The roller hockey Gold squad went 2-1 at the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League (MCRHL) Showcase event February 14-15 at the Heatwave Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Lions fell to Purdue University (D3) in overtime 6-5, then shut out Illinois State University D2 8-0 on Saturday before defeating Slippery Rock D1 6-1 on Sunday.

In the weekend opener, Lindenwood held a three-goal lead midway through the second, but the Boilermakers outscored the Lions 4-1 in the final 18 minutes of regulation to force overtime and get the game-winner.

Logan Daffron put the first goal on the board for the Lions at the 2:48 mark of the first, assisted by Connor White and Drew Royer. A Dominic Roberts pass led to a James Mueller score at 7:49 and Lindenwood carried a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission. Mueller sounded the horn again at 4:29 of the second, again helped by Roberts to give the Lions a 3-0 lead. Purdue made it 3-1 just over a minute later but Alex Hernandez re-established a three-goal lead when he sounded the horn off a feed from Leonardo Dantas at 8:30.

The period ended in a flurry with three goals in the final 47 seconds. Purdue split the pipes at 11:13 and 11:19 before Lucas Hurst netted the puck for Lindenwood at 11:42 on a play set up by Dantas and White. It was 5-3 Lions at the second intermission. The Boilermakers scored the final three. Two came in the third at 8:34 and 9:54 before the game-winner in overtime.

Lindenwood out shot Purdue D3 by a margin of 25-21. James Mueller received Star No. 3 recognition with two goals.

After a tough loss, the Lions rebounded with a nice shutout against the Redbirds. Lindenwood scored two in the first, two in the second, and four in the third. It was a Connor White show initially as he lit the lamp three straight times for the Lions, at 3:30 assisted by Matthew Sherman and Hurst, on the power play at 9:01, and then at even strength at 3:27 of the second, assisted by Nicolas Kruk. Hurst made it 4-0 unassisted at 11:38 before White scored again at 1:32 of the third. Daffron hit the back of the net at 2:14 and 11:05 with a Kruk goal sandwiched in between at 9:20.

Lindenwood out shot Illinois State 43-17 and Niko Scott stopped all 17 shots he faced to earn the shutout victory. Connor White earned Star No. 1 honors with four goals, Logan Daffron received Star No. 2 recognition with two goals, and Matthew Sherman was named Star No. 3 with three assists.

Despite facing a D1 non-conference squad on Sunday, the Lions performed well against the Rock. Kruk put Lindenwood on the board at 2:42 of the first but was matched by Slippery Rock D1 at 3:52. The Lions added five unanswered from there. Sherman gave Lindenwood the lead for good at 6:26. A Slippery Rock power play led to a short-handed goal from Daffron at 5:32 of the second, then Dantas made it 4-1 on the power play at 8:47. Mueller (6:23) and Hernandez (9:58) accounted for the final two Lions goals in the third.

Lindenwood out shot the Rock 33-29 and Branden Bedley stopped 28 of 29 to get the win in goal. He was named Star No. 1 with a .966 save percentage, Matthew Sherman received Star No. 2 honors with a goal and two assists, and Nicolas Kruk earned Star No. 3 recognition with a goal and assist.

After the MCRHL Showcase weekend, the Lions improved to 13-1 overall and to 10-1 in conference play. Roller hockey Gold will now gear up for the National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association (NCRHA) National Championship April 15-19 at Brightspeed Ice Park in Springfield, Missouri.