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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- A pair of 3rd-period scores were the difference as the No.8 University of New England men's ice hockey team defeated Nichols College, 2-0, in front of a season-best crowd of 1,324 on Friday night (Jan. 23) at the Harold Alfond Forum. The Conference of New England (CNE) game was also the 10th Annual Teddy Bear Toss, organized by the Forum Student Building Managers to benefit the MaineHealth Maine Medical Center facilities in Biddeford and Sanford, as well as Make-a-Wish Maine.

It took the Nor'easters (12-5, 9-3 CNE) a while to solve Bison netminder Liam Choquette, who produced several dazzling stops in the 2nd to keep the hosts off of the board. But two penalties early in the final frame put Nichols (7-9, 4-7) in a hole, and UNE only needed three seconds of the 5-on-3 to strike first.

Nathan Chickering swooped in on a loose puck in the skates of Drew Olivieri, stepped into the slot, and sniped a wrister into the top-right corner to tie Olivieri for the team-lead of eight goals this season [Watch / Watch]. It was the latest Teddy Bear Toss goal in the history of the men's event by nine minutes, and the first time a senior notched the celebratory marker.

With 7:42 left, UNE got some valuable insurance from Juraj Elias, who capitalized on Choquette leaving the crease to play a puck in the low slot by firing one into the open cage [Watch]. Pressure behind the NC net by Cam Bergeman muffled a pass and popped the puck dangerously in front. The tally was the seventh of the year for Elias, and the first in nine games.

Harrison Chesney was only called upon to make 12 saves in the contest, but some were prime opportunities for the visitors [Watch / Watch / Watch]. The shutout was the second of the campaign for Chesney.

Choquette posted 14 of his 27 stops during the middle period for the Bison, who will entertain UNE on Saturday afternoon in Rhode Island. Nichols will also make the trip back to Biddeford for the regular-season finale on February 21.