O'Kane, Blanchette lead Ice Dogs past Nichols, 5-2

Assumption 5, Nichols 2

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Sophomore goalkeeper NICK BLANCHETTE (Stuart, FL/Worcester Academy) made 36 saves in net and sophomore right wing PAT O'KANE (Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin) scored two goals as Assumption College defeated Nichols College, 5-2, in a non-conference ice hockey game Wednesday night at the Buffone Rink.

The Greyhounds evened their overall record at 7-7 avenging a 4-2 opening night defeat at the hands of the Bison on November 27. Nichols is now 6 6-2.

O'Kane, the leading scorer in the Northeast-10 Conference, gave the Greyhounds a first-period lead as he converted a pass from sophomore center TAYLOR LARSEN (Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy) just 24 seconds into the game for his 16th goal of the season. The Bisons would tie the game at 14:16 on the power play as senior forward ERIC CREMER (Chelsea, MI/Chelsea) beat Blanchette. Freshman forward BRYAN GILL (New Hyde Park, NY) and senior forward ZEKE COSTELLO (Shelby Township, MI) assisted on the play.

The Greyhounds scored twice in the second and third periods.

Freshman right wing JAMIE VONA (West Seneca, NY/St. Francis) scored his second goal of the seaosn from senior defender JON RETELLE (Monmouth, ME/Kents Hill) and freshman forward MIKE KOZZA (Orefield, PA/Parkland) at 5:02 on the power play. It was Kozza's first career assist.

Gill scored his second goal of the season for Nichols to tie it 2-2, also on the power play, at 7:43 as Cremer assisted. Larsen scored his third game-winner of the season at 17:33 on the power play for the Greyhounds as junior linemate PATRICK FITZGIBBONS (Worcester, MA/Saint John's) assisted.

O'Kane, got his 17th goal on the power play, and senior forward JOSH BOISSONEAU (Bedford, NH/Trinity) scored the third-period goals.

The Gryehounds outshot the Bison, 38-31. Sophomore goalkeeper JACOB RINN (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) made 26 saves for Nichols.

The Greyhounds are next in action Saturday when they travel to Northeast-10 Conference rival Franklin Pierce University. Faceoff at the Winchendon School Rink is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nichols hosts Worcester State College Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Nichols (6-6-2) 1 1 0 -- 2

First Period:

1, Assumption, Pat O'KANE (No. 16) (So., Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin) from Taylor LARSEN (No. 15) (So., Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy), 0:24;

2, Nichols, Eric CREMER (No. 5) (Sr., Chelsea, MI/Chelsea) from Zeke COSTELLO (No. 6) (Sr., Shelby Township, MI) and Bryan GILL (No. 3) (Fr., New Hyde Park, NY), 14:16 (ppg)

Penalties: Assumption 2, Nichols 3

Second Period:

3, Assumption, Jaime VONA (No. 2) (Fr., West Seneca, NY/St. Francis) from Jon RETELLE (No. 3) (Sr., Monmouth, ME/Kents Hill) and Mike KOZZA (No. 1) (Fr., Orefield, PA/Parkland), 5:02 (ppg);

4, Nichols, Bryan GILL (No. 2) (Fr., New Hyde Park, NY) from Eric CREMER (No. 4) (Sr., Chelsea, MI/Chelsea), 7:43 (ppg);

5, Assumption, Taylor LARSEN (No. 11) (So., Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy) from Patrick FITZGIBBONS (No. 12) (Jr., Worcester, MA/Saint John's), 17:33 (ppg);

Penalties: Assumption 3, Nichols 4

Third Period:

6, Assumption, Pat O'KANE (No. 17) (So., Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin) from Keven MEEHAN (No. 7) (Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep) and Patrick FITZGIBBONS (No. 13) (Jr., Worcester, MA/Saint John's), 4:52 (ppg);

7, Assumption, Josh BOISSONEAU (No. 1) (Sr., Bedford, NH/Trinity) from Keven MEEHAN (No. 8) (Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep) and Jon RETELLE (No. 4) (Sr., Monmouth, ME/Kents Hill), 15:38.

Penalties: Assumption 4, Nichols 3

Goalkeepers:

Nick BLANCHETTE (7-4) (So., Stuart, FL/Worcester Academy), 8-12-16---36 saves

Jacob RINN (12-4) (So., Warwick, RI/Toll Gate), 8-11-7---26 saves

Shots on Goal

Assumption 9 13 16 -- 38

Nichols 9 13 9 -- 31