UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back as the Pioneers skated to a 4-2 victory over visiting Saint John’s (Minn.) on the opening day of the Radisson Thanksgiving Showcase at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday night. The Pioneers will now advance to Saturday’s championship game where they will take on St. Thomas (Minn.) at 7 p.m.
St. Thomas helped make Saturday’s contest a true championship game by defeating Oswego State 3-2 in the showcase’s opening contest.
Utica netted four goals in the first two periods to take a 4-0 advantage. The Johnnie’s added two third period goals to make it a 4-2 contest, but the Pioneers were able to fend off the late charge to snap a three game skid and improve to 4-3-1 overall on the season.
UC senior Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)) netted the first goal of the contest as he took a pass at the top of the left circle and wristed home his second goal of the season to hand the Pioneers the 1-0 lead 8:58 into the contest. Freshman Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) and sophomore Adam Moody (Newmarket, Ontario/Cowichan Valley (BCHL)) each registered an assist on the Pioneers first goal of the game.
The Pioneers took a 2-0 advantage when freshman Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) worked for a break away and converted on the goal, his third of the year, at the 11:16 ledger of the first period.
Senior Nick Miglio (San Antonio, TX/Bismarck (NAHL)) and freshman Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)) added second period goals for the Pioneers to give the home team a strong 4-0 advantage headed into the third and final period of play. Dawes currently leads the team with six goals this season.
Roberts and Wetmore each finished the day with a team-best one goal and one assist. Kevin Kirisits (Buffalo, NY/Brockville (CCHL)), LJ Fellows (Hyannis, MA/Northern Cyclones (EHL)), Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) all registered one assist for the Pioneers. Both teams recorded 32 shots on the day and combined to go 0-for-6 on the power-play.
Saint John’s added two third period goals from the sticks of Neal Smith and Sean Lang to make the contest interesting. However, the Utica defense was able to hang on for the victory.
UC freshman goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) stopped 30 shots as his record moved to 4-2-1 overall on the year. Saxton Soley and Tyler Nelson combined to make 28 saves in net for the Johnnies.
SJU’s record dropped to 2-5-2 overall and the Johnnies will take on Oswego State in Saturday’s third place game at 4 p.m.
