ONE MORE TUNE UP
It's one final weekend of non-conference play for the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team, before Atlantic Hockey play comes calling next week. The Pioneers -- who are receiving votes in this week's USCHO national media poll -- have a stern home-and-home test on the docket, with No. 15/17 nationally ranked and Hockey East member Massachusetts. Puck drop is 7 p.m. both nights, with Friday's game at Umass' Mullins Center and Saturday night at the Martire Family Arena for SHU's home opener. Jay Burnham and Jonny Lazarus have the call on ESPN+ on Friday night, while Randy Brochu, Jason Cotton and Makena Wright handle broadcast duties on SNY and FloSports on Saturday. Tickets for Saturday night are available through Ticketmaster.

Come out to Martire Family Arena early on Saturday night, for SHU's first-ever Hocktoberfest. The fun begins at 5 p.m., with live music, food and giveaways in the plaza in front of the arena's main entrance.

LAST WEEKEND
The Pioneers opened their season on the road last weekend, with a two-game series at ECAC member Colgate. Friday night was a raucous affair, as SHU erased 3-0 and 5-3 deficits to force overtime, but dropped a 6-5 (OT) decision. On Saturday, the Pios led 3-1 late in the second, but ultimately played to a 3-3 (OT) tie with the Raiders, with SHU picking up a 1-0 shootout victory. Felix Trudeau tallied 3-1-4 over the weekend, including two goals and an assist on Friday night, and earned Atlantic Hockey Forward of the Week honors for his work.

SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
UMass was out west last weekend and split a pair of games at the annual Ice Breaker Tournament in Las Vegas. The Minutemen were edged in overtime, 3-2, by No. 15/16 Omaha in the opening round on Friday night and then blew out Air Force, 5-1, in Saturday's third-place game. Cole O'Hara had a four-point weekend (2-2-4), including Saturday's game-winning goal, to earn Hockey East Player of the Week honors.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST MASSACHUSETTS
The last time the two teams met was in an exhibition game at Mullins Center at the start of the 2022-23 season. SHU picked up a 3-2 win, behind a second-period winner for Chikara Hanzawa. Braeden Tuck had a goal and an assist.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The two teams have met four times in regular-season play, but not since 2015. SHU is 0-4-0 all-time against the Minutemen, with all four previous meetings at the Mullins Center. Saturday night will mark UMass' first visit to Sacred Heart. 

UP NEXT
It's a dive headlong into conference play starting next weekend for the Pioneers, who have seven straight weekends of Atlantic Hockey play lined up through the remainder of the first half. First up, a pair of games at home against Holy Cross on Oct. 25-26, in a matchup of teams which finished second and third in the league a year ago. Puck drop is 7 p.m. both nights at Martire Family Arena, and tickets are available through Ticketmaster.