Statistics

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- Ryan Kuzmich scored twice in the 2nd period and Nathan Chickering added two more in the 3rd to power the No.15 University of New England men's ice hockey team in a 7-2 triumph over No.10 Wilkes University (Pa.) on Saturday (Jan. 11) in the opening round of SUNY Plattsburgh's Comfort Inn Winter Classic at Stafford Arena.

The Nor'easters (8-5-1) will draw the host Cardinals in Sunday's 5 p.m. tournament title match, which will be the first-ever meeting. Plattsburgh clipped Wentworth Institute of Technology in the day-one nightcap, 5-3.

The first-time match between nationally-ranked foes was level at 1-1 through 20 minutes after goals by UNE's Drew Olivieri and Max Cocchi of the Colonels. Olivieri's wraparound tally came with an assist from Ryan Kuzmich in the neutral zone, who stole possession from heading the opposite direction.

UNE blew things open during the initial 12 minutes of the middle frame, starting with the go-ahead goal from the right dot by Kuzmich just 23 seconds into the 2nd, off a feed from Dominic Murphy. After David Wilcox hammered a one-timer from inside the left dot, aided by Jayden Price and Anthony Sciucco, Kuzmich stuffed one home in front, with assists from Murphy and Olivieri, to make it 4-1 at the 7:00 mark. Then Will Spitzer delivered his first goal of the year with 11:44 gone to pad the cushion, off a pass from Cam Bergeman, finding the top right corner through a screen from behind the left circle.

The Nor'easters have received 24 of their 56 scores this season from the top line of Kuzmich (18 points), Murphy (18), and Olivieri (16). Kuzmich now leads the way with 11 goals, and Olivieri tops the assist line with 12.

While shorthanded on two separate occasions in the 3rd, Chickering found ways to keep growing the lead (7-1). First, he drew a slash on a breakaway chance and was awarded a penalty shot, which he then finished on the backhand, flipping it high. Less than four minutes later, Ike Keller had the attention of multiple defenders heading into the corner and saucered one back out to a wide-open Chickering in the middle for his fifth tally of the campaign.

Wilkes' Lorenzo Marcolin was the only other player to slip one past UNE netminder Stefan Carney, with nine ticks left on a power play. Otherwise, Carney made 26 saves to improve to 3-2-1 for the Nor'easters.

The Colonels (9-4-0) received 19 stops out of starter Jack Perna, who saw his night conclude after allowing the fifth goal. Anthony Del Tufo denied 13 the rest of the way.