The nationally-ranked No. 14 Utica College men’s hockey team is set to open up ECAC Men’s West Conference play as the Pioneers host a weekend set against visiting Nazareth College on Friday and Saturday. The puck will drop both nights at 7 p.m.
Express Employment No-Shave November Night: Friday night is Express Employment No-Shave November Night and the first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive a free fake moustache courtesy of Express Employment Professionals … Fans are asked to wear their fake moustache throughout the game to help raise men’s health awareness … The promotion is part of the Pioneers effort towards the “Movember” Campaign, which spotlights men’s health awareness, particularly prostate cancer and testicular cancer … Beginning on November 1st, the UC men’s hockey team will grow and groom a moustache throughout the entire month … The appearance of a moustache is intended to create conversations about men’s health and to raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health .. To donate to the Pioneers “Movember” campaign please visit:http://us.movember.com/mospace/9931349
New Hartford Youth Hockey Night: Saturday night at the Aud is New Hartford Youth Hockey night and in between periods, the NHYHA Mites will take part in a scrimmage … NHYHA is using this opportunity as a fundraiser for the entire association.
Pioneers All-Access: If you can’t make it out to Utica to watch the game in person, Pioneers All-Access is the place to be on game day, providing live video and stats for all UC home games at the Aud …. Pioneers All-Access is a completely FREE service provided for those members of the Pioneer nation that might not be able to make it out to the game … Recent stories and social media are fully integrated into the Pioneers All-Access site for the most comprehensive viewing experience … Make sure to check out Pioneers All-Access at www.ucpioneers.com/watch.
Nationally-Ranked: The Utica College men’s hockey team is ranked No. 14 in the latest release of the USCHO.com National Poll … The Pioneers moved out of the receiving votes category and into the nation’s top 15 this week …Utica (1-0) is now the top-ranked team in the ECAC West Conference, with Elmira and Hobart both receiving votes … UC is also ranked No. 14 in the latest D3hockey.com National Poll.
Convincing Win Over Castleton: UC opened up it’s 2014-15 campaign with a 4-2 victory over a tough Caslteton State team on Saturday night at the Aud … At the time, Castleton was receiving votes in both the USCHO.com and D3Hockey.com national polls.
Packed House: Get your tickets early, because the Pioneers nearly sold out their home opener … Only 68 tickets were left for the home opener where the Pioneers drew a paid attendance of 3,747 … UC has led the nation in home attendance for eight consecutive seasons.
First-Year Fever: All four of the Pioneers’ goals on Saturday night were scored by freshman … The Pioneers’ top four leading scorers so far this season are first year players, including Dalton Carter(Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)), Brent Wold (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba/Dauphin (MJHL)), Trent Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) and Kyle Lajeunesse (South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)).
Wold’s World: Highly touted freshman Brent Wold (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba/Dauphin (MJHL)), who comes to Utica from the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, opened his collegiate career with a bang as he netted two power-play goals to push the Pioneers past Caslteton Saturday night … The freshman stepped right in to the left wing on the Pioneers’ first line alongside senior center Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and senior right winger Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)).
ECAC West Player of the Week: Freshman defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) was named the ECAC Men’s West Conference Player of the Week on Mondaynight for the first time in his career … Carter registered a team-high three points as the Pioneers defeated Castleton Saturday … He gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead midway through the third period with his first collegiate goal … He also assisted on the Pioneers’ final two power-play goals.
Taffe Starting Strong: Senior goalie Mike Taffe (Maple Grove, MN/Amarillo (NAHL)) finished his opening night against Castleton with 22 saves in net for UC, including 12 in the third period alone … He entered the contest having played in just seven career games.
Samuels-Thomas Making a Name for Himself: Sophomore first-year player Trent Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) dished out two nice assists for UC on Saturday night to help the Pioneers earn the two goal victory … His brother Jordan Samuels-Thomas is currently a left-winger for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, the affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.
Lajeunesse Stepping Right In: Freshman right wing Kyle Lajeunesse (South Berwick, ME/New Hampshire (EHL)) netted his first collegiate goal and added an assist for the Pioneers in their season opener on Saturday … Lajeunesse played his junior hockey for New Hampshire of the EHL and started on the fourth line in the Pioneers’ opener.
All-Time Against Nazareth: Utica is 5-1 all-time against Nazareth College … The Pioneers’ lone loss to the Golden Flyers came by way of a 2-1 overtime defeat on the road at Naz last season … UC has outscored Naz 28-10 in six previous meetings.
Scouting Nazareth: Nazareth opened its third season of intercollegiate play with a solid 7-1 home-ice victory over Brockporton Saturday … Former Utica Pioneer Don Olivieri scored twice and added an assist while Rocky Gruttadauria also scored twice … Ben Blasko equaled a school-record with four assists … Junior goalie Ed Zdolshek was solid in goal with 23 saves … He had a shutout going until Brockport scored its lone goal with 8:50 left in the third.
