Statistics

CANTON, Mass. -- Curry College trailed by a couple midway through the 2nd period but fought back to a lead with 8:26 left in the 3rd and an empty-net score capped a 4-2 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) men's ice hockey decision against No.8 University of New England on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 27) at the Canton Ice House.

With two wins in the weekend series, the Colonels improve to 15-4-1 overall and 10-3-0 in conference outings, maintaining a share of first place in the standings at 29 points. The Nor'easters (13-4-3) are 7-3-3 in league games with 24 points in fourth.

After a scoreless 1st stanza, UNE struck for a pair of power-play goals just 2:08 apart during the initial portion of the middle period. For the second straight day, Juraj Elias found the back of the net with a one-timer from the right circle. Jacob Pellerin and Anthony Sciucco picked up assists on the play. Then, 8:14 into the frame, Ryan Kuzmich finished easily in front off a one-touch pass from Jayden Price below the right goal line. Chip Hamlett found Price was a pass from the blue line.

Both Elias and Kuzmich are now tied for the team-lead in goals with six.

Curry got one back (2-1) at the 14:45 mark of the 2nd courtesy of Eelis Laaksonen, who then assisted on the game-tying and go-ahead scores at 8:47 and 11:34 of the 3rd frame. Cole Weinger and Tao Ishizuka notched the goals to move the hosts back in front.

Just as UNE looked to get Billy Girard IV off the ice for an extra skater, a Nor'easter penalty with 1:35 left forced the visitors to wait until gaining some value of possession. Eight seconds after finally getting that chance, the puck skipped to Gage Dill in the corner with just enough space to turn and launch it the length of the sheet for some insurance with 1:09 to go. UNE had a few shots in the waning moments with a 6-on-5 but couldn't break the Colonels' defense.

Curry received 27 saves between the pipes from Shane Soderwall, who had the help of 22 blocked shots in front of him.

For the Nor'easters, who host Wentworth Institute of Technology on Friday (7 p.m.), Girard totaled 18 stops.