UTICA, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 9/11 Utica College men’s hockey team continued its best start in program-history as the Pioneers improved to 6-0 after a 4-2 victory over Stevenson University in ECAC West Conference play at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers have now tied the program-record for most consecutive wins — at any point in the season – matching six straight wins previously accomplished in 2012-13 and 2003-04.
Utica (6-0, 4-0) and Oswego State (5-0, 3-0 SUNYAC) remain as the only two teams in Division III men’s hockey with unblemished records.
Stevenson, a first year program and newcomer to the ECAC West, saw its record move to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Mustangs are coached by former Neumann University Head Coach and Utica, NY native Dominick Dawes.
The Pioneers opened up a 2-1 first period lead, extended their lead it to 3-1 early in the second period, and added a third period goal to earn the key conference victory. Junior Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) paced the Pioneers with three points on one goal and two assists. As of Sunday afternoon, Ammirato leads the nation with 14 total points this season. He has six goals and eight assists through six games for Utica.
The Pioneers got on the board first 7:07 into the contest when Riley Egan (Lakewood, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) batted home a loose puck in front of the net for his second goal of the young season. Utica’s opening goal was assisted by Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and Luc Boby (Chicago, IL/Kalamazoo (NAHL)).
Just over three minutes later UC added a short-handed goal, by Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)), to give the Pioneers a 2-0 cushion midway through the period. Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) and Kevin Kirisits (Buffalo, NY/Brockville (CCHL)) assisted on the goal.
Stevenson then cut the UC lead in half when Nick Bohatiuk netted his first of two goals on the afternoon, assisted by Austin Swingle and Mike Davis, to cap the first period scoring.
Utica’s Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) ripped a laser on the power-play just 50 seconds into the second period to hand UC a 3-1 advantage. The Roberts’ goal came from the left circle and was assisted by Connor Schmidt (Monroe, MI/Arizona State (D1-Ind.)) and Ammirato. Schmidt finished the day with two assists and now has six helpers this season.
Junior forward Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) gave UC a 4-1 lead 3:11 into the third period when he scored his second of the season, assisted by Ammirato and Schmidt.
Bohatiuk added a goal midway through the third period for the visitors, on the power-play, to cut Utica’s lead to 4-2, but the Pioneer defense stood strong in the final 12 minutes of action to earn the two goal victory.
Utica outshot the visitors 35-29 and held the Mustangs to a 1-for-6 effort on the power-play. Junior goalie Henry Dill (Columbus, OH/UMASS (Hockey East)) improved to 3-0 on the season as he stopped 27 shots. Stevenson goalie Jacob Caffrey made 31 saves in the loss.
The Pioneers are now tied for third nationally in scoring (5.0 goals per game) and they are also tied for ninth nationally in scoring defense (2.0 goals allowed per game). Utica sports the fourth-best power-play unit in the country, scoring on 10-of-33 man-advantage chances this season (30.3%). UC went 1-for-5 on the power-play against Stevenson on Sunday.
The Pioneers six wins are the most victories in Division III men’s hockey as of Sunday afternoon.
Utica has now capped a five game home stand and will hit the road on Friday when it travels to Elmira College to take on the Soaring Eagles in ECAC West action at 7 p.m. On Saturday Utica travels to Hobart College for a rematch of last year’s ECAC West Conference Championship game.
