WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 7, 2022) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team took to the ice for the first time since December 10 and first home game since December 4^th and tied with the Raiders of Rivier University by a final score of 3-3. 

Records: 

• Western New England: 4-8-1
• Rivier University: 4-8-2

How it Happened:

Both the Golden Bears and Raiders traded chances through the first 20 minutes of play with neither team being able to find the back of the goal. Goaltender Ian Graiff made his first career start in a Golden Bears uniform on Friday afternoon making 12 saves in the opening period to keep the Raiders off the board. On the other end of the ice, WNE took 15 first period shots, none finding twine to head into the second period the same way the period started, scoreless. 

Western New England would begin the second period on the powerplay after Josh Sanchez was whistled for slashing at the end of the first period for Rivier. WNE took advantage of the opportunity and scored the game's first goal when Kyle Knight lit the lamp for the Golden Bears. WNE was able to get a cycle game around the board as Nolan Zweep and Lliam Christiano would feed each other before finding Knight open for a one-time shot that find the back of the goal just 32 seconds into the period to give WNE the opening 1-0 lead. At the seven-minute mark of the contest, Rivier would open their scoring in the contest when Zak Justice found Milan Breczko to knot the score at one. 

Western New England would go down the stretch of the second period with Rivier exchanging shot for shot. WNE would seize opportunity on the even strength and take their lead back. Jordan Giacomin would win a board battle and see the puck deflect to Sam Mitchell who went two on one with teammate Nolan Zweep. Zweep would take the feed from Mitchell and put the puck into the back of the goal to give WNE the 2-1 lead. Rivier would answer just 35 seconds later with a goal of their own to tie the game at two when Milan Breczko tallied his second goal of the game, the second tying goal of the game. The teams would head into the locker room at a 2-2 standdown. Rivier took 15 second period shots, while WNE came away with 11 in the 20 minutes. 

As they did in the second period, the Golden Bears began the third period on the powerplay as Jon Tavella recorded a cross-checking minor at the 20-minute mark of the third period giving WNE a fresh sheet of ice to work with on the PP. The Golden Bears would take advantage of the powerplay chance, again, as Demitrios Stefanou recorded his first goal of the season at the 1:29 mark in the period to give WNE their third lead of the game. Sam Mitchell and Jordan Giacomin recorded assists for the Golden Bears. The third period would feature an onslaught of penalties, with Western New England being recorded for six of the seven minors in the period. Rivier would not be able to capitalize on the first six powerplay chances. The Raiders did, however, capitalize on their sixth powerplay of the game at the 18:10 mark of the game when Jon Tevella was able to tip in a shot from Tyler Duderstadt to force overtime in the 3-3 game. 

Overtime brought five shots on goal total, four by the Golden Bears and one by Rivier University. Neither team would be able to find the back of the net in the five-minute overtime session, settling for a 3-3 tie between the two schools. 

Inside the Crease:

• Ian Graiff made 35 saves in his Golden Bears debut, including 37 saves in regulation play. Graiff and the Golden Bears defense held Rivier to just a 1/6 mark on the powerplay. 
• Western New England converted on two of their five powerplay chances in the tie. 
• Jordan Giacomin recorded two assists for WNE while Golden Bears captain Nolan Zweep scored his first on the season, while also recording an assist. 
• WNE was successful in 35 faceoffs in the contest, while Lliam Christiano won 13/17 faceoffs. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England returns to Suffolk University next Friday, January 14 for a 7:00 pm rematch with the Rams. WNE returns to the Olympia Ice Center on Saturday, January 15 for a 7:00 pm puck drop with the same Rams. 
• Rivier University travels to Bowdoin University for a 3:00 pm puck drop on Tuesday, January 11.