UTICA, NY – The Utica College men’s hockey team held on for a key 4-3 ECAC Men’s West Conference victory over visiting Elmira College on Friday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Four different players scored one goal for UC in the victory, while sophomores Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) each added two assists.
The Pioneers, who are receiving votes in both the USCHO.com and D3hockey.com national polls, remain unbeaten and improved to 3-0-1 overall on the year headed into a big test against Hobart College back at home on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The last time UC opened the season unbeaten through four games was back in 2012-13.
Utica held the Soaring Eagles to an 0-for-6 effort on the power-play, including two third period two-man advantages, to help the Pioneers preserve the lead and the victory. UC freshman goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) stopped 24 shots on the afternoon and the Pioneers are now a perfect 17-for-17 on the penalty kill this season.
Sophomore Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) got things started for the Pioneers when he tipped home his second goal of the season, assisted from the point by Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Brett Szajner (Novi, MI/Amarillo (NAHL)). Bushinski’s goal came 14:23 into the first period of play.
Utica then took a commanding 2-0 lead 8:43 into the second period when Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) came up with the short-handed tally, assisted by Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)). Brissette leads the team with four goals this season.
Elmira struck back just 30 seconds later to make it a one goal game, but the Pioneers would not let that last as freshman Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) netted the second goal of his young career to help the Pioneers earn a 3-1 lead at the 13:29 marker of the second period. Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) assisted on the Roberts’ goal.
Elmira’s Carter Shinkaruk made it interesting when he netted his second of the season with 4:52 to go in the second period, and the Pioneers clenched to a 3-2 lead headed into the final 20 minutes of action.
Freshman Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)) gave the Pioneers some breathing room when he netted what proved to be the game-winner on the power-play, assisted by Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) and Valenti.
Elmira made it a game with less than four minutes to play when Brian Depp netted a penalty shot to make it a 4-3 contest. Fortunately for the Pioneer faithful of 3,703 strong the UC defense was able to maintain the one goal advantage through the final horn.
Elmira’s record dropped to 0-3-0 overall on the year. Sal Magliocco made 32 saves in the loss.
