The Lindenwood men's ACHA division II ice hockey team kicked off the 2025 Lindenwood Winter Classic with a bang Friday night by defeating the Concordia (Wisc.) Falcons by the score of 6-3 at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

The Lions drew first blood Friday night on a goal via the short-handed variety. With Zac Maupin in the box for boarding, Jacob Behnen forced a Falcon turnover and scored his fourth goal of 2024 at 7:36, giving the Lions their first lead of the night. Jack Louko netted his 11th of the year two minutes later to put the Lions up 2-0 thanks to a nifty play started by Nick Jones and Austin Meers. At 11:42, Nolan Kahl added a goal of his own- his third of the year- to make it 3-0. Trent Sylvester picked up a helper on the play, his fifth on the season. Lindenwood dominated for most of the frame, outshooting Concordia 19-9.

The second period saw the Lions pick right up right where they left off. Once again, the Lindenwood offense was relentlessly pounding the Concordia goaltender. The teamw was rewarded at 12:35 when Jones and Louko found Meers who lit the lamp for the 15th time and made it 4-0 Lindenwood. Meers' goal would be the eventual game winner. The Lions kept peppering the Falcon netminder with pucks resulting in Jones' 25th and Michael Mullen's 12th goals of the year at 17:03 and 18:34 respectively. Louko and Meers picked up assists on Jones' goal; Zachary Schwartz and Stanley Lucas recorded assists on Mullens'. The Lions outshot the Falcons 19-12 in the second period and took a commanding 6-0 lead into the third.

The third period saw the Falcons mount a late comeback attempt, but the 6-0 deficit was simply too deep a hole to climb out of. The Falcons got on the board at 14:26 and added a powerplay goal at 15:58 to trim the Lions lead to 6-2. A Falcons goal at 18:47 cut the Lions lead to three, but that would be all the tallies the Falcons could muster. Concordia outshot Lindenwood 13-8 in the final period of play, but Cole Wheaton thwarted any idea of a Falcon comeback. The final score was 6-3 when the horn sounded.  

The Lions' offensive pressure early in the game was a large key to their victory Friday night. The Louko, Meers, and Jones line were humming all game long and combined for nine points against Concordia. Cole Wheaton made 31 of 34 possible saves and picked up a win Friday to bring his 2024 record up to 11-1. As a team, the Lions' record now stands at 29-2 and a perfect 19-0 on home ice. The Lions' win streak currently sits at 15 games, three better than the previous 12 gamer they had earlier this season.

The Lions take the ice again tomorrow night when they face off against the DePaul Blue Demons. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. from Centene Community Ice Center.