WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (February 1, 2025) – The WNE men's ice hockey team returned to the Olympia Ice Center, hoping to avenge their overtime loss versus JWU the day before. The Golden Bears opened the scoring with a Camille Marcoux goal in the first. However, JWU answered with a goal early in the second. Neither team would net a goal in the third, and overtime was needed once again. Overtime was not enough time either, though, and the teams went to a shootout, which JWU would win 1-0.

Records:

Western New England: 5-13-2 (1-10-2)

Johnson & Wales University: 9-9-2 (4-7-2)

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears started the contest with fury. They had the opening four shots of the game, with Inzirillo being forced to make a save on three of the shots. JWU would answer with a shot before WNE put together eight shots in a row after that. It was all WNE early in the first period of play. However, the Wildcats started to storm back with five shots in a row as the clock got near to the halfway point in the first period of play. The Golden Bears could not slow down JWU as they would have a shot, but it was quickly answered by three Wildcat shots in a row before there was a break in the action. JWU would not slow down. They had the momentum, and it could be seen as they added three more shots in a row quickly after the break. Anthony Aureliano kept the Golden Bears in the first period of play with multiple saves before the Golden Bears earned a power play chance with 5:44 remaining in the opening period of play. WNE had four shots during their power play but could not find a goal. They kept the pressure on the Wildcats, though. They had three shots in a row following the power play. The Golden Bears saw the continued pressure work out in their favor. Camille Marcoux netted the opening goal. Benito Calvanese skated the puck into their offensive zone and sent it to Nolan Dawson, who directed it to Marcoux. Marcoux sent a wrist shot past the goalie, and WNE led 1-0 with 2:17 remaining in the first. The teams traded a few shots before the end of the first, and after one, WNE led 1-0. WNE had the lead in shots 25-17 and shots on goal 13-7 after the first. JWU led in faceoffs won 7-5, blocked shots 7-2, and saves 12-7.

The second started quickly for the Wildcats. One shot was taken, and one goal was scored. Sam Band had the puck behind the WNE goal and fed Cam Martin on the bottom-right corner of the WNE defensive zone. Martin found Brad Crook, who netted the equalizing goal seventeen seconds into the second period of play. The game was tied 1-1. The teams traded shots for a little with each team having a few shots at a time and then finding themselves defending a similar routine from the opposing offense. WNE was called for a penalty 4:39 into the second. JWU had one shot before being called for a penalty of their own, and the teams skated 4-on-4. WNE had one shot before entering their shortened power play. WNE then had two more shots on their power play chance. The teams continued moving the puck from zone to zone. Both teams had shot chances, but the opposing defenses and goalies shut them down. With 7:23 left in the second, JWU entered their second power play of the contest. They had six shots, but again, no goal. After a few shots traded by the teams, WNE ended the second with all the momentum. They had six of the final seven shots and had all of the energy entering the second intermission. After two periods of play, the teams were tied 1-1. The second period of play stats saw JWU leading in total shots 20-19, but WNE had more shots on goal 11-6. WNE had more faceoffs won during the second, 10-9, and blocked shots 7-2. JWU had more saves, 11-5.

JWU looked to replicate their quick start to the second in the third. They had a shot seven seconds into the third. They followed that shot with four of the next five shots taken. Although the Golden Bears had a few shots within the first six minutes of the third period of play, the game felt like it was leaning more in JWU's favor. WNE started to find their footing as the clock showed 10:00 left in the third. However, they were called for a penalty, which saw JWU's power play unit get another shot with 9:51 remaining. After one shot for the Wildcats, chaos ensued. JWU was called for a 5-minute major, while WNE was called for an interference penalty. That gave JWU a 4-3 power play for 1:17. JWU would score shortly into that power play, but it would be disallowed for goalie interference, and the game would play on with a score of 1-1. There were no shots after, and the JWU power play ended. There were no shots during the 4-on-4 play and that led to a 3-minute Golden Bear power play. JWU had the first two shots of the WNE power play. However, both shots were saved by Aureliano. WNE then accumulated five shots on their power play but could not find the back of the net, and the score stayed knotted at one with 4:08 remaining. WNE would not quit, as they had two shots after the power play before JWU had a shot. The teams both had chances at the end of the third but no goals, and for the second time in as many games, the two teams went to overtime, tied 1-1. The third period of play saw JWU have more total shots 19-16, more shots on goal 15-6, more blocked shots 5-1, and more faceoffs won 10-7. WNE had more saves, 15-6.

Overtime started with both teams having a shot chance, with JWU having the first shot. Then, the teams would recycle, and both teams would have another shot. That was before JWU put together two shots in a row before a stoppage in play. WNE had three more shot chances to JWU's one, but no goals and the game moved on into a shootout. Harout Torosian would have the first chance for JWU and score. Then, Jimmy Mettler would shoot for WNE and would hit the post. Kadyn Fennell then had a shot saved before Justin Sullivan had a shot saved. JWU sent out Bret Beale, looking to win the game, but the shot was saved. Matty Zdanowicz was the final hope for WNE, but the shot was saved, and JWU won 1-0 in a shootout. The final stats saw WNE have more total shots 65-61 and more shots on goal 33-32. JWU had more faceoffs won 27-24, blocked shots 15-11, and saves 32-31.

Inside the Crease:

• The Golden Bears hosted the Wildcats on Saturday.
• 1st 17:43 – Camille Marcoux opened the scoring with a goal assisted by Nolan Dawson and Benito Calvanese. WNE led 1-0.
• 2nd 0:17 – Brad Crook equalized the score for the Wildcats. Cam Martin and Sam Band were credited with the assists. The contest was tied 1-1.
• Anthony Aureliano had 31 saves for WNE.
• Jake Inzirillo had 32 saves for JWU.
• JWU defeated WNE 1-0 in a shootout.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears are back in action on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM, when they travel to Boston, MA to take on Suffolk University.
• The Wildcats will travel back home and host the University of New England on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM.