NEWARK, NJ --The NJIT Hockey season got off to a fast start as the Highlanders beat the Maritime College Privateers 7-4.  Scoring a hat trick in his first game was Bergen Community College transfer Rob Amos from Glen Rock, NJ. 

Newly appointed to the role of alternate captain Alex Guimaraes chipped in 2 goals of his own - including the team's first of the year - to show he knows how to lead the way. 

Nick Wujek, a Bloomfield resident who transferred from the University of Hartford, added a goal and two assists, while captain, Chris Oertel notched two assists for NJIT. 

James Wintjen completed the scoring, with a sharp angle shot from the corner and Corrado Mancini, a freshman from Bogota, also had an assist. 

Goaltender Michael Lipinski looked to be in mid-season form as he stopped 49 of 53 shots to secure the win. 

The only down note of the night was when Michael Melillo was taken to the hospital, with what was later diagnosed as a broken leg.  He is expected to be out for 4 weeks.

Upcoming games include a trip to LaSalle on Saturday for the first league game of the year followed by a visit from Seton Hall on Sunday in a re-match of last year's NJ Ice Thriller in which Seton Hall dominated the action.