Columbia, MD - Zane Dalpe (Belle River, ON/Saint Anne) started the 2023 season off with fireworks as he scored six goals to lead the Dragons in the season opener over the Army Prep school 19-8.

Army jumped all over Howard early on, scoring the first three goals and taking a 4-1 lead midway through the first quarter.

Thanks in large part to stellar play by the Howard face-off specialists Erik Harrell (Owings Mills, MD/Century) and Terence Harmon (Mount Pleasant, SC/Wando) who went 25-30 on the day, the Dragons dominated possession after that and started a run of six straight goals and a 17-1 run that lasted until late in the third quarter.

Dalpe scored first for the Dragons, followed by goals two and three to make it a first quarter hat trick. Calum Brennan (Kingsville, ON/Kingsville District) got in on the party early and often with four goals and three assists while Alex Hudgins (Towson, MD/Mount Saint Joesph) and Tyler May (Columbia, MD/Oakland Mills) each added a pair of goals.

Howard also saw both face-off specialists score in the game while Cole Stansbury (Frederick, MD/Linganore), Aiden Kirkpatrick (Hartland, WI/Arrowhead), and Nate Boone (Elkridge, MD/Howard) also found the back of the net. 

Braden Chaney (Sykesville, MD/South Carroll) started the game in goal for Howard, making five saves in the first half before giving way to Charlie Wendel (Glenwood, MD/Glenelg) who made seven saves in the second half.

The Dragons will now prepare for a nationally ranked powerhouse as #5 ranked Genesee comes to town on Friday, March 3 for a 3:45 face-off time.