The long bus ride back from Kalamazoo, MI will go a little bit smoother for the Clarkson University Hockey team as the 15th-ranked Golden Knights head back home with a tie and a win against Western Michigan.
After knocking off the Broncos 4-2 at Lawson Arena on Saturday, the Golden Knights are off to their best start since the 2006-07 campaign with a 3-0-1 record. The Knights skated to a 2-2 tie with Western Michigan on Friday.
The Broncos (2-2-1), who benefited from seven power-play opportunities, out shot Clarkson 37-20, including a 16-7 advantage in the first period. But sophomore Jake Kielly (Eden Prairie, MN), reigning ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week, put in another solid effort between the pipes with 35 saves.
The Knights’ Sophomore Line continues to produce as the trio of left wing Devin Brosseau (St. Lambert, QUE), center Nico Sturm (Augsburg, Germany) and right wing Sheldon Rempal (Calgary, ALB) combined for three goals and four assists in Clarkson’s most productive offensive outing of the season.
Rempal led the way with two goals. His first of the night came just 2:51 after the opening faceoff, when he finished off a cross-ice pass from Sturm. Brosseau also assisted.
Western Michigan’s Dawson DiPietro tallied on the power play at 2:39 of the middle frame for his third goal of the weekend to tie the contest.
The Knights answered back, however, with two goals to hold a 3-1 lead after 40 minutes. Rempal put the Green and Gold ahead with a wrist shot from the right-side circle at 7:46 for his second goal of the night and third of the season. Junior defenseman Aaron Thow (Toronto, ONT) set up the score.
At 16:12, senior defenseman Terrance Amorosa (Kirkland, QUE) tallied just four seconds into a power play, connecting on a one-timer off a pass from blueline partner, senior Kelly Summers (Golden Lake, ONT). Sturm won the faceoff to start the scoring play. Amorosa, who has recorded at least one point in each of the first four games, has two goals and six points to start his final collegiate campaign.
The Broncos pulled to within one with 3:55 remaining on a goal by Cam Lee, but the Knights clinched the road win with an empty-net score by Sturm with two seconds left. Brosseau assisted.
The Knights went 1-of-4 on the power play and killed off six of Western Michigan’s seven man-advantage chances.
Clarkson returns to Cheel Arena this coming weekend to face off against two more teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament last March as UMass-Lowell and Providence travel to Potsdam.
