West Springfield, Mass. (February 9, 2024) – The Golden Bears welcomed the Nichols College Bison to the Olympia Ice Center for a Friday night CCC showdown. The Bison would jump on the scoreboard early with a goal in the first period of play. Then, Shane Miller would tie the game at one with a power play goal for the Golden Bears in the second. The Bison gained an early lead in the third, but power play goals from Kyle Knight and Shane Miller pushed the Golden Bears ahead and gave them the 3-2 win. Shane Miller led the team with two goals. Matty Zdanowicz had two assists, and Anthony Aureliano had 43 saves.

Records:

• Western New England: 5-15-3 (2-11-3)
• Nichols College: 6-14-3 (4-9-3)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears and Bison jumped on the ice with Anthony Aureliano and Tyler Bost in net for the teams, respectively. The game started with Luke Harvie winning the opening faceoff for the Bison. The Golden Bears had the opening shot. However, the Bison countered with twelve of the next fifteen shots. The Bison kept testing Aureliano; however, Aureliano stood strong and made each save. With 8:46 left in the opening period of play, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty, and the Bison went on the power play. The Golden Bears had two short-handed shots on goal to start the Nichols College power play. Nichols had one shot on their power play before the Golden Bears had a third short-handed shot.

Shortly after the Bison power play ended, the Golden Bears were called for a second penalty. This time, the Bison controlled the puck and scored on their third shot during the power play. Philip Bjorkman sent a shot that was saved by Aureliano. The rebound fell to Nathan Carl, who skated to the right side of the net and fed a pass across the crease to Zack Kent, who pushed the puck into the back of the net to give the Bison the 1-0 lead with 5:23 remaining in the opening period of play. The Bison would finish the first period of play with the final five shots, and the teams would skate into the first intermission with a goal dividing them. After one period of play, the stat line saw the Bison have 21 total shots, with 13 shots on goal. The Golden Bears had nine total shots, with six shots on goal. The Golden Bears won the faceoff battle 11-10 and had more saves, 12-6. The Bison were 1-2 on the power play and led 1-0 after the first.

The second period of play began with Luke Harvie winning the opening faceoff for the Bison. The Bison started the second by having three of the first four shots. The Golden Bears countered with two shots. After a scrum after the whistle ended with the teams skating 4-3, the Golden Bears had a power play. The Golden Bears had two shots, with a goal on the second shot. Matt Dougherty fed the puck to Matty Zdanowicz on the left side of the goal. Zdanowicz fired a shot wide of the net. The puck made its way to Shane Miller, who skated with it and fired a wrist shot from the point. The puck sailed over the goalie's shoulder and into the back of the net for the goal. The score was now tied 1-1.

After the goal, the teams went back and forth with shots. Bost and Aureliano traded save after save. The goalies and defenses kept the game knotted at one goal per side. The Bison would gain more shots before a penalty was called against them. The Golden Bears had a power play again. The Golden Bears had four shots during their power play. The Bison had a short-handed shot, as well. Shortly after, the Golden Bears were called for a penalty. Nichols College only had one shot during their power play, and it was saved by Aureliano. The Bison would have five shots in a row after a shot from the Golden Bears after the penalty kill. The teams traded shots before a penalty was called against the Golden Bears. Shots during the power play favored the Bison 3-1. Then, after a few more shots, the second period of play came to an end. The second period of play had a stat line that showed the Bison with 24 total shots and 17 shots on goal. The Golden Bears had 18 total shots, with 12 shots on goal. The Golden Bears won more faceoffs 13-11 and were 1-2 on the power play. The Bison were 0-2 on the power play. The score was tied 1-1 after two periods of play. 

The third period of play started with Billy Hefferle getting the opening faceoff win for the Golden Bears. The Golden Bears were called for a penalty two minutes into the third. After a Bison shot, the Golden Bears were called for another penalty, and the teams skated 5-on-3. The Bison had seven shots during that power play opportunity, with the seventh shot being a goal. After a shot from Gabe Temple was blocked by Shane Miller, Dylan McMahon got the puck and fed it across the crease to Nathan Carl, who sent a one-time shot into the back of the net. The Bison had the 2-1 lead 3:35 into the final period of play. The Bison had one more shot on the second power play before it ended. The Bison had three of the next four shots before they were called for a penalty. The Golden Bears had six shots on the power play. However, they could not get the game-tying goal. The Bison had the next three shots before another penalty was called on the Bison. There were no shots during the WNE power play. There were a few more shots before a WNE penalty was called. The Bison had three shots in a row on the power play before they were called for a penalty, and the teams skated 4-on-4. The Golden Bears would have a power play after their penalty time ended.

The Bison had a short-handed shot to start the WNE power play. However, after a Billy Hefferle shot went wide of the net, Kyle Knight had the puck and sent it down to Justin Sullivan. Sullivan fed the puck to Jake Mendeszoon at the top of the WNE attacking zone. Mendeszoon returned the puck to Sullivan, who found Kyle Knight in front of the net. Knight flicked the puck over the goalie's shoulder for the goal. The game was tied at two with 3:53 left in the game. After a shot from both teams, the Bison were called for another penalty. The Golden Bears looked to get a third power play goal. During the power play, Sam Mitchell sent the puck to Matty Zdanowicz, looking for a goal. Zdanowicz fed the puck to Shane Miller, who skated across the blue line in the Golden Bears' attacking zone. Miller turned and sent a wrist shot at net. The puck found its way through the crowd in front of the net and into the back of it for the game-winning goal. The Golden Bears led 3-2 with 1:38 remaining. The Bison would pull their goalie and have three more shots before the final horn would sound, and the Golden Bears would pick up the win. The final stat line showed the Bison with 70 total shots and 45 shots on goal. The Golden Bears had 42 total shots and 26 shots on goal. The Golden Bears won the faceoff battle 37-30 and had more blocked shots, 12-4. The Golden Bears were 3-6 on the power play, and the Bison were 2-7. The Golden Bears had more saves, 43-23. The Golden Bears won the game 3-2.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears hosted the Nichols College Bison on Friday night at the Olympia Ice Center.
• Zack Kent scored the game's first goal 14:37 into the first period of play on the power play. Nathan Carl and Philip Bjorkman were credited with the assists. The Bison led 1-0.
• Shane Miller equalized the game at one with a power play goal 3:21 into the second period of play. Matty Zdanowicz and Matt Dougherty were credited with the assists. The game was tied 1-1.
• Nathan Carl scored a power play goal to give the Bison another one-goal lead. Dylan McMahon and Gabe Temple had the assists. The Bison led 2-1 3:35 into the third.
• Kyle Knight netted the game-tying goal 16:07 into the third on the power play. Jake Mendeszoon and Justin Sullivan were credited with the assists. The game was tied 2-2.
• Shane Miller sent in the game-winning power play goal 18:22 into the third. Matty Zdanowicz and Sam Mitchell were credited with the assists. The Golden Bears led 3-2.
• Tyler Bost made 23 saves.
• Anthony Aureliano made 43 saves and earned the win.
• The Golden Bears won the game 3-2.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will travel to the Canton Ice House in Canton, Massachusetts, for their next game on Saturday, February 10, at 3:00 PM. They will take on the Curry College Colonels. 
• The Bison will host the University of New England Nor'Easters on Saturday, February 10, at 4:40 PM. That game will be at Levy Rink in Burrillville, Rhode Island.