MIDDLETOWN, CT. – Led by Ethan Davidson '26 and Connor Sutherland '27, the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team opened the 2024-25 season in high scoring fashion with a 5-3 NESCAC defeat at the hands of Tufts University on Friday evening at Spurrier-Snyder Arena.

Picking up where he left off at the 2023-24 assists leader, Davidson had himself a three-point night as the primary assist on all three Cardinals goals. Last season, Davidson was a NESCAC Player of the Week selection for a four-point weekend.

The Jumbos got an early jump on the Cardinals, scoring four consecutive goals to open the game. Jon Horn picked up two goals in the first period and was followed by Bryceon Lago and Harrison Bazianos in the second period. Horn's first goal was scored from the left post, his second the result of a net-front scramble where he was able to stuff the puck over the line.  

Lago opened the second period with the third goal of the game for the Jumbos, lifting the puck over the goal line as he slid into freshman goaltender Patrick McDevitt '28. Bazianos wasted little time with goal four just three minutes later from the left faceoff circle.

At 8:46 of the second period the Cardinals finally had an answer for the four Jumbos goals in the form of Hayden Hanes '27. Hanes, scoring his first career goal as a Cardinal, was quick to rip the puck from top center after the Cardinals were able to press on a turnover. Owen Sweet '25 re-routed the possession over the blue line and was briefly picked off, but Davidson was able to make the save and found Hanes waiting. The goal was a much-needed boost in confidence, the Cardinals throwing another seven shots on Gustave Bylin to close the period

Sutherland's first goal came on the man advantage as the Jumbos were called for roughing late in the final period after Horn scored the first goal and his third of the game. With Patrick Morrissey '25 and Davidson at the top of the power-play unit, Sutherland was able to sink the puck over Bylin's right pad from the left circle on a quick pass from Davidson. Leaving less than a minute remaining in regulation, Sutherland struck again, the Jumbos were called twice to the penalty box. Davidson's backhanded pass from the blueline found Sutherland in the exact same spot and it proved successful once again.

Making his Cardinals debut in goal, McDevitt made 25 saves in net on 30 shots. Byline in the opposite net made 27 saves for the Jumbos.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 16, hosting Conn. College at 3 p.m.