The Oregon club hockey team traveled east at a crucial time in its season for its annual home series at The Pavilion, the outdoor rink in Bend. Oregon (11-10) hosted the University of Alabama (6-16-2) with the Ducks looking to build off two blowout wins over San Diego State University and set up a run to end the season.

“It’s not the easiest thing to do. You want the boys to have fun, because it’s supposed to be a fun experience playing outdoors — it’s something all hockey players love to do,” Oregon head coach Jack Hyman said. “At the same time, we try to remind them that, as great of an experience as it is, it’s still a game that we need to win.”

Despite two early Crimson Tide penalties, the Ducks couldn’t capitalize on the adrenaline they brought into the unique setting, and Alabama freshman Ryan Kavanagh scored the opening goal on its own power play late in the first period. 

On Oregon’s third power play of the game, senior Jackson Henningsgard found space in front of Alabama’s net and chipped in a cross-ice pass from freshman Jackson Ebbott to tie the game 1:57 into the second period.

“We like to work the three guys up top (on the power play), and create offense from there, and (Alabama) really took that away by being very, very aggressive, so we tried to implement some changes where we work the puck down low and sort of attack from the goal line, and that’s actually how Jackson scored his first goal of the game Friday night,” Hyman said.

Oregon sophomore Alex Ulyanov extended the lead 6:52 into the second period, and despite a late power play for each team, the Ducks took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

After a back-and-forth start to the third period that included a successful Oregon penalty kill, Alabama freshmen Joey Petrich and Will Caputo beat Oregon goalie Finn Wilson in quick succession to take the lead.

The Ducks went on a five-minute power play less than a minute after Caputo’s goal, but Alabama held on to take the opening game 3-2. 

“I’ve sort of been telling the team all year, this whole year is a learning experience. I have 15 guys that are underclassmen, and, you know, with that you’re gonna lose some of these heartbreaking games, and it sucks in the moment, but I think in the long run, it makes the team better,” Hyman said.

Oregon sophomore George Serbin and Alabama sophomore Bryce Dunnigan stopped nine and 13 shots, respectively, to send game two to the first intermission scoreless. 

“I feel confident, and the team feels confident no matter who’s in net, and it’s a blessing for me as a coach,” Hyman said of Oregon’s three goalies. “They all return next year, so our goaltending seems pretty secure for the next handful of years.”

Early in the second period, Oregon freshman right wing Bobby Anselmo flew across the ice to pressure an Alabama breakout in the opposite corner. Freshman center Jackson Ebbott jumped on the resulting loose puck and fired a pass toward Henningsgard in the slot. Dunnigan lost track of the puck through a deflection and an Anselmo screen, allowing Henningsgard to score the opening goal into the open left side of the net.

Less than a minute after Oregon found the opener, its power play got a chance to change its fortunes after going one-for-nine in the first four periods of the series. Instead, Alabama freshman Carson Kamin stick-checked the puck away from Ulyanov along the boards and chipped it into the neutral zone for Petrich, who tied the game with a short-handed breakaway goal.

“It wasn’t our best showing this past weekend in Bend, and a lot of credit to Alabama, and the way they played, but we’ll continue to try to fine-tune the power play this week in practice,” Hyman said.

Midway through the second period, the Ducks’ power play redeemed itself. With 8:35 remaining in the period, sophomore Noah Easterson collected a rebound off a shot from freshman Toby Kerr behind the net and returned the puck to him along the boards. Kerr swung toward the middle and found Henningsgard with an open net on the opposite side to take a 2-1 lead.

The go-ahead goal was Henningsgard’s third of the series and his 11th point in the past four games.

“Truthfully, that’s what I expect from my senior players,” Hyman said. “I’ve been coaching him for three years now, and this is the best he’s produced offensively, which is great for his senior year and great for the team.”

Oregon held on to salvage a split, including two third-period penalty kills, which dropped the Crimson Tide’s power play to one-for-10 on the weekend.

“I just thought there was an added emphasis on urgency and determination that the boys played with in the third period on Saturday,” Hyman said. “The last thing they wanted was to lose both in Bend, and so they made sure they did everything they possibly could to close it out on Saturday.”

Oregon will go on the road for the first time in the new year to play North Carolina State University Jan. 23 and the University of North Carolina Jan. 24 and 25. Then, the Ducks will return home to The Rink Exchange Feb. 13 and 14 against Oakland University after outscoring the Grizzlies 18-3 across two away games earlier this season.