Icepack Downs Oregon 7-4 on Pink the Rink Night

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State defeated Oregon 7-4 on Pink the Rink night in a high-scoring, physical contest featuring controversial calls, heavy usage of the special teams, and pink jerseys. 

BOX SCORE | SKATER STATS | HIGHLIGHTS

NC State controlled play from the opening faceoff and earned the game’s first power play six minutes in. A puck that appeared to slip through the legs of Oregon’s goaltender sparked an early celebration, but the would-be goal by Joey Gouveia was waved off. 

Responding to the confusion, Daniel Prazma opened the scoring less than a minute later, assisted by alternate captain Nick Librizzi and Jack Ammons. Captain Zach Herman followed with a tip-in off a rebound from Erik Dahlin’s shot, redirected by Reece Johnson, to give NC State a 2-0 lead after one period. 

Oregon cut into the lead midway through the second period, but Jake Lipani answered with a clean shot. Librizzi added another goal less than two minutes later to extend the lead to 4-1. The Ducks scored again late in the period on a disputed play, kicking the puck under the side of the net with under a minute remaining. 

Prazma responded immediately, with his second goal of the night with one second left in the period off an assist by Holden Koufman to make it 5-2.  

Oregon scored twice early in the third period following a major penalty assessed to Librizzi, pulling within one. After their man advantage ended, Oregon was called for too many men on the ice.  Johnson capitalized on the ensuing power play to restore a two-goal buffer at 6-4. 

A slashing penalty to Oregon midway through the third led to 10 seconds on the power play before it received a tripping penalty, resulting in a Ducks penalty shot that was stopped. Brandon Raleigh sealed the win for NC State with a breakaway goal from a difficult angle, assisted by Patrick Maxwell, marking Maxwell’s first point with the Icepack. 

NC State finished with 50 shots on goal. Goaltender Pieter Bartelse earned his seventh win of the season as the Icepack remained undefeated in games he started.

Coach Tim Healy praised the team’s responses and consistency throughout the game.

“I thought it was maybe our best 60-minute game of the year,” Healy said. “One thing that I was really proud of tonight was anytime Oregon scored, we had a great response back to it, right? Our bench stayed up.”

Healy also highlighted the team’s physical play and how that energy translates through the rest of the game.

“When we're physical without crossing the line, it shows a level of engagement,” Healy said. “Our energy and that physicality … really lets a lot of our skill take over once we get into space.”

NC State and Oregon will meet again in a last-minute matinee matchup due to winter weather that cancelled the Duck’s other weekend games.