NEWARK, NJ - The NJIT men's hockey team begins a new era as they are now in Division III in the ACHA for the 2023-2024 season. Their first opponent was an old Colonial States College Conference foe in the Rutgers Ice Knights, who left the ACHA for AAU. The Ice Knights defeated the Highlanders 8-3 at the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House. NJIT's record is 0-1 overall and have yet to play an ACHA game.

Rutgers jumped out to 6-0 lead after two periods of play with three goals in the first and in the second respectively. NJIT fought back hard in the third period despite the lopsided score by netting three goals in the frame.

Just under two minutes had gone by in the period when Captain Sal Micciche scored on the power play to give the Highlanders their 1st goal of the game. Freshman defenseman Noah Bergen and Matthew Sendecki got assists on the goal.

Rutgers would make it a 7-1 game a few minutes later, but NJIT would respond again. Brendan Smith would score nearly halfway through the stanza to again cut the deficit to five. The assists were given to Ryan Downey and Jeff Patterson.

The Ice Knights would get their 8th goal with over four minutes left in the game. Micciche would answer with his 2nd goal of the night with Patterson getting the lone assist. Sophomore goaltender Noah Puletz made 43 saves in his Highlander debut.

Goals: Micciche (2), Smith

Assists: Bergen, Sendecki, Patterson (2)

Saves: Puletz 43 saves

SOG: Rutgers 51 | NJIT 27

PP: Rutgers 1/4 | NJIT 1/6 

PK: Rutgers 5/6 | NJIT 3/4 

NJIT will play two games next weekend; they will go to Galloway, NJ on Saturday to face off  against another former Colonial States opponent in Stockton at 7 pm. The Highlanders will return home to play Rutgers once game on Sunday at RWJ at 8:30 pm.