UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team netted three third period goals against visiting Nazareth on Friday night to earn a 5-2 victory and the Pioneers locked up the No. 3 seed and hosting rights for quarterfinal action in the ECAC West Conference Tournament on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
The Pioneers wrap up the regular season with a 12-9-4 overall record and a 6-6-3 mark in the ECAC West. Nazareth’s record moved to 8-13-4 overall and 5-9-1 in conference play. Utica will face either Nazareth or Elmira on Wednesday in quarterfinal playoff action at the Aud depending on the outcome of Elmira’s contest at Hobart on Saturday (4 p.m.)
Nine different players scored at least one point for the Pioneers on the afternoon. Sophomore Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) led the way with three assists, while Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) and Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) each added one goal and one assist. Freshman Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)) and senior Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)) each registered two assists.
Naz got on the board early in the contest as John Power netted his seventh goal of the season 10:04 into the first period of action to give the visitor’s a 1-0 lead. C.J. Murray and Matt Manzella each record an assist on the first goal of the game.
Utica tied the game up just 35 seconds into the second period when Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) tallied his second goal of the season, assisted by Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) and Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)), to knot the score at 1-1. Utica then took a 2-1 advantage 4:17 into the second period when sophomore defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) rifled a wrist shot from the point past Nazareth goalie Ed Zdolshek. Wetmore and Powers were each credited with an assist on the Pioneers’ second goal.
Naz tied the game at 2-2 after Matt Manzella recorded his third goal of the season, to send the contest into third period tied at two.
The Pioneers exploded with two goals just 39 seconds apart midway through the third period of play. Riley Egan (Lakewood, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) gave UC a 3-2 lead when he ricocheted his second goal of the season off the back of Zdolshek and into the net at the 9:42 mark of the third period. 39 seconds later sophomore Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) tallied his fifth goal of the season to give the Pioneers a commanding 4-2 lead.
Sophomore Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) then added an empty-netter with 24 seconds left to secure the three goal victory for the Pioneers. Brissette and McVeigh were each credited with an assist on the game’s final goal.
UC freshman goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) stopped 32 shots on the night to earn his 12th career victory. Nazareth earned a 34-31 shot advantage on the afternoon, while both teams were held scoreless on the power-play (Utica 0-2, Nazareth 0-3).
Utica College ECAC West Hockey Playoff Tickets
Men’s Hockey: Utica vs. TBA – Wednesday, February 24th – 7 p.m.
Women’s Hockey: Utica vs. TBA – Thursday, February 25th – 7 p.m.
Men’s Hockey Season Ticket Holders
Men’s hockey season ticket holders can redeem their playoff ticket voucher, which is located in the season ticket booklet, at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Box Office on Saturday, February 20th (12 p.m.-7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, February 21st (12 p.m. – 3 p.m.). The voucher reserves the designated seat for the season ticket holder and each ticket will cost $8/Adults, $4/ Students (Any College Student w/ ID) or children 18 and under. As a reminder, season ticket vouchers can ONLY be redeemed at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Box Office. The season ticket voucher guarantees the season ticket holder the opportunity to purchase their respective seat until the box office closes on Sunday, February 21st at 3 p.m.
Tickets for the general public ($8/Adults, $4/ Students (Any College Student w/ ID) or children 18 and under) for both the men’s and women’s games will go on sale online and at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Box Office on Monday, February 22nd at 10 a.m.
Season ticket vouchers that are not redeemed at the Auditorium Box Office by 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 21st will be released to the general public for purchase on Monday, February 22nd at 10 a.m.
