The Hitmen came out firing on all cylinders and never looked back, steamrolling the Dark Horses in an 8-4 victory that showcased their relentless offensive depth. From the opening puck drop, it was clear the Hitmen were on a mission, peppering goaltender Ryan Fitchett with an astonishing 31 shots in the first period alone. The Dark Horses’ defense was overwhelmed as the Hitmen struck four times before the first intermission. Justin Ross (#9) and Michael Pennino (#95) each found the back of the net early, but it was Noah Hinson (#19) who truly set the tone, burying two goals—including one at 5:22 of the first—to give his team a commanding 4-0 lead. The Hitmen’s attack was relentless, with Theren Eaton (#4) and Lakota Bitternose (#91) providing key assists to fuel the early surge.
The Dark Horses showed signs of life in the second period, mounting a brief comeback that silenced the Hitmen’s momentum. Justin Skuban (#53) and Dom Cesarz (#29) both scored at even strength, narrowing the gap to 4-2 and giving the home crowd a reason to roar. However, the Hitmen quickly extinguished any hope of a rally. Riley Rickert (#72) answered back with a goal, helped by another assist from Eaton and a helper from Hinson, restoring the two-goal cushion. The period also saw a brief lull in discipline, with a body contact minor called on Mack Redfern (#6), but the Dark Horses couldn’t capitalize on the power play, and the score remained 5-2 heading into the final frame.
The third period was a chaotic flurry of offense from both sides. The Hitmen struck first, with Justin Ross scoring his second of the night and Steve Myers (#13) adding another to push the lead to 7-2. The Dark Horses refused to quit—Isaac Skuban (#91) scored at 3:42, and Dom Cesarz tallied his second of the game just a minute later, pulling within 7-4. But the Hitmen had the final word, as Sam Palfrey (#27) sealed the win with an assist from Hinson, who finished with a staggering four points on the night. Despite the Dark Horses’ 24 shots, goaltender Jake Hansen-Loftus (#31) stood tall, earning the win with a steady performance. Fitchett faced an onslaught of 31 shots and made several highlight-reel saves, but the Hitmen’s depth and relentless pressure were simply too much to overcome.