Statistics

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The No.5 University of New England men's ice hockey team struck for four goals in a span of nine minutes during the 3rd period to separate from Alvernia University to a 6-2 victory in the consolation game of the Skidmore College Thanksgiving Invitational at Saratoga City Rink on Sunday (Nov. 30).

The Nor'easters rebound from their first setback of the campaign to improve to 7-1-0 overall, heading into a big Conference of New England home-and-home series with current No.7 Curry College, which UNE already defeated this season by a 5-1 margin on the road. The weekend kicks off on Friday (7 p.m.) at the Forum.

UNE never trailed against the Golden Wolves (5-5-0), after putting away a pair of power-play goals by the 5:06 mark of the 2nd stanza. Midway through the 1st, Juraj Elias teed up his team-leading sixth goal from the back of the right circle off a cross-ice feed from Drew Olivieri -- Elias entered the contest with four advantaged scores, one off the national lead. Then, in the middle period, Dominic Murphy set up Elias in the same spot but the slapper was tipped under the bar by Nathan Chickering as he cut through the crease. 

Alvernia got one back in the 2nd when a turnover was quickly sent to Gabriel Flammia behind the defense for the score. Just 1:25 into the 3rd, the Golden Wolves drew even off the stick of Anthony Piccininno.

The Nor'easters regained control, though, when Kevin O'Keefe skipped one off the far post from the right wall, around Alvernia's Jacob Stern at 5:57 of the final frame. UNE added to the 3-2 lead at the 9:50 mark, as Fernand-Olivier Perron batted home a weak-side rebound off a shot from the right wall by Noah Szretter. Ryan Hadland contributed a clean faceoff win back to Szretter for an assist on Perron's first collegiate goal.

Szretter picked up another point on an ensuing power play with a feed to Chickering on the left side for his second tally of the day. Before the clock turned under 5:00 remaining, Ike Keller snapped a top-shelf turnaround shot from the bottom of the left circle to establish the four-goal advantage.

UNE went 3-for-4 with an extra skater to raise the season conversion rate above 34 percent, and survived Alvernia's only power play chance to improve to 25-of-25 on the penalty kill.

Chickering -- who was named to the All-Tournament Team -- and Elias both assisted on Keller's goal to reach three points on the afternoon, while Szretter was joined by Olivieri and Chip Hamlett with two assists each. Brayden Cook notched one assist to put 11 Nor'easters on the score sheet. Hadland and Olivieri combined to go 23-8 at the faceoff dots.

Harrison Chesney collected 15 saves for the UNE goaltending win. Stern was busy on the other end, totaling 40 stops.