NAU Ice Jacks' forward Tucker Braund swings around the net for a shot against goalie Christopher McNamara. The Jacks won both games against Santa Clara University with a combined score of 24 goals. - Bryan Kinkade/ The Lumberjack

The NAU Ice Jacks hockey team stormed into Jay Lively Ice Arena Friday and Saturday night. The Jacks sweeped the visiting Santa Clara University Broncos in its two-game weekend series, outscoring the Broncos 24-4 over the course of both contests. The victories moved the Jacks’ record to 8-0 this season.

“There is only so much you can do against teams like that,” said junior forward Dillon Shaffer. “But we played pretty sound all-around today. We’re clicking on all cylinders.”

The Ice Jacks’ offensive play was matched only by the thunderous crowd that was stuffed tightly into Jay Lively on both Friday and Saturday night. 

Rattling the boards, belting out loud chants and screaming for every big hit, the audience for NAU’s dominating weekend created an enthusiastic atmosphere that tallied more than 500 fans in attendance both nights.

“Hands down, it’s awesome having home games,” said senior defenseman Matt Dyal. “People come here and I know they’re pumped to see us; it gets us motivated, it gets us amped, it’s awesome.”

On Friday night, the Jacks took to the ice against the Broncos, overrunning them 11-4. Yet coaches and players alike agreed that despite the high score, selfishness was a big problem in the first contest. 

Heading into the second of the two games, NAU’s prime focus was generating more team plays. It paid off: the Jacks shut out the visitors 13-0 on Saturday night.

The game was scoreless through most of the first period. That changed, however, when the Jacks scored in the final minute of the period to take a lead of 1-0 into the first intermission.

The second period had a different result for the Ice Jacks. The Jacks scored in the opening minute of the second period. Then, they scored six more times in those 20 minutes to take a 8-0 lead into the third and final period. 

NAU added three more points in the last period to secure a 13-0 victory.

Forward Tyler Holmes body checks a defender during the Ice Jacks' game against Santa Clara Saturday. NAU won both games this weekend to enhance their record to 8-0. - Bryan Kinkade/ The Lumberjack

“The guys tonight (Saturday) played a complete game,” said head coach Keith Johanson. “Last night (Friday) there was a lot of individual skills, so we talked to the boys before the game and they came out and played a full and complete game. The boys played well.”

Along with goaltender Nate Baier’s 24-save shutout, NAU’s offensive attack was led by team captain Shaffer, who led all scorers over the weekend with eight goals and four assists, a season-high points total for any one-weekend series.

“The kid is a natural goal scorer,” Dyal said. “God gave him a gift and he is using it.”

After playing teams like Santa Clara and New Mexico, who the Ice Jacks swept and outscored last weekend 18-3, the competition will increase.

NAU is ranked No.1 in the Pacific Region by the ACHA, and looks ahead to games next weekend, starting with the University of California-Davis. 

The Davis Aggies are 2-4 so far this season and are coming off a 9-2 loss to Stanford this past weekend.

After their Halloween match-up with the Aggies, the Jacks will head to Sacramento to face Sacramento State Nov.1. The Hornets were 1-3 heading into last weekend when they had a match-up with Fresno State.

After their games this weekend, the Jacks will have a bye week. Then NAU will return to Jay Lively Arena for a two-game set with the University of California-Irvine.

The undefeated Ice Jacks came out of the weekend’s offensive surge energized and optimistic about their play.

So far this season the Lumberjacks are outscoring their opponents 62-15. 

The most goals the Ice Jacks have given up in one game was the four they gave up against Santa Clara on Friday. The Jacks have given up three goals in a game on three occasions, while shutting teams out twice.  

“The guys are coming together,” Johanson said. “They’re a good group of guys; they’re coming together really great.”