The Bulldogs finish the month with a record of 2-2, defeating IUNW by a 27-2 combined score in two games, but falling to Xavier by identical 7-2 scores in both games. The Bulldogs have played all 23 rostered players so far this season and injuries have allowed for all the newcomers to gain valuable experience in collegiate games. The Bulldogs are paced in points by seniors Jesse Longtin and Jack Becker, as well as sophomore captains Matthew Moraw and Dylan Paulsell.

Butler was also able to play in our first ever alumni game this past Sunday, October 27. The game featured players from the past three years’ teams as well as five members of the 2000 ACHA DIII National Championship team. The team was able to hear firsthand abut the prestige the program had in the early 21st century and hopes to continue that over the next twenty years.

Butler picks up two wins on their opening weekend over the Bradley Braves while outscoring them 13-3 on the weekend.

Butler opened game one with a bang with two goals early in the first period from Brady Murphy and Jason Bassler’s first collegiate goal to take an early 2-0 lead. The Braves came back and added a late power play goal at the end of the period. The teams traded chances back-and-forth until the Braves converted on an equalizer late in the second period. Senior Jack Becker’s late goal in the third period on a tip in front to give Butler the lead. Ryan Dyball shut the door and Butler picked up the hard-earned 3-2 win.

Game two was a complete change from the night before. Bradley’s back-up goaltenders were not up to par as the Bulldogs put up 10 goals in the game. Jesse Longtin had his first collegiate hat trick while Will Dunleavy, Evan Krol (2), Dylan Paulsell (2), Blair Haugh, and Luke Bentley all scored for the Bulldogs. Bentley and Krol both scored their first collegiate goals.

Bulldogs will take on Denison next Saturday in their first away game of year.

The Butler Bulldogs come into the 2019-2020 season entering the next chapter of the team. With Chad O’Connell’s graduation, there are no longer any founding members of the original team. With only one graduating player, the team welcomes the largest incoming freshmen class it has ever seen hopes the full roster will help improve the on-ice result.

The Bulldogs will play against some new first time opponents this year, starting on their opening night against the Bradley University Braves. They will travel to a new team, IU Northwest, before hosting Schoolcraft at home before Thanksgiving Break. The team will close out the first semester by traveling down to Nashville for two games against Middle Tennessee State University. All new opponents should hopefully equal more success as the young team is able to get their feet under them before playing perennial champs Indiana.

The Bulldogs wrapped up their season this Friday after dropping their playoff game against Ball State by a final of 6-4. Goals from Wallrich, Haugh, Murphy, and Gray Barnes’ first career collegiate goal was not enough for Butler in the game. The Bulldogs also want to thank assistant captain, Chad O’Connell, for his support over the last four years. O’Connell was the first Butler player to play on the team all four years since the team’s return in 2015. The number 22 will always be remembered on this team.

The Butler Bulldogs had a up-and-down month of January as the playoffs are just around the corner.

Butler began the new year with their 2nd annual Kappa Foundation game against Indiana University. Although the game did not turn out how the Bulldogs wanted against the nationally ranked opponent, Butler and Kappa were able to split the profits gaining over $600 for each organization.

The Bulldogs then took on in-state rival Ball State for a home and home weekend. In game one, Butler jumped out to a quick lead with goals from Dunleavy and Becker. Ball State answered back quickly with a goal of their own to close out the first period with a score of 2-1. It was all Butler for the rest of the game however as Barrett and Murphy would both score twice in the second and third periods and Dunleavy added another goal late to bring the score to a 7-1 final. In game two Ball State took the early lead but that was quickly answered by a goal from Murphy, his third of the weekend. Ball State again took a 2-1 lead in the second period but Butler crawled back from a goal by Dylan Paulsell, his first of his collegiate career. Ball State scored early in the third period and was able to hold on with the help of the empty net to win the game 4-2.

The Bulldogs then traveled to Dayton, Ohio to take on the Wright State Raiders. The Raiders took a quick 2-0 led before Jesse Longtin added a goal before the end of the period. The second period was all Bulldogs with goals from Moraw, Barrett, Longtin, and Wallrich. The third period continued the riot with goals from Becker (2), Paulsell, and Haugh to bring the final score to 9-2. The Bulldogs started where they left off with two quick first period goals from Haugh and Murphy. The Raiders came roaring back in the second period with 4 goals to take a 4-2 lead. The Raiders came out strong in the third and added another goal to put the Bulldogs down by 3 goals. The last 10 minutes of the game the Bulldogs completely took over. Unanswered goals from Moraw, Longtin, and Dunleavy tied the game up within 5 minutes left in the period. Longtin had a late deflection goal in front to put Butler in front and Murphy added an empty net goal to give Butler the 7-5 win.

Butler now plays at Indiana at 10:30 AM this Sunday February 10 to close out the year.

The Bulldogs fought many injuries over the last 3 weeks to fall to an 0-9 record.

Butler started their recent stretch of games with a single game at Xavier University. The Bulldogs keep the rivalry game close with a third period goal by Jack Becker bringing the the score to 2-1, but two late goals by the Musketeers pushed the final to 4-1.

The Bulldogs then took on the Trine Thunder the weekend before Thanksgiving. Butler struggled against the ranked team falling in both games by final scores of 6-0 and 9-0. In game 2, the team lost a number of players to injury and played the game with only ten skaters.

Finally, the Bulldogs traveled to Lexington to play two games against Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels got out to an early lead with two quick goals, but that was quickly answered by a power play goal from Matthew Moraw and a goal late in the period from Jack Becker to tie the game going into intermission. Becker scored again to start to second period to give the Bulldogs the lead. It was all downhill from there, however as Butler would lose 3 players to injury during the game and another to a game misconduct. The Bulldogs would lose 9-3 and cited unsafe playing conditions and a lack of available players as their reasons to forfeit the game the next day.

The Bulldogs expect a full lineup returning in January as they open the second half of the season against Indiana University at home on the 18th. Game time is at 9:40 PM.

The Butler Bulldogs dropped both games last weekend to the University of Illinois.

Game 1 started late into the night due to the boards breaking in the arena before the game. The first period ended scoreless between the teams and the Bulldogs took an early lead in the second behind Matthew Moraw’s 3rd goal of the season. Illinois then began to take over the game with five unanswered goals in the second period. The Illini continued rolling over the Bulldogs with two more goals in the third. Jack Becker finally ended the run late in the third with a goal for Butler but that would be it as the Bulldogs dropped the game 7-2.

Game 2 again started with Butler grabbing the early lead with a goal from Jesse Longtin on the power play. Second periods continued to kill the Bulldogs with the Illini scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead. Butler came out fast in the third however and goals from Becker, Ryan Barrett, and Blair Haugh tied the game up early in the third. Unfortunately, Illinois took the lead back within a minute. A controversial referee no-call on goalie interference gave the Illini another goal late in the period before they added another in the final minutes. The game ended in a 7-4 win for Illinois which left the Bulldogs angry for letting the game slip away on controversial call.

The Bulldogs will play again in two weeks, facing off against Xavier University in Cincinnati on November 10th. It will be Butler’s family weekend so the team should be ready to go in front of friends and family.