UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team moved into the No. 15 spot of the D3hockey.com National Rankings released Monday afternoon. The Pioneers enter the top 15 for the first time this season after spending five of the last six weeks in the receiving vote’s category.
UC Head Coach Gary Heenan earned his 200th career victory on Sunday as the Pioneers won their fifth straight game and moved their record to 8-3-1 overall on the year.
The D3hockey.com Top 15 is voted on by a panel of 20 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly.
Freshman Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)), who was named the ECAC West Rookie of the Week, netted two goals and added one assist as the Pioneers defeated visiting Morrisville State 6-1 in its return from the holiday break on Sunday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Dawes currently leads all freshmen and is tied for seventh in the ECAC West with an average of 1.08 points per game this season. He is also tied for 12th in the country in rookie scoring.
Goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) stopped 29 shots in his eighth victory of the season against Morrisville Sunday. He also held the Mustangs to an 0-for-2 effort on the power-play, raising the Pioneers’ nationally-ranked No. 5 penalty kill unit to 92.5% on the year. Fredrick has allowed one goal or less in each of his last four starts.
UC’s five straight wins is the fifth longest active unbeaten streak in the country.
The Pioneers return to the Utica Memorial Auditorium this weekend when they wrap up a four game home stand. UC takes on Oswego Friday night (7 p.m.) before hosting Buffalo State on Saturday (7 p.m.). Friday night Utica will host its annual Adirondack Bank Bobblehead night and the first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive an Adam Dekker ’08 bobblehead. Dekker was a four year stand out goaltender for the Pioneers from 2004-2008. He is the College’s all-time leader with 47 career victories and 2,262 career saves. His seven career shut outs are also a school-record.
