PINE VALLEY, N.Y. — In a teeter-totter affair, the Wilkes University Colonels (4-3-0, 4-3-0 UCHC) escaped with a narrow 3-2 win over the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team (5-3-1, 4-2-1 UCHC).

Tyler Dill put Wilkes on top, 1-0, at the 3:02 mark of the first period. Elmira answered 1:27 later on a tally from Amedeo Mastrangeli ’24, his first goal as a Soaring Eagle. Passes from Ryan Reifler ’24 and Jared Smith ’24 set up the goal, as Mastrangeli was able to find the back of the cage on a shot from the blue line.

Shawn Kennedy ’24 put the Purple and Gold on top with a power-play goal at 6:23. Reifler and Smith once again set up the scoring play, as Kennedy buried a shot from the right post for the go-ahead goal. .

The first-period scoring frenzy continued late in the opening frame, as Dill netted his second of the game, this time on the power play at 14:45. Dill’s goal sent the two sides in the first intermission deadlocked at 2-2.

Following a scoreless second period, Wilkes broke through once again late in the period on a goal from Nick Fea. Donald Flynn won an offensive-zone faceoff, with the pass going to Fea, who then weaved a shot through traffic for the goal at 14:34.

The Colonels added another tally with 13 seconds on the clock, this one on an empty net, as Dill completed the hat trick.

Chris Janzen ’21 got the start in net for the Soaring Eagles. He made 28 saves in 58:27 of action. Michael Paterson-Jones got the win for Wilkes by making 36 saves in 59:31.
 
Up Next

• Elmira held a 38-32 lead in shots.
• EC went 1-for-7 on the power play.
• Wilkes was 1-for-5 on the power play.
• Mastrangeli scored his first collegiate goal.
• Reifler (0g-2a) and Smith (0g-2a) led Elmira in points with two each.
• Kennedy scored his fifth goal of the season, which is tied for the team lead.

 
Up Next
The Elmira men will be back on ice on Tuesday, March 23, when they take on Utica College in a makeup of the March 6 postponed contest. The contest will start in the third period with Elmira trailing, 5-2, and will begin at 4:00 p.m.

(Elmira Men’s Hockey Photo)

BY WARREN KOZIRESKI —

David Jankowski scored 3:44 into overtime to give St. Lawrence University their first ECAC men’s hockey championship since 2001 with their 3-2 victory over top-seed Quinnipiac Saturday night.

Kaden Pickering scored early in the first to give the Saints a 1-0 lead before the Bobcats scored twice to take a 2-1 lead.

But Justin Paul tied the game with less than four minutes remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime.

St. Lawrence wins their seventh league title and first since 2001, while the NCAA Tournament bid is the program’s 17^th and first since 2007.

They await their seeding and bracket assignment to be announced at 7pm Sunday on ESPN-U.

The score looked more lopsided than the game as American International scored two empty-net goals late in ending Canisius’ season with a 5-2 victory in the Atlantic Hockey Conference championship game.

The Golden Griffins jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Kevin Obssuth’s first period tally and led 2-1 early in the second on a Grant Meyer goal, but the Yellow Jackets tied the game later in the second and added the game-winner on the power play early in the third.

The Griffs finish 11-7 overall with seniors Tucker Weppner (Williamsville) and David Baskerville (Buffalo) among those wrapping up their collegiate careers.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Elmira College men’s ice hockey team used a pair of late power-play goals and a career-high 46 saves from Chris Janzen ’21 to seal a 4-3 win over Wilkes University on Friday night.

It marks the third consecutive victory for the Soaring Eagles (5-2-1, 4-1-1 UCHC), who have earned all three wins on the road. Friday’s game was also Elmira’s second one-goal victory in the past nine days.

EC trailed 3-2 at the 4:32 mark in the third period, when Wilkes (3-3-0, 3-3-0 UCHC) junior Scott Mueller found the back of the net for the first time this season. Elmira needed only 1:14 to respond, as Janis Vizbelis ’24 leveled the score at three apiece. Nicholas Domitrovic ’24 and Jake Russo ’23 were each credited with assists on the tying goal.

In the 3-on-3 overtime period, the Colonels were taxed with a minor penalty for too many men, and the infraction allowed the Soaring Eagles to add an extra skater to the ice. After the power-play unit settled in the zone, Domitrovic ripped a shot from the left faceoff dot that was deflected into the corner by goalie Michael Paterson-Jones. Domitrovic then won the battle along the boards and passed the puck back towards the blue line to fellow freshman Amedeo Mastrangeli ’24. When Mastrangeli returned the puck to Domitrovic at the top of the faceoff circle, Ottawa, Ontario, native faked a one-timer, toe-dragged into the slot, and beat Paterson-Jones five-hole for the victory.

In goal, Janzen withstood heavy fire from the Colonels, who logged the most shots by an Elmira opponent this season with 49. Janzen stood tall, finishing with a career-high 46 saves while improving to 4-2-1 on the year.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul ’98 on the power-play unit coming to life with the game-tying and winning goals on Friday…
“We have been working hard on it all season and had great chances over the last few games. It was good to see them go in and help us win the game tonight.”

Coach Saul when asked about Elmira’s three-game road win streak…
“We are just taking it one game at a time. We have been working hard to be better after the loss to Utica two weeks ago.”

News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 5-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 against UCHC opponents.
• The Soaring Eagles are 3-1-0 on the road in 2021, having won three consecutive games at Nazareth (4-3), Lebanon Valley (4-2), and tonight at Wilkes (4-3, OT).
• EC tied a single-game season-high with two power-play goals.
• Domitrovic led all Soaring Eagles with two points (1g-1a), and his game-winning goal was his team-leading fifth tally of the season.
• Domitrovic has a goal in three consecutive games, while Vizbelis has netted a goal in back-to-back contests.
• Russo’s assist on the tying goal was his team-leading seventh helper of the year. The St. Louis, Missouri, native paces all EC skaters with nine points (2g-7a).
• Janzen turned away a season- and career-high 46 shots on goal, one more than the 45 saves he made in a 4-2 win over No. 2 SUNY Geneseo last season (January 14, 2020).

Up Next
Elmira will look to bring its road magic back to the friendly confines of the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday, March 20. The Soaring Eagles host the Colonels at 7:00 p.m. on Class of 2021 Recognition Night.

Date: Saturday, March 20 | Time: 7:05 p.m. | Location: MassMutual Center/Springfield, Mass.
Live Stats:Via AICYellowJackets.com | TV/Webcast: FloHockey.tv

The Canisius hockey team looks to capture the second conference title in program history when it faces No. 15 AIC Saturday in the championship game of the 2021 AHA Tournament at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

Puck drop for the matchup between the Golden Griffins and Yellow Jackets is set for 7 p.m. The winner of Saturday’s championship contest will earn the league’s automatic berth into the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Scouting Canisius
• Canisius is making its third championship game appearance and first since the 2013-14 season after advancing to the title game with a 4-3 overtime victory versus No. 19 Army in the semifinal round on Friday.
• Sophomore forward Keaton Mastrodonato has paced the Canisius attack this season, leading the squad in goals (9) and points (18) while also tied for the team lead in assists (9). Mastrodonato has done most of his damage since the start of February, leading all of Atlantic Hockey with 13 points (6g, 7a) scored in that span.
• Junior forward and linemate Mitchell Martan ranks second on the squad with 15 points, recording six goals to go along with his team-leading nine assists. Martan tallied a power-play goal in the second period of Friday’s semifinal contest.
• In goal, junior Matt Ladd and sophomore Jacob Barczewski have split time between the pipes this season. Together, the tandem has combined to post a .920 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average in 904 minutes of action. Barczewski got the start in the semifinal matchup against Army and made 26 saves.
• Canisius has found its scoring touch as the game has progressed this season as it has tallied 48 of its 57 goals after the first period in 2020-21. The Griffs have been outscored by an 17-9 margin in the opening 20 minutes of play this season, but own a commanding +24 goal differential over its opponents during the remaining 40 minutes of regulation and overtime (48-24).

Last Time Out
• Junior J.D. Pogue scored at the 13:23 mark of overtime to lift Canisius to a 4-3 victory over No. 19 Army in the second semifinal of the 2021 Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament Friday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
• In the first postseason meeting between the two programs, sophomore Simon Gravel, junior Mitchell Martan and freshman Max Kouznetsov also scored for the Golden Griffins.  
• Canisius trailed 1-0 until it used goals from Gravel and Martan just 46 seconds apart early in the second to take a 2-1 lead.
• Army responded with two goals in the opening half of the third to move back in front, 3-2, but Kouznetsov tied the game with a power-play goal with 5:02 remaining to send the game to overtime, setting the stage for Pogue’s heroics.
• Sophomore Jacob Barczewski made 26 saves between the pipes for Canisius, who held a 31-29 shot advantage for the contest, highlighted by a 10-6 edge in the third period.
• Canisius was 2-for-5 on the powerplay while Army was 0-for-2 with the man advantage. 

Scouting AIC
• AIC will attempt to defend its AHA Tournament title after it advanced to the championship game with a 2-1 triumph over Niagara in the first semifinal contest Friday at the MassMutual Center.
• Seniors Tobias Fladeby (9g, 7a) and Chris Dodero (6g, 10a) and junior Chris Theodore (3g, 13a) highlight a balanced and potent Yellow Jackets attack that is averaging 3.59 goals per game as the trio is tied for the team scoring lead with 16 points each.
• Senior Brennan Kapcheck, the AHA Eastern Pod Player of the Year and Best Defenseman honoree, highlights an AIC blueline that has limited opponents to an average of just 22.5 shots on goal per contest in 2020-21.
• Senior Stefano Durante has seen the majority of time between the pipes for the Yellow Jackets this season, compiling a 2.19 goals against average and a .908 save percentage in 11 starts.

Canisius-AIC Series Notes
• In a series that dates back to the 1992 season, the Griffs hold a 40-22-7 all-time record against the Yellow Jackets, including a 40-19-7 edge in Division I meetings. Canisius’ 40 victories against AIC are the most by the Griffs against any school at the Division I level.
• The Yellow Jackets have held the edge in the series of late, winning each of the last five meetings between the two programs dating back to the 2018-19 season.
• Canisius holds an all-time mark of 18-11-1 in road contests against the Yellow Jackets. The Griffs were swept in their most recent series against AIC at the MassMutual Center back in December 2019, with the Yellow Jackets posting a 6-0 victory in the opener before rallying for a 3-2 overtime victory the following day in the finale.  
• Canisius and AIC have met just twice before in the postseason, with the team’s splitting their previous four matchups. The Yellow Jackets knocked off the Griffs in a first-round matchup in 2007 before Canisius defeated AIC in three games in a quarterfinal round series at LECOM Harborcenter in 2018.

(Canisius College Hockey Photo)

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Atlantic Hockey announced its major award winners for both the East and West pods and Lincoln Hatten was named Rookie of the Year for the East, while head Coach Brian Riley earned Coach of the Year honors.

Hatten spent his first season on Army’s second line and posted 12 points on four goals and eight assists. Hatten tallied a gamewinner and is a plus-4 on the season. Hatten had a great stretch at the start of Army’s unbeaten streak with a five-game point streak with two goals and five assists for seven points and he was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week on Feb. 17after tallying six points, which led the Black Knights that week.

Hatten is the second Black Knight to earn Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year honors, joining Tyler Pham, who was selected the top rookie in 2015. 

Riley earned the postseason honor for the fourth time in his career after leading the Black Knights to second place in the league with a 10-4-1 mark in conference play and a 15-5-1 overall record. He guided Army to its current 13-game unbeaten streak, which is the longest since his father, Jack Riley, won 16-straight in 1983-84 with the Black Knights. The Black Knights cracked the top 20 this season and is making their fifth appearance in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals.

By Warren Kozireski —

American International scored two third period goals to overcome a 1-0 deficit and defeat Niagara 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Atlantic Hockey Conference playoffs.

Junior transfer Walker Sommer scored the only Purple Eagles goal as they were outshot 35-18 in the contest.

They ended their season 7-12-3 overall.

Aaron Todd <[email protected] —

Cameron Buhl scored eight minutes and seven seconds into overtime to lift the No. 3 seeded St. Lawrence University men’s hockey team to a 5-4 win over fourth-seeded Colgate in the semifinal round of the ECAC Hockey tournament on Thursday night.

Buhl scored the goal on the Saints’ first shot of the overtime period, creating a Colgate turnover in the Raiders’ defensive end and taking a pass from Greg Lapointe at the right side of the net, then spinning around and sneaking a shot between Colgate goaltender Carter Gylander’s pads to send the Saints to the ECAC Hockey championship game against top-seeded Quinnipiac.

“We were extremely proud of the team as a staff,” said Charles W. Appleton II Head Men’s Hockey Coach Brent Brekke. “They are resilient. I use that word a lot with this team, but they truly are. It’s pretty special and we’re very proud of them.”

Buhl’s overtime goal was his second of the game, and first-year defenseman Tucker McIntosh, playing in his first game since suffering an injury in the Saints’ fourth game of the season on January 10, also scored two goals. The game also marked the return of senior captains Dylan Woolf, who also scored on Thursday night, and Callum Cusinato; both players had been out of the lineup due to injuries since late January.

“Tucker’s been out for a long, long time, and we didn’t think we were going to get him back here at the end of the season, so we’re fortunate and excited to have him back in the lineup,” said Brekke. “And then obviously, that’s a little cherry on top when you get those guys producing.”

McIntosh got the Saints on the board less than five minutes into the game, charging the net and finishing a cross-ice pass from Aleksi Peltonen in a wide-open net for his first collegiate goal. Reilly Moran also picked up an assist on the play.

Josh McKechney tied the game with a shorthanded goal a little over halfway through the first period, taking a pass from Colton Young from the left-side half boards at the far post and flipping the puck into the net.

Jeff Stewart gave the Raiders the lead 6:17 into the second period, backhanding the puck off St. Lawrence goaltender Emil Zetterquist and into the net.

Buhl tied the game with a power play goal three minutes later, snapping a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle over Colgate goaltender Carter Gylander’s right shoulder. Justin Paul and Luc Salem earned assists on the play.

But Colgate answered back with less than five minutes to play in the second, as Evan Tschumi jammed away at a puck in the crease to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead heading to the third period.

Woolf tied the game at the 4:36 mark of the third with a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past the near post after Max Dorrington won an offensive zone faceoff. The assist on the play was Dorrington’s first collegiate point.

McIntosh gave the Saints a 4-3 lead with his second goal of the game just 1:09 later, hitting the top left corner of the net with a wrist shot from the point. David Jankowski and Nicholas Trela picked up assists on the play.

There was plenty of drama left in the game, however, as Tyler Jeanson tied the game halfway through the third period after taking a pass from Tschumi in front of the Saints’ net and sending a backhand past Zetterquist.

Colgate dominated the early moments of the overtime period, building a 9-0 advantage in shots on goal, including a flurry of shots five minutes into the extra frame. But Zetterquist kept the Saints’ hopes alive, stopping all nine shots he faced in overtime to finish the game with 39 saves.
 
Gylander stopped 20 shots for the Raiders, who finished the season 6-11-5.

St. Lawrence, now 5-7-3, will face a tough task on Saturday in Hamden, Connecticut. Quinnipiac is ranked 10th nationally and won the season series with the Saints 4-1-1, including wins in the last four meetings of the season.

“Our last game we had a real good push against them midway through the game,” said Brekke. “I thought we played very well against them in the last game. We didn’t get the result, but we felt good against them. Our players know their tendencies. When you play a team that many times, you get to know them.”

The winner of Saturday’s game will claim the ECAC Hockey tournament title and earn an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. ET.

(St. Lawrence Men’s Hockey Photo)

BY WARREN KOZIRESKI —

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Committee announced their top ten candidates for the 2021 award honoring college hockey’s top player and New Yorkers David Farrance of Boston University and Shane Pinto of the University of North Dakota are among the names listed.

Farrance hails from Victor, NY where he played high school hockey before leaving for the U.S. National Development Program. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2017 National Hockey League Entry Draft prior to his freshman season.

The senior defenseman has five goals and 16 points over his first ten games this season after his 43 points in 34 games junior campaign.

Franklin Square native Pinto, a second-round selection by Ottawa in the 2019 draft, has 15 goals and 30 points over the first 26 games in this, his sophomore season with the Fighting Hawks.

The ten finalists were selected by voting from all 61 Division I college hockey head coaches plus online fan balloting. Next, the 30-member Selection Committee and an additional round of fan balloting through the Hobey website hobeybaker.com March 18-28 will determine this year’s Hobey Baker winner. Criteria for the award include: displaying outstanding skills in all phases of the game, strength of character on and off the ice, sportsmanship and scholastic achievements.

The Hobey Hat Trick (three finalists) will be announced on April 1, 2021 and the Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on Friday, April 9, 2021.