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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The No.12 University of New England men's ice hockey team rattled off three goals over the initial 11:34 of the 3rd period to seize control of its Conference of New England (CNE) matchup with Suffolk University, on the way to recording a 4-2 victory on Friday night (Jan. 17). The game was also the 9th Annual Teddy Bear Toss, which is organized by the Harold Alfond Forum Building Managers and benefits Southern Maine Health Care.

The Nor'easters (10-5-1, 6-3-0 CNE / 19 pts) put more distance between themselves and the fourth-place Rams (8-6-2, 3-5-1 / 12) in the standings by completing the three-game season sweep.

Suffolk had the early step on UNE and netted the only score of the 1st period with a shot by Nolan Leonard at 13:48. But the hosts found their way back level 6:18 into the 2nd when Dominic Murphy skated to the left dot on a power play and snapped one inside the right post for his 10th of the year [Watch]. It was Murphy's second Teddy Bear Toss tally in as many seasons, and 14 seconds later than his goal in 2024. Now, all nine scorers of the TBT goal have been in either the first-year or sophomore classes, and it was UNE's first with a man-advantage.
 
Shots on goal in the 2nd were 16-7 in favor of the Nor'easters, however, the contest remained tied at 1-1 through 40 minutes.

Four minutes into the 3rd, junior defenseman Noah Szretter took it coast-to-coast for the go-ahead score, weaving through the Rams on the right side of the ice and slotting a low-angle attempt past goalie CJ Hapward [Watch]. Szretter had assisted on the previous two TBT goals.

UNE then went on a five-minute power play and pocketed two more. First, it was perfect passing from Murphy to Juraj Elias to Ryan Kuzmich, who slipped a no-look feed in front to Drew Olivieri for an easy finish [Watch]. Before the advantage expired, Olivieri sent a dangerous puck towards the far post that popped up in front and Kuzmich batted it in his team-leading 12th goal of the campaign [Watch].

The trio of power play goals marked the first time the Nor'easters had more than one in a game this season, bumping their efficiency from 21.4 percent up to 25.5 percent.

Kuzmich totaled three points on the evening, while Murphy and Elias joined Olivieri with a couple. Kuzmich and Murphy have 22 points on the year, with Olivieri at 21. Joey Stanizzi made 21 saves to backstop the win for UNE.

Joe O'Brien got one back for the visitors (4-2) with 4:58 remaining, at the same moment as Suffolk began a five-minute power play, but the Nor'easters shut it down from there. Hapward posted 32 stops for the Rams, who received three blocked shots from Jack Kircher in support.

UNE will visit Wentworth Institute of Technology next Friday and then return to the Forum on Saturday.