BY RANDY SCHULTZ –
Erie Community College and Dakota were the winners in the first round of the NJCAA Ice Hockey Championships. The Final Championship is being held at the SUNY Ice Center in Binghamton, NY.
ECC defeated Hudson Valley CC, 6-3. Christian Nati and Alex Suchan each scored two goals for the victorious Kats.
ECC lead the entire game, taking an early 1-0 lead on Nati’s first goal in the first period. They increased their lead to 4-0 in the second period on goals by Brian Losel, Nati and Suchan. Kyle Constanty scored the first of his two goals for HVCC to round out the scoring in the second.
Anthony Cybulski made it 5-1 early in the third period for ECC. Troy Bennett and Constanty rounded out the scoring for HVCC to make it 5-3, before Suchan finished the scoring for ECC late in the third.
Dakota lead all the way in their game against Mohawk Valley CC, winning 5-1. Zach Garrett and Nial Mills each scored two goals for the victories Dakota team.
Garrett gave Dakota an early 1-0 lead in the first period. Garrett increased that lead to 2-0 in the second. Mills made it 3-0 before Jared Marshall scored the loan goal for MVCC.
Noah Grant and Mills rounded out the scoring for Dakota in the third period.
In Saturday’s contests ECC will face MVCC while Dakota will play HVCC.
