Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The nation's second-longest active winning streak increased by one on Saturday (Feb. 8), as No.9 University of New England ran all over Johnson & Wales University (R.I.), 7-0, in Conference of New England (CNE) men's ice hockey action at the Harold Alfond Forum.

Now with nine consecutive triumphs, the Nor'easters stand at 16-5-1 on the year and 12-3-0 versus CNE competition. Curry College -- holder of the only string of victories larger than UNE, at 11 -- remains three points clear atop the league rankings; both teams have games on Friday before meeting for the third time this season next Saturday at the Forum.

UNE completed the weekend sweep of the Wildcats (9-11-2, 4-9-2) with a 10-0 scoring margin. Saturday marked the fifth time this season that the Nor'easters hung seven goals on an opponent.

On the other end, rookie Stefan Carney provided 26 saves to personally improved to 7-2-1 and register his second shutout of the year. UNE has now held foes scoreless six times this season -- a program record.
 
The hosts wasted little time at the start, as Juraj Elias drilled one into the back of the net just 1:10 into the match [Watch]. David Wilcox made it 2-0 prior to the 1st intermission, pouncing on a soft rebound from the crossbar [Watch]. The Nor'easters struck twice in the opening 3:46 of the 2nd period, off the sticks of Drew Olivieri -- picking the top corner in transition [Watch] -- and Mike Tersoni -- with a blazing wrister from the high slot [Watch].

Ryan Kuzmich had the cushion at 5-0 in the final stanza, snapping one on a fastbreak [Watch], and then potted another 2:27 later with a tip-in at the right post [Watch]. Nick Marino rounded out the barrage with a finish right in front [Watch].

Two markers for Kuzmich elevates his team-leading total to 18, which is the most in a season since Ryan Bloom set the program record with 22 in 2018-19.

The game went without a penalty for almost 49 minutes, but then there were a combined five extra-skater opportunities the rest of the way. UNE began the day with the 5th-rated power-play unit in Division III, despite going 0-for-1 on Friday to pause a six-game surge of converting half of its chances (11-of-22). With goals from Kuzmich and Marino, the success of the man-advantage got back on track and ticked up to 32.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the special teams efforts on the defensive side have been just as effective for the Nor'easters -- also 5th-best in the country. Over the last 11 outings, the penalty kill efficiency has risen from 83.3 to 88.3 percent. Carney also had one of his bigger saves to keep the clean sheet in tact [Watch], right before UNE survived 53 seconds of a 5-on-3 JWU power play.

Dominic Murphy posted a team-high three points with primary assists on the scores by his linemates, Kuzmich and Olivieri. Nathan Chickering and Noah Szretter each added two helpers, while Elias, Olivieri, Jacob Pellerin, Jayden Price, Dylan Schuett, Cam Bergeman, and even Carney -- with a two-thirds ice outlet pass to trigger Kuzmich's second goal -- contributed one assist. The last goalie assist for the program occurred back in 2021-22.

Szretter topped the defensive support of Carney with three blocked shots, and Olivieri went 12-of-15 at the faceoff dots.

For Johnson & Wales, Jake Inzirillo accumulated 37 saves. Chris Alexander led all skaters with four blocked shots.

Next up for the Nor'easters will be a visit to Western New England University.