The Erie Kats defeated the Williston State Tetons 6-1 in game 1 of the NJCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championships this afternoon at the SUNY Broome Ice Center. The Kats scored two goals in the first and three goals in the second before the Tetons got on the board 53 seconds into the third period. Erie scored 13 minutes later in the third for the final score.
The #1 seeded Kats saw 4 different players reach the back of the net. The scoring was started by captain Trevor Evans at the 9:25 mark assisted by Christian Nati. Brett Ross struck again for Erie 16:35 into the first with assists going Nati and Evans.
Nati scored his first of two goals in the second period, assisted by Rick Procknal and Ryan Hornberger 6:13 into the second frame. Fifteen seconds later Ross scored his second goal of the afternoon courtesy of assists by Aaron Wanat and Evans. The last goal of the period came at the 15:07 mark from Nati with assists going to Brian Losel and Jordan Bellitto.
Williston State finally got on the board less than a minute into the third on a goal from TJ McMinn with assists going to Wade Weisgerber and Shain Scheschuk. Bellitto scored the last goal of the afternoon assisted by Evans and Ross for the final 6-1 score.
Both Erie and Williston State had 39 saves in net. All 39 of the Kats saves came from Will Korczynski while the Tetons saw 23 saves from Tanner Swift and 16 from David Krejcik.
Erie will face the winner of #2 Dakota College at Bottineau and #3 Hudson Valley CC at 2:05 tomorrow afternoon.
