WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross men's ice hockey is set to face Bentley in a home-and-home set this weekend. Game one of the series is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, at the Hart Center Rink, while game two will be played at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, at Bentley Arena in Waltham, Mass. Both games will stream live on FloHockey.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (4-5-2, 1-5-2 ATLANTIC HOCKEY):

• Holy Cross will look to right the ship after being swept by AIC last weekend, falling 4-1 on Friday, and 3-2 on Saturday.
• Hot start: Senior Jack Ricketts is tied for third in the league in points this season, racking up 12 over the start of the season on five goals and seven assists. Ricketts has picked up at least one point in all but one game this season.
• In the national rankings: Senior goalkeeper Jason Grande's 2.11 goals-against average ranks him 13th nationally, while his .924 save percentage places him 16th in the national rankings. Holy Cross owns the nations 16th-best scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 2.55 goals per game. The team is tied for third nationally in short-handed goals, with three this season.
• Spreading the wealth: 18 different players have recorded a point this season.
• Veteran presence: Nine players enter the weekend having suited up for over 80 collegiate games in their careers. Seniors Matt Guerra and Alec Cicero have eclipsed the 100 game mark this season, with fellow seniors Jack Robilotti and Jack Ricketts set to reach the mark in the coming weeks.

SCOUTING BENTLEY (6-4-0, 4-2-0 ATLANTIC HOCKEY):

• Bentley has started their season 6-4, with a 4-2 Atlantic Hockey record, earning them votes in this week's USCHO poll. The Falcons enter the weekend on a three game win streak, picking up wins against AIC and Niagara. Over the three games, Bentley outscored opponents 11-4.
• Graduate student A.J. Hodges enters the weekend as reigning Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week after picking up three goals and two assists on Friday's 6-2 win over Niagara. 
• Bentley returns 16 players, while adding eight freshmen and six transfers.
• Senior Nick Bochen and Hodges lead the team in points with eight each. Bochen also leads the team in assists with six, while Hodges holds the lead in goals with five.
• The goalkeeping duo of senior Nicholas Grabko and sophomore Connor Hasley have combined for a goals-against average of 1.99, and a .922 save percentage.

LAST TIME THEY MET:

• The two teams met twice last year in the regular season. The Crusaders swept the series at Bentley Arena, taking game one on Feb. 7, 2023, 4-1, before sneaking by in overtime on Feb. 8, 3-2.
• Ricketts recorded three points on two goals and an assist in game one. Senior Lucas Thorne also picked up two points on a powerplay goal and an assist, while seniors Alec Cicero and Tyler Ghirardosi and junior Matt Shatsky recorded assists. Grande and junior netminder Thomas Gale split the game in net, combining for 21 saves and one goal allowed.
• Ricketts scored the short handed overtime winner in the second game of the series to complete the sweep. Thorne scored his second power play goal of the weekend to open the scoring in the game, while sophomore Devin Phillips scored the second goal of the game for the Crusaders. Senior Jack Robilotti, junior Liam McLinskey, Ricketts, and Cicero recorded assists in the game. Gale recorded 15 saves in the overtime win.