Ice Dogs skate past Saint Michael's to remain in first place

November 24, 2009

Assumption 6, Saint Michael' 4

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Sophomore right wing PAT O'KANE (Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin), the Northeast-10 Conference Player-of the-Week last week, continued his superb play with two goals (his eighth and ninth of the season) and an assist as Assumption College defeated Saint Michael's College, 6-4, in Northeast-10 Conference hockey here TUESDAY night at the Buffone Rink.

The teams played a 3-3 deadlock through two periods with the Purple Knights outshooting the Greyhounds 29-7. In the third period however it was a different story as the Hounds scored three unanswered goals to remain in first place in the conference with a perfect 3-0 record.

Saint Michael's took a 4-3 lead as freshman forward ALEX DAVIDSON (South Burlington, VT) scored from junior defender MATT RIGTRUP (Upper Montclair, NJ) at 2:56.

Just 23 seconds later freshman right wing JAIME VONA (West Seneca, NY/Saint Francis) scored to tie it at 4-4 on a feed from fellow freshman center DAN DEARING (Lisbon Falls, ME/North Yarmouth) at 3:19.

Freshman left wing KEVEN MEEHAN (Melrose, MA/Austin Prep) (who also had four assists) scored his third goal of the season at 14:34 on the power play as the Hounds added an insurance goal. O'Kane and sophomore center TAYLOR LARSEN (Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy) assisted on the play.

Junior left wing ADAM GAUDREAU (Londonderyr, N H/Londonderry) added further insurance with an empty netter at 19:30. It was his first two-goal game of his career.

Sophomore goalkeeper NICK BLANCHETTE (Stuart, FL/Worcester Academy) made 31 saves to post his third straight win, while Purple Knight junior keeper BRENDAN RIMMER (Newbury, MA/Pingree) made 16 saves.

The Greyhounds now 3-3 overall and 3-0 in the conference are at conference rival Saint Anselm WEDNESDAY (December 2).

Assumption 6, Saint Michael's 4

Saint Michael's (1-2, 0-1) 1 2 1 -- 4

Assumption (3-3, 3-0) 1 2 3 -- 6

First Period:

1, Saint Michael's, Brady EARLE (So., Columbia, MD/Gunnery School) from Dan EVARTS (Fr., Hinesburg, VT) and Nick SHEEHAN (Jr., Potsdam, NY) (ppg), 8:50;

2, Assumption, Pat O'KANE (No. 8) (So., Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin) from Taylor LARSEN (No. 7)(So., Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy) and Keven MEEHAN (No. 2) (Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep), 12:27

Penalties: Assumption 3, Saint Michael's 3

Second Period:

3, Assumption, Adam GAUDREAU (No. 2) (Jr., Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) from Keven MEEHAN (No. 3) (Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep), 1:43;

4, Assumption, Pat O'KANE (No. 9) (So., Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin) from Taylor LARSEN (No. 8)(So., Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy) and Keven MEEHAN (No. 3)(Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep), 2:59 (ppg);

5, Saint Michael's, Brady EARLE (So., Columbia, MD/Gunnery School) from Dave VOROZILCHAK (Sr., Clarks Summit, PA) and Nick SHEEHAN (Jr., Potsdam, NY), 4:43 (ppg);

6, Saint Michael's, Reave MAC KINNON (So., Winnipeg, Manitoba) from Brady EARLE (So., Columbia, MD/Gunnery School) and Dave VOROZILCHAK (Sr., Clarks Summit, PA), 16:11 (ppg)

Penalties: Assumption 7, Saint Michael's 6

Third Period:

7, Saint Michael's, Alex DAVIDSON (Fr., South Burlington, VT) from Matt RIGTRUP (Jr., Upper Montclair, NJ), 2:56;

8, Assumption, Jaime VONA (No. 2) (Fr., West Seneca, NY/Saint Francis) from Dan DEARING (No. 1) (Fr., Lisbon Falls, ME/North Yarmouth), 3:19;

9, Assumption, Kevin MEEHAN (No. 3) (Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep) from Taylor LARSEN (No. 9)(So., Blackstone, MA/Worcester Academy) and

Pat O'KANE (No. 6) (So., Hollis, NH/Bishop Guertin), 14:34 (ppg);

10, Assumption, Adam GAUDREAU (No. 3) (Jr., Londonderry, NH/Londonderry) from Kevin MEEHAN (No. 4) (Fr., Melrose, MA/Austin Prep) and Dennis SILVIO (No. 2) (So., Beverly, MA/Beverly), 19:30 (empty net).

Penalties: Assumption 3, Saint Michael's 2

Shots on Goal:

Assumption 3 4 15 -- 22

Saint Michael's 17 12 6 -- 35

Goalkeepers:

Nick BLANCHETTE (So., Stuart, FL/Worcester Academy), 16-10-5--31

Brendan RIMMER (Jr., Newbury, MA/Pingree), 2-2-12--16