WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 7, 2025) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team was defeated by the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology on Friday night from the Olympia Ice Center, dropping a 4-1 contest in the first Conference of New England game of the season. 

Records:

• Western New England: 0-2, 0-1 CNE
• Wentworth Institute of Technology: 1-1-1, 1-0 CNE

How it Happened:

First Period:

• The Golden Bears had a pair of early chances in the opening 15 seconds of the game as Michael Bottrell and Nick Theodos had shots blocked to start the game. Nikita Volsky made the start for WNE in between the pipes and made three saves in a span of seven seconds to keep Wentworth from scoring. Western New England had an early power play chance in the game but generated just a single shot on goal. 
• Wentworth responded with a good penalty kill by scoring its first goal of the game at the 8:33 mark of the period when Desmond Johnson scored his second goal of the season on assists from Xavier Vaillancourt and Nicholas Ramm, giving the Leopards a 1-0 lead. WIT continued to press in the period and got a power play with under seven minutes remaining in the frame, which generated a pair of shots on goal, both saved by Volsky. 
• The Leopards had their second goal of the game as Vaillancourt found the back of the net for the first time this season on an assist from Hunter Wilson, giving Wentworth a 2-0 lead, which ended the scoring in the period. Wentworth outshot WNE 18-5 in the frame. Volsky came up with 16 first-period saves. 

Second Period:

• Wentworth had the better of the play in the opening six minutes of the second period, taking a quick eight shots on goal. The WNE defense stayed strong despite being down a pair. 
• At the midway point of the period, WNE fought off a penalty kill and was rewarded with a power play of their own, one of six chances on the night. The chance saw Wentworth come up with a goal; however, as Nikolas Sombrowski picked up a shorthanded tally at the 14:33 mark of the period, giving the Leopards a 3-0 lead. The goal from WIT sparked offense from the Golden Bears, who put up six shots on goal in the final five minutes of the period, including two on another power play chance, but the blue and gold could not capitalize, trailing by three after the second period. 
• WIT had a 15-8 shots advantage in the second period overall. 

Third Period:

• Both teams had offensive chances in the opening three minutes of the period but both goalkeepers were up to the task as Western New England was still snakebitten from a goal. The Golden Bears saw another power play chance come five minutes into the third period, which generated six total shots but just two on goal, taken in by WIT goalkeeper Jack McGovern. 
• The Golden Bears had plenty of power play chances in the game, getting six advantages overall, and were able to capitalize on their final chance with just 2:35 left in the third period when Philippe Longchamps found the back of the net on assists from Benito Calvanese and Nick Theodos as the Golden Bears trailed by just two, 3-1. Following the goal, WNE took a penalty, which Wentworth capitalized on and iced the game, seeing Cade Penny score the final goal of the night, giving Wentworth a 4-1 victory over the blue and gold. 
• The Golden Bears fought in the third period, taking the 12-6 shots advantage, but it would not be enough as the team went 1/6 on the power play. 

Inside the Lines:

• Philippe Longchamps picked up the only WNE goal of the night, his second of the season. 
• Nikita Volsky made 35 saves for the Golden Bears in the loss. Volsky's counterpart, Jack McGovern, made 24 saves on 25 shots on goal. 
• Wentworth blocked 20 WNE shots on Friday night. 
• Xavier Vaillancourt led Wentworth with a goal and an assist in the win. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will look to come up with their first win of the season on Saturday, November 8, at 7:00 PM, taking on the University of New England on the road.