Michael Sounhein attempts a shot on goal during the game against New Mexico University Friday night. The Lumberjacks won the game nine to three. - Nathan Morrissey/ The Lumberjack

The NAU Ice Jacks got their home season underway this past weekend with two games at the Jay Lively Activity Center. The Jacks swept the New Mexico Lobos, scoring 18 goals in the process.

“We played well tonight, the key is that we are on a mission,” said head coach Keith Johanson. “These guys really want to take it all the way; they played really well.”

The Ice Jacks defeated the Lobos in Friday’s game by  a score of 9-0. The Jacks struck first in the opening period when defenseman Rob Brown put the puck past the goalie on a power-play goal. Forward and team captain Dillion Shaffer provided the assist on the goal.

NAU added another goal less than a minute later. Forward Jon Ellis scored after being assisted by forwards Mike Gray and Michael Pearce.

Ellis was not done, however, as he scored a short-handed goal with 3:48 left in the first period, giving NAU a 3-0 lead going into the first intermission. The Ice Jacks outshot the Lobos 19-2 in the first period.

The second period saw more of the same for the Ice Jacks. At the 13:11 mark of the period, forward Barett Buckowich put a shot past the Lobo goalie to extend NAU’s lead to 4-0. Shaffer and defenseman Michael Borgesen recorded the assists.

The Jacks once again scored as Shaffer scored an unassisted goal. The Jacks added two more goals in the second period as forwards Ben Jordan and Joaquin Rivera put shots past the goalie, increasing NAU’s lead to 7-0 going into the second break.

The Ice Jacks added two more goals in the third period to give them a 9-0 victory. Shaffer scored both of the third period goals, securing a hat trick.

“Yeah, I got a couple bounces, the second and third goals just kind of bounced to me,” Shaffer said.

Matt Williams recorded his first shutout of the season. Williams stopped 20 shots from the Lobos.

“Our team played great today,” Williams said. “I was getting kind of bored out there; it is kind of hard when you don’t face a shot till there is only 5 minutes left in the first period.”

The Jacks and Lobos brought their series to a close on Saturday night. NAU once again came away with a victory by a score of 9-3 to secure the sweep.

After the Jacks scored their first goal of the evening, the Lobos answered with two goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead. NAU answered with less than four minutes left in the first period as Buckowich scored to tie the game.

“We were sluggish in the first period tonight,” Jonhanson said. “We had to pick it up; we got them focused in the locker room.”

The Ice Jacks broke the game open in the second period. A goal by Shaffer gave the lead back to the Jacks at 3-2. NAU added two more goals in the second period.

After New Mexico scored to open the third period, NAU answered with three goals in the closing period to record the 9-3 victory.

The Ice Jacks improve to 6-0 on the season. After a bye this week, the Ice Jacks return to the Lively Center Oct. 24-25, taking on Santa Clara.