MTSU vs Vanderbilt
Under the high-definition glow of the Bridgestone Arena rafters, the Middle Tennessee State University hockey team didn’t just play a game on Wednesday night; they staged a takeover.
In the third annual "Battle at the Stone," the Blue Raiders dismantled the Vanderbilt Commodores 8-2, turning a downtown Nashville professional venue into a raucous extension of the Murfreesboro campus. Despite the game serving as a Vanderbilt home match, the stands were a lopsided sea of blue, with MTSU supporters accounting for 1,251 of the 1,651 fans in attendance.
The dominance began early. MTSU forward Tommy Chunchukov found the back of the net just 58 seconds into the first period. Though Vanderbilt’s Edward Crane briefly tied the game, the Blue Raiders responded with a three-goal barrage to lead 4-1 at the first intermission.
"Vanderbilt works really hard; there is no easy game against them." Said Goaltender Ayden Kopec, who anchored a defense that held the Commodores scoreless for nearly 40 minutes of play. "But our team and the system we run, we do a good job at keeping the shots to low danger areas."
The middle frame was defined by a surge of physicality. Following a scrum triggered by a late shot at Kopec as the first-period horn sounded, the Blue Raiders channeled that aggression into their offensive cycle.
Despite starting the second period on a four-on-three penalty kill, the MTSU defensive unit—anchored by Aydin Suss—held firm. Once back at even strength, the Raiders' newly mixed offensive lines began peppering the Vanderbilt net, adding three more goals to push the advantage to 7-1 before the final intermission.
Suss emphasized the importance of maintaining composure amid the bright lights and heightened emotions of an NHL arena.
"We've tightened up," Suss said. "Playing in stadiums is always different, with the way the rink looks and how the glass reflects. We still focus on the same things; it's still 200 by 85 the whole time. It's the same thing as normal, just getting through the aspect of the glass."
Entering the final frame with a commanding 7-1 lead, MTSU refused to sit back. The Raiders’ forecheck remained relentless, forcing Vanderbilt into hurried zone exits and turnovers in the neutral zone. Despite the lopsided score, the intensity didn't waver, as the Blue Raiders’ defensive pairings, led by Suss, continued to step up at the blue line to stifle any hope of a Vanderbilt comeback.
As the final horn echoed through Bridgestone Arena, the MTSU bench emptied to celebrate the season sweep of their rivals.
The victory clinches a season sweep for MTSU over its cross-town rivals. For Captain Linden Palmer, the win was a testament to the program’s growth through recent challenges in the division tournament.
"Vandy plays a very gritty game," Palmer says. "We know what we are up against, but they also know what they are up against. Trying to find that stride as a little tune-up before nationals, Vandy is a great opponent to do that against."
The Blue Raiders now turn their attention to the ACHA National Tournament in St. Louis, with pool play scheduled to begin March 18.