Box Score WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 17, 2025) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team returned to Conference of New England play on Friday night on home ice, hosting the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University (R.I.) for the first time since JW entered the league. WNE would get the early goal in the game but could not hold onto the lead, ultimately falling by a final score of 5-2.

Records:

• Western New England: 4-9-1, 1-7-1 CNE
• Johnson & Wales University: 8-7-1, 3-5-1 CNE

How it Happened:

Coming off a 6-0 win on the road last Saturday night, the Golden Bears looked to extend their winning streak to two games for the first time this season, though they would see the visiting team get the early shots on goal as senior goalkeeper Logan Palmer would have two quick saves to start the game to keep JWU off the scoreboard. Western New England would get the first power play of the game but would not be able to capitalize. Matty Zdanowicz would have the best chance at goal for the Golden Bears, though JWU's Jake Inzirillo would deny the WNE chance. Both teams would change shots through the midway point of the opening period, as the two teams were quite shot hungry in the first ten minutes of the game. The Wildcats would not be able to capitalize on their first power play of the game as Palmer would make two saves for the Golden Bears on the chance. Western New England would kill off the JWU chance and would respond with the game's first goal to take an opening 1-0 lead. Matthew Dougherty would win a puck battle in the low corner and would send the puck up to his defenseman Jimmy Mettler, who threw a wrist shot on goal that would be tipped down by Billy VanSumeren and would fall into the back of the net to give Western New England a 1-0 lead. The Midland, Michigan, native scores his second goal of the season and first since November 2 to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats would crowd the net in the final nine minutes of the period as Palmer would make all 14 saves in the first 20 minutes of play to keep JWU from scoring. Western New England won 12 of 22 faceoffs in the opening frame.

The script would flip in the second period on the Golden Bears as Western New England would allow a season high in a period with the Wildcats firing five goals past Palmer and the Golden Bears to take a commanding lead after two periods. The Golden Bears would open the second period on the power play after getting a tripping call just 1:11 into the second period. Western New England would not be able to score despite getting two shots on goal on the early PP chance. JWU would quickly tie the game following a penalty kill as Sam Band would get a breakout pass and skate through the offensive zone and shovel a backhand past Palmer, evening the score at one. Just 2:36 later, the Wildcats were on the scoreboard again, this time on a breakaway as Cullen Hennessy would finish on the forehand to beat Palmer low to the blocker side, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. JWU would continue their scoring just two and a half minutes later to take a 3-1 lead. Sam Bind would lead a drop pass from Cam Martin, who was driving down the lane and would put a wrister past Palmer to give the Wildcats the two-goal lead. Western New England would bounce back, however, coming away with their second of the night just 1:31 after the third of the night from the Wildcats. Sam Mitchell, returning to the Western New England lineup on home ice, would take the puck off the boards from the offensive zone and set up Camille Marcoux in front of the net, who smashed a shot off the post, though Matthew Dougherty would pick up the rebound and pot the puck into the back of the net to get the Golden Bears back within one goal. After a penalty called on the Golden Bears shortly after their goal, JWU would be on the scoreboard again to take their two-goal lead right back when Bret Beale was on the scoreboard for the Wildcats. After snapping his stick on a shot attempt. Beale would get a new stick from the bench, find open ice, and fire home a shot past Palmer to deliver a 4-2 lead to JWU. One final goal of the game would come for Johnson and Wales as Luke Gaffney would slip a shot through the five-hole of Palmer, which would be the final shot on goal Palmer would face in the game as the WNE goalkeeper would surrender five goals in the frame, seeing Western New England trail 5-2 after two periods. 35 shots on goal were taken in the second period, 18 of those in favor of JWU.

Both Matty Zdanowicz and Justin Sullivan had the first two shots on goal in the third period for WNE, though both would be blocked, not able to test the JWu keeper. The next four shots would favor the road team as WNE's new goalkeeper, Anthony Aureliano, would be tested and would deny the Wildcats' chances. The two teams would battle for the all-important next goal as JWU would look to bury the Golden Bears while Western New England looked to get back within two goals of a tie. With nine minutes remaining in the game, Western New England would get a power play, looking to get that all-important goal, though they would come up short, taking just two shots on goal on the power play chance, though they would not be able to come up with the goal. Despite a late push, Western New England would not be able to make the full comeback as the five-goal second period would lead the Wildcats past the Golden Bears by a final score of 5-2.

Inside the Lines:

• Matthew Dougherty came up with a goal and an assist for Western New England in the loss.
• A trio of Wildcats picked up two points in the game, a goal and an assist, with Cam Martin, Sam Band, and Bret Beale leading the way.
• Logan Palmer made 22 saves in a losing effort before giving the net to Anthony Aureliano, who made all 11 saves on the night.
• WNE outshot JWU 41-38 on the night. Both teams scored a power play goal, though the Golden Bears were just 1/6 on the night on PP chances.
• Over the last six meetings, both teams have won three games each after JWU's 5-2 win tonight.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are back in action on the road on Saturday, January 18, at 7:00 PM, taking on Keene State College at Keene ICE for the first time in program history.