The Parkland ice hockey team opened the 2012-2013 season with an impressive 5-1 win over archrival Northampton in front of a packed house on Monday.

For the first time in eight years, the Trojans were under the guidance of a new head coach as Gerry Chandik took over for the retired Frank Berry. The Trojans, coming off a third straight LVSHL title and with a large target on their backs, lost nine players to graduation and have also lost two key juniors for the season due to injuries. This, combined with an early start to the season and a tough draw with Northampton made for a very challenging first game.

With Freedom and Emmaus looking to overtake Parkland this year in the Pure Division, while Whitehall and Northampton will battle for the Non-Pure Division, the win on Monday showed that Parkland will once again be a team to reckon with. Parkland features three-year starting goalie Rob Stock and a returning core of seniors to go along with some talented underclassmen. The Trojans will be tough to score on and their team speed will create problems for opposing defenses.

Junior newcomer Brett McHale scored the first goal of the season for the Frozen Trojans at the 8:24 mark in the second period. Sophomore Jake Hulsizer picked up the assist on the play. On their next shift, Hulsizer scored his first varsity goal at the 4:36 mark with assist from sophomore Ben Zager and McHale to put the Trojans up 2-0. The backbreaker came with 46 seconds left in the second period when junior Morgan Bensinger ripped a slapshot past the shielded Northampton goalie to put the Trojans out front 3-0 after two. Junior Nick Chandik and senior team leader Jay Swartz got assists on the play.

Swartz added an unassisted goal to start the third period before Northampton registered its only goal of the night at the 8:50 mark. Senior Matt Doe scored the final Parkland goal of the night with an assist by Tristan Sorrentino as the Trojans outshot the Kids 31-13.

"I thought the team played real well for their first game together as a team," coach Gerry Chandik said. "A good team effort and it was great to get the win tonight in front of all these fans."