Liberty Hockey represents Team USA at Winter World University Games in Italy

Liberty University’s ACHA Division I men’s hockey team is well represented on the United States Men’s National University Team this week and next week at the FISU Winter World University Games in Torino, Italy.

With five players and senior equipment manager John Cimba making the trip, Liberty has more than any other university on the 23-man roster, composed entirely of ACHA players. The Flames are joined by three players from Adrian College and Purdue (Ind.) University Northwest, two from Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, Minot State University, Ohio University, and UNLV, and one from Maryville (Mo.) University and Missouri State University.

Flames junior defenseman Laz Kaebel and senior forward and alternate captain Jacob Kalandyk are two of the six players returning from the gold medal-winning team at the 2023 World Cup of Hockey in Romania, where the United States defeated Canada, 4-0, in the final.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Kalandyk said in December before Liberty’s Winter Break. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge. It’s exciting. It will be a fun trip and definitely a good way to stay in hockey shape and competing over the break.”

Other Liberty players competing in Italy include sophomore goalie Konrad Kausch, sophomore forward Ryan Finch, and freshman forward Michael DeBrito.

Additionally, Lady Flames DI hockey senior forwards Haley Battles and Brielle Fussy are representing Team USA in the women’s hockey tournament being played simultaneously at the Winter World University Games. Battles netted a hat trick in Team USA’s 5-0 victory over Kazakhstan on Wednesday, the team’s first win in three pool play games.

“We’re super excited for our players to have the opportunity to go over there and for God to use them as ambassadors for Him on the U.S. team,” Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. “Our two biggest things we want Liberty Hockey to be about is using our platform to make Jesus known and giving guys opportunities to grow in their faith. That’s what I’m excited about for them. It is quite an honor to represent your country … and our team and the university and the Lord in everything … and we are excited to see how they will do.”

The men’s U.S. team started pool play on Sunday in Torre Pellice, Italy, with a 6-2 victory over Poland sparked by goals from DeBrito and Finch, who also assisted DeBrito’s goal. It then routed Japan, 5-1, on Tuesday, getting goals from Kaebel, assisted by Kalandyk, and DeBrito off a feed from Finch while Kausch recorded the win in net.

On Wednesday, Team USA edged Slovakia, 6-5 in a shootout, with Kausch stopping five of six shootout attempts by Slovokia. It then concluded pool play on Friday with a 5-1 triumph over Ukraine with Kausch again earning the victory and DeBrito and Kalandyk recording goals.

That sets up a quarterfinal showdown with South Korea on Sunday’s quarterfinals after it finished fourth in a Group B pool that also included Canada, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, and Sweden. With a win, Team USA will advance to Tuesday’s semifinals before championship and consolation games are played Wednesday in Torino.

Back at home this weekend, Liberty’s No. 3-ranked DI men will open spring semester play with a series against No. 10 Calvin (Mich.) University on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. in the LaHaye Ice Center, with Saturday’s rematch being the annual Star Wars Night contest.

Liberty’s Team USA representatives are planning to fly back to Lynchburg, Va., on Jan. 23, in time for the Jan. 24-25 series against No. 7 Niagara University at the LIC. The opener of that series will be the third and final Midnight Mayhem matchup of the season for the Flames and those returning from Italy will have to adjust to a six-hour time change.

“We’ve already looked it up,” Kalandyk said. “It will feel like a 6 a.m. game for us.”