Second Period: Salice Strikes Again

With 30 seconds remaining in the second period and Army leading 4-1, Salice added his second goal of the night—an unassisted breakaway tally that restored the Black Knights’ four-goal cushion.

Barron Woodring intercepted a Stonehill pass in the neutral zone, and the puck came loose. Salice pounced on the opportunity, racing past the Skyhawks’ defenders and beating goaltender Linards Lipskis to make it 5-1 heading into the third period.

“That second goal was all about reading the play and being in the right place at the right time,” Salice said. “Woody made a great play to disrupt their breakout, and I just had to finish.”

Black Knights News:

• Army West Point Dominates Charlotte 24-7 Behind Hellums’ Career Day and Stifling Defense
• Army Takes Down Northeastern For Zach McKelvie’s First Win as Head Coach
• Cataldo’s 38-Save Masterclass Leads Army to Shootout Win Over Union in Season Opener
• Army Football Dominates UAB 31-13: Hellums’ Three TDs Spark Road Victory

HONG, MARSHALL CONTRIBUTE MULTI-POINT PERFORMANCES

Nik Hong: 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 4 Shots

Sophomore forward Nik Hong recorded his first goal of the season late in the first period, extending Army’s lead to 2-0 with 3:09 remaining in the frame.

Hong’s goal came on a quick rush up the ice, with assists from Nils Forselius and Adam Marshall. Hong led all Army skaters with four shots on goal and was a constant threat in the offensive zone throughout the afternoon.

“Nik was buzzing all game,” McKelvie said. “He’s got great speed and vision, and when he’s playing with that kind of energy, he’s tough to stop.”

Adam Marshall: 2 Goals, 1 Assist

Junior forward Adam Marshall had the best game of his young season, recording two goals and one assist for a three-point afternoon.

Marshall’s First Goal (8:38, 2nd Period):
Marshall hammered home a one-timer from Hong after a big hit from Keefer knocked a Stonehill defender off the puck along the boards. The goal gave Army a commanding 4-0 lead and chased Androlewicz from the net in favor of Lipskis.

Marshall’s Second Goal (4:14, 3rd Period):
Marshall capped his stellar performance with a highlight-reel goal midway through the third period. He and Hong teamed up on a loose puck in the neutral zone, passing back and forth on a two-on-one rush before Marshall deked around Lipskis and tucked the puck into the net to make it 6-1.

“Adam was fantastic today,” McKelvie said. “He was physical, he was smart with the puck, and he finished his chances. That’s the kind of performance we need from our top guys.”

BROWER NETS FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON

Freshman forward Jude Brower recorded his first goal of the 2025-26 season early in the second period, giving Army a 3-0 lead just 4:33 into the frame.

Fresh off his assist against Northeastern in the season opener, Brower found the back of the net himself after a blocked shot from Ben Ivey created a rebound opportunity. Brower slipped the puck past Androlewicz through the five-hole, showcasing his quick hands and hockey IQ.

“Jude’s been working hard in practice, and it’s great to see him get rewarded,” McKelvie said. “He’s a smart player who knows how to find open ice, and that goal was a perfect example of his instincts.”

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE: LIMITING HIGH-DANGER CHANCES

While Stonehill recorded 41 shots on goal, Army’s defensive structure limited the Skyhawks to mostly perimeter attempts, with very few high-danger chances from the slot.

Coach McKelvie praised his team’s defensive commitment and explained the system that has made Army so effective early in the season.

“That’s kind of how our D zone lends itself to—we give up some outside perimeter play, but we try to lock down the middle. And they did have some good shots; I just didn’t think they had as many high-quality shots as maybe their shot total would show. And they’re a really good team. They have a lot of talent. For whatever reason, they’re in a position right now where they haven’t won a game, but I bet if they look back to all four of these games, there are opportunities for them to change the momentum. We did do a pretty good job of limiting their inside chances. It really just speaks to our guys’ commitment to playing deep.”

McKelvie also highlighted the importance of his defensive corps to the team’s early success.

“We’ve been really happy with our D. Our stick detail has been good, and ultimately they’re just a competitive group. We always say that our team goes as our D goes, and certainly they’re a big reason why we’re in this position right now.”

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FIRST PERIOD: ARMY SEIZES EARLY CONTROL

Army wasted no time asserting its dominance, outshooting Stonehill 4-2 in the opening 10 minutes and taking a 1-0 lead on Salice’s early goal.

The Skyhawks responded with a flurry of offensive pressure, recording 15 shots in the first period—including six during a two-minute power play—but Cataldo stood tall, denying every attempt.

With 3:09 remaining in the period, Hong extended Army’s lead to 2-0 with his first goal of the season, giving the Black Knights a comfortable cushion heading into the first intermission.

First Period Stats:

• Shots: Stonehill 15, Army 4
• Goals: Army 2 (Salice, Hong)
• Power Plays: Stonehill 0-for-1
• Saves: Cataldo 15

SECOND PERIOD: BLACK KNIGHTS PULL AWAY

The second period belonged to Army, as the Black Knights scored three goals in a span of 10:52 to blow the game wide open.

Key Sequence:

4:33 – Brower scores off a rebound to make it 3-0
8:38 – Marshall hammers home a one-timer to make it 4-0 (Androlewicz pulled)
16:36 – Stonehill’s Cole Melady scores to cut the lead to 4-1
19:24 – Salice answers with an unassisted breakaway goal to restore the four-goal lead (5-1)

Army outshot Stonehill 13-10 in the second period and entered the third period with a commanding 5-1 lead.

Second Period Stats:

• Shots: Stonehill 10, Army 13
• Goals: Army 3 (Brower, Marshall, Salice), Stonehill 1 (Melady)
• Power Plays: Stonehill 0-for-2, Army 0-for-0
• Saves: Cataldo 9, Lipskis 7 (entered at 8:38)

THIRD PERIOD: MARSHALL CAPS DOMINANT WIN

The third period was all about Cataldo and Marshall. The junior goaltender turned aside all 15 Stonehill shots in the final frame, while Marshall added his second goal of the game at the 4:14 mark to give Army a 6-1 lead.

The Black Knights controlled the puck for much of the period, limiting Stonehill’s offensive chances and cruising to their second consecutive victory.

Third Period Stats:

• Shots: Stonehill 15, Army 6
• Goals: Army 1 (Marshall)
• Power Plays: Army 0-for-1 (late power play as time expired)
• Saves: Cataldo 15

SPECIAL TEAMS: PENALTY KILL PERFECT

Army’s penalty kill was flawless on the afternoon, going 4-for-4 against Stonehill’s power play. The Skyhawks recorded 10 shots during their four man advantages but were unable to solve Cataldo or the Black Knights’ defensive structure.

“Our penalty kill was outstanding,” McKelvie said. “We blocked shots, we cleared pucks, and JJ made the saves when we needed them. That’s a winning formula.”

Army went 0-for-2 on the power play, with their only opportunity coming late in the third period as time expired.

TURNING POINT: USING LIU GAME AS PRESEASON TUNE-UP

Army opened the season with a disappointing 5-2 loss to LIU on October 4, but McKelvie and his staff used that game as a learning experience and a final preseason tune-up before the “real” season began.

“I think we used the LIU game as just kind of our last preseason, and I don’t want to dismiss the LIU game, but we just used it as our last preseason tune-up. So, we kind of knew, like, I think guys even in that game were looking forward to Saturday. I’m sure LIU was doing the same for their game versus BU. But our guys have been committed to playing the right way. They understand what style of team we are and what’s going to make us successful. I thought we got away from that a little bit tonight, but ultimately we got the job done.”

Since that opening loss, Army has gone 2-0-1, including a shootout win at Union, a 3-2 victory at Northeastern, and Sunday’s 6-1 rout of Stonehill.

HISTORIC WIN AT NORTHEASTERN: A SPECIAL MOMENT

Army’s 3-2 victory at Northeastern on October 11 was a landmark moment for the program, as it marked the final time the Black Knights will ever play at historic Matthews Arena.

McKelvie reflected on the significance of that win and the connection to Army’s legendary coach, Jack Riley.

“It’s a good win for our program, and there’s a lot of storylines. I was reflecting yesterday and just thinking about the history of our program, the history of their program, and the historic Matthews Arena, and understanding that our most legendary coach, Jack Riley, grew up playing at Matthews Arena. So for us to go up there and get a win against a very good team was a really special moment for our program. That I think is a good memory for all our guys because it’ll be the last time Army ever plays in that building.”

The win over Northeastern—a perennial contender for the Beanpot and Hockey East powerhouse—was a statement victory for McKelvie’s young team.

“There’s a lot of storylines. Northeastern has pretty much fought for the Bean Pot pretty much every year for the past ten years now, and we went in there and did business. It was a really special moment for our program.”

HISTORIC START FOR COACH MCKELVIE

With Sunday’s victory, head coach Zach McKelvie became just the third coach in Army history to go undefeated in his first three games behind the bench, joining Capt. Robert Foy (3-0-0 in 1905) and Rob Riley (3-0-0 in 1986).

McKelvie’s Black Knights have now posted a 2-0-1 record through three games, matching Army’s best start to a season since 2016-17.

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s special, but this is about our players and our alumni and our program. I just feel really fortunate and blessed to be the guy selected to be the head coach, but we just want to do everything we can to honor our alumni and the guys that wear that jersey. So far, we’ve done a good job, but it’s really early in the season.”

BY THE NUMBERS

THREE STARS OF THE GAME

⭐⭐⭐ JJ Cataldo, Army – 40 saves on 41 shots (.976 SV%)
⭐⭐ Vincent Salice, Army – 2 goals
⭐ Adam Marshall, Army – 2 goals, 1 assist

LOOKING AHEAD: CANISIUS COMES TO TATE RINK

Army will return to Tate Rink on Tuesday, October 14 for its first Atlantic Hockey America game of the season, hosting the Canisius Golden Griffins at 7:00 PM ET.

The Black Knights will look to extend their unbeaten streak to four games and continue their strong start to the 2025-26 campaign.

“Canisius is a tough opponent, and conference games are always battles,” McKelvie said. “We’ll enjoy this win tonight, but tomorrow we’ll get back to work and prepare for Tuesday. We want to keep this momentum going.”

FINAL SCORE

Stonehill 1, Army West Point 6

Scoring Summary:

• 1st Period: Salice (Keefer, Vlasich) 3:22 – Army 1-0
• 1st Period: Hong (Forselius, Marshall) 16:51 – Army 2-0
• 2nd Period: Brower (Ivey, Batten) 4:33 – Army 3-0
• 2nd Period: Marshall (Hong) 8:38 – Army 4-0
• 2nd Period: Melady (Mexico) 16:36 – Stonehill 1-4
• 2nd Period: Salice (Unassisted) 19:24 – Army 5-1
• 3rd Period: Marshall (Forselius) 4:14 – Army 6-1

Goaltenders:

• Stonehill: Androlewicz (L, 5 saves on 9 shots, 28:38), Lipskis (12 saves on 14 shots, 31:22)
• Army: Cataldo (W, 40 saves on 41 shots, 60:00)

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