NEWARK, NJ -- Freshman Nick Gradkowski wasted no time making his presence felt on the ice as he posted a hat trick and an assist in his first game with the team as the Highlanders defeated Maritime, 8-6.

Along with sophomores Daniel Smith (2 assists) and Adam Finkle, who added a goal and an assist, last year's checking line looked like they might be this year's scoring line.  Not to be out-done, the trio of Alex Guimares, Corrado Mancini & Jason Anagnos put up some points themselves.  Anagnos (2g, 1a)  and Mancini (1g, 2a) combined for 3 goals and 3 assists scoring an even strength goal to get the team going after a sluggish start in the first period, as well as a short-handed goal in the 3^rd followed by a power-play goal 2 minutes later to wrap up the scoring. 

The defense scored too, as veteran Christopher Oertel stripped the puck on a 1 vs 1 in his own end and raced up ice, only to find himself outnumbered and forced to take a wide-angle shot, which he promptly stuck in for the unassisted game winner.

The game featured the debut of several freshman.  Transfer Mauro Palomba from Dutchess County CC also got his name on the score sheet with an assist and took a regular shift on defense. 

Matt Potter of Seton Hall acquitted himself nicely playing alongside Rob Amos, who was named as an alternate captain for this, his 2^nd season with the team. 

Newcomers Eddie Logie, Josh Gilmore & Rhys Jones played significant minutes getting their first taste of competition in what always seems to be a hard fought physical game when Maritime is on the other bench.

If there was a negative aspect, it was the number of Highlanders wearing ice packs after the game.  It actually began during the week in practice as Nicholas Raite suffered a pulled muscle and had to be replaced by Brian Cronberger as the back-up goalie. 

Then on just his 2^nd shift Nick Wujek, who missed a number of games last year, took a big hit and was done for the day.  Kevin Mahon, Oertel, Palomba and Logie are all day-to-day, while Wujek is questionable with an unspecified upper body injury.

Next up is Gettysburg on Sunday 10/2 – 1:30 PM at Prudential Center.  NJIT welcomes the Bullets in their inaugural season as member of the Great Northeast.

There will be a celebration before the game as the Highlanders will raise the Championship Banner from last season.