Box Score MORRISVILLE, N.Y. (January 11, 2025) – The men's ice hockey team traveled to Morrisville, N.Y., for a showdown with the Mustangs of SUNY Morrisville. The Golden Bears netted one goal in the first, three in the second, and two in the third to pick up the 6-0 victory. Justin Sullivan netted a hat trick of goals, and Logan Palmer made 34 saves to earn a shutout victory over the Mustangs.
Records:
Western New England: 4-8-1 (1-6-1)
SUNY Morrisville: 3-13-0 (0-6-0)
How it Happened:
Jordie Morgan won the opening faceoff for the Golden Bears. After the puck crossed the red line a few times, it found its way to Nolan Dawson, who sent a cross-ice pass to Matty Zdanowicz. Zdanowicz made a move around the goalie and put the puck past the SUNY Morrisville goalie to give WNE the early lead 1:29 into the contest. The teams would trade shots after that before WNE would earn the game's first power play chance. Each team had a shot during the WNE power play, but neither team scored. The teams returned to trading shots before the Mustangs accumulated four in a row. The pace of play quickened, with both teams forging forward for a goal. Both Logan Palmer, the WNE goalie, and Grant Linville, the SUNY Morrisville goalie, made save after save. The Mustangs earned a power play late in the opening period of play. The Mustangs had four shots saved by Palmer on the power play before the Golden Bears would take a shorthanded shot. That power play would end, and ten seconds later, WNE would be on the power play. It would last only 17 seconds before the first period of play ended. WNE still had a 1-0 lead. The Mustangs led in shots 18-12, shots on goal 13-8, and faceoff wins 12-10. WNE led in saves 13-7 and blocked shots 3-0.
The Golden Bears opened the middle period of play on the power play. Both teams had a shot during the remainder of the WNE power play. The teams both had opportunities after the WNE power play, but neither team could get that next goal. 4:54 into the second, WNE went on the power play. Both teams would take four shots during the WNE power play, but again, no goals. Then, just after the end of the WNE power play, Justin Sullivan was sent a pass from Daniel Demchuk. Sullivan gave the puck to Everest Schneider, who returned it to Sullivan immediately, and Sullivan tapped the puck into the back of the net to double the WNE lead, 2-0. The puck would go back and forth between the teams before the Mustangs found some momentum and applied some pressure to Palmer and the Golden Bear defense. They had six shots in a row, but WNE did not falter. Jimmy Mettler would find Nolan Dawson, who gave the puck to Brayden Patricia, who sent a shot at the net. Linville saved the shot, but Nolan Dawson was there to collect the rebound and put the puck into the back of the net to give WNE the 3-0 lead with 7:05 left in the second. The Mustangs would try to find a spark for their offense before the end of the second, but it was the Golden Bears who found the next goal. With fifteen seconds remaining in the second period of play, Camille Marcoux passed the puck to Justin Sullivan. Sullivan found Jordie Morgan, who sent the puck off the goalie's pads, and Sullivan was there to clean up the puck and flip it into the roof of the goal. The Golden Bears led 4-0 after two periods of play. Both teams recorded 19 total shots. The Mustangs had more shots on goal, 14-10, blocked shots, 4-1, and faceoff wins, 8-6. WNE had more saves, 14-7.
The Golden Bears earned a power play opportunity to start the final period of play. They took one shot but could not grab a fifth goal on the power play. The Golden Bears were keeping their foot on the gas by taking three of the next four shots. Then, 6:10 into the third, the Mustangs were called for another penalty. WNE picked up three more shots but no goals on the power play. WNE took control of the puck again, with five of the next six shots. The fifth shot being a fifth goal. It was Sam Mitchell who found the back of the net for the Golden Bears. WNE now led 5-0 with 7:22 remaining. The Golden Bears kept the shots going in the third. Then, the Mustangs earned a power play in which each team had a shot. Then, after a shot was saved by Linville, the Golden Bears struck one more time. Daniel Demchuk would get the puck to Justin Sullivan in the neutral zone. Sullivan skated down the ice, made a move, and found the back of the net to earn Sullivan's first hat trick of the season and give the Golden Bears a 6-0 lead with 2:44 remaining in the game. The Mustangs earned a late 5-4 and then a 5-3 power play, which saw them earn four shots, but Palmer would stand strong and earn the shutout victory for the Golden Bears. The final stats saw WNE leading in shots 50-46, but SUNY Morrisville had more shots on goal 34-30. The Mustangs had more faceoff wins, 36-26, and blocked shots 5-4. WNE had more saves, 35-24. WNE won the Saturday showdown 6-0.
Inside the Crease:
Up Next on the Schedule:
- The Golden Bears host CNE foes Johnson and Wales University on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 8:00 PM inside the Olympia Ice Center.
- The Mustangs will host King's College on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the SUNY Morrisville IcePlex.
