UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team is ranked No. 14 in this afternoon’s release of the USCHO.com National Poll. The Pioneers moved out of the receiving votes category and into the nation’s top 15 this week.
Utica (1-0) is now the top-ranked team in the ECAC West Conference, with Elmira and Hobart both receiving votes. Freshman forward Brent Wold (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba/Dauphin (MJHL)) netted two goals in his collegiate debut as the Pioneers skated to a 4-2 season-opening victory over visiting Castleton State University Saturday night in front of a nearly sold out crowd (3,747 paid attendance) at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. First year forward Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) leads the team with three points on one assist and two goals, while Trent Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) added two assists of his own. Freshman Kyle Lajeunesse(South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)) chipped in with one goal and one assist in his collegiate debut. Senior goalie Mike Taffe (Maple Grove, MN/Amarillo (NAHL))finished with 22 saves in net for UC on Saturday, including 12 in the third period alone. The Pioneers return to the Aud on Friday for Express Employment ‘No Shave November Night’ as the Pioneers open up ECAC Men’s West Conference play against Nazareth College at 7 p.m. The first 2,500 fans will receive a No Shave November Mustache courtesy of Express Employment.
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