Looking to bounce back from a disappointing Beanpot tournament, the Northeastern men’s hockey team (10-15-3, 5-10-3 HE) split the weekend against the No. 13 University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks (15-11-3, 8-9-2 HE) Feb. 14 and 15. 

Freshman goaltender Quentin Sigurdson started his first regular season game for the Huskies Feb. 14 in Matthews Arena. Sigurdson’s latest appearance came against Harvard University in the consolation match of the Beanpot tournament Feb. 10, in which he played 32 minutes in the Huskies’ 4-3 loss. Against Lowell, Sigurdson notched his first career shutout with a final score of 2-0. 

“[Sigurdson] was awesome tonight — he gave our team a real big boost. Not just for him, but for the players too,” said head coach Jerry Keefe after the game. 

He wasn’t just a star in net for the Huskies — Sigurdson also ended up on the scoreboard with an assist.

In the fourth minute of the first period, Sigurdson retrieved a dumped puck from behind his net before sliding it to junior defenseman Joaquim Lemay, whose pass found freshman forward Joe Connor. Connor skated the puck into Lowell’s defensive zone before firing his first shot, which was saved, and jumping on the rebound to score the first goal of the game. 

Despite being outshot 13-11, the Huskies entered the second period with a one-goal lead. 

Connor scored his second goal of the night off a shot on the power play two minutes into the second period. Connor deked graduate student goaltender Henry Welsch from right to left before slotting the puck over his left shoulder, putting the Huskies up 2-0. 

“It’s a big game for me, getting my confidence up and getting those two big ones tonight. It’s been tough all season, but getting those two really helped,” Connor said after the game. 

Northeastern’s defense was effective in keeping the team out of trouble, killing four of four penalties and blocking 32 shots. Sigurdson completed his Feb.14 shutout performance with 34 total saves. 

“I know I can play at this level and that’s [a] big boost to my confidence today, so I’m just hoping I can keep that going,” Sigurdson said after the game. 

Keefe would not disclose who would be getting the start for Saturday’s matchup on Friday, stating that he preferred to keep that “between the team” but the next day Sigurdson was in the net again for his second start

The second matchup against the River Hawks, Feb. 15 in Lowell, Mass., was far more disappointing for the Huskies.  

The game was scoreless through the first period, with Northeastern outshooting Lowell 9-5. 

In the third minute of the second period, sophomore forward Andy Moore sent a cross-ice pass to freshman forward Griffin Erdman from the left to right face-off circle. Erdman fired the puck into the right side of the net, putting the Huskies up 1-0. 

Thirty seconds later, graduate student defenseman Jake Boltmann received a 10-minute penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking. Northeastern’s defense rose to the occasion with five saves from Sigurdson and three blocks to kill the penalty. 

In the 15th minute of the second period, sophomore forward Dylan Hryckowian was assessed a minor penalty for slashing, giving the River Hawks their 12th power play minute of the game. Freshman forward Mirko Buttazzoni’s shot from the blue line was saved by Sigurdson and rebounded to freshman forward Lee Parks, who swatted the puck behind the goaltender, tying the game. 

The second period ended with the Huskies outshot 12-7. 

Three minutes into the third period, freshman forward Ben Poitras was dispossessed in the neutral zone by graduate student defenseman Pierson Brandon. Brandon’s shot from the blue line slipped under the pads of Sigurdson and into the back of the net, putting the River Hawks up 2-1. 

With two minutes remaining in the game, Sigurdson left the net to give the Huskies an extra skater. Senior forward Ryan McGuire’s shot was blocked by senior forward Matt Crasa, who played a one-two with junior defenseman Mitchell Becker before finding sophomore forward Jak Vaarwerk for the empty net goal. 

The game finished 3-1, with Northeastern outshot 26-24 after being assessed three game misconducts. 

The Huskies take on the rival No. 9 Boston University Terriers (17-11-1, 11-7-1 HE) in a weekend series Feb. 21 and 22.