Western New England Blanks Johnson & Wales, 2-0

Recap by Greg Fitzpatrick

Gollmer makes 30 saves en route to second career shutout

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 20, 2018) – The Western New England University ice hockey team scored a pair of goals in the final two periods of play to earn a 2-0 shutout victory over Johnson & Wales University on Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action at the Olympia Ice Center. 

Top Performers
• Junior goaltender Kevin Gollmer (Flourtown, Pa.) made 30 saves en route to his second career shutout. Gollmer's six wins this season are just two shy of his career-high of eight, which he set last winter. 
• Juniors Matt O'Dea (Orland Park, Ill.) and David Kleyman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a goal apiece for the Golden Bears. Kleyman also had three shots on net.
• Senior captain Matt Smethurst (Rexford, N.Y.) went 16-for-23 in the faceoff circle along with an assist and a +1 rating.

• Junior forward Ryan Sete (Jackson, Mich.) had a game-high six shots to lead the way for the Wildcats.
• JWU freshman netminder Mike Rockwell (Poughquag, N.Y.) finished with 24 saves on 26 shots. 

Game Review
With the Golden Bears holding a slim 1-0 advantage over the Wildcats to start the third period, the lead was extended with 10:26 to play in regulation on O'Dea's team-leading 14th goal of the season. Smethurst and senior Matt Audet (Campbell, Calif.) were credited with assists on the goal. Western New England was able to hang on for the 2-0 victory, despite Johnson & Wales pulling Rockwell with over three minutes left in the third period.

Neither team was able to put the puck in the net in the opening frame, but the Golden Bears outshot the Wildcats 11-6 with Connor Eckenrod (Ebensburg, Pa.) leading the charge with three shots on goal. In the second period, Western New England was then able to break open the scoreless tie with a power play goal from Kleyman at the 7:44 mark. Junior CJ Totillo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and sophomore Andrew Green (Plainview, N.Y.) were credited with the assists on the play. In shots on goal for the second period, Johnson & Wales just edged the Golden Bears, 12-11. 

Notes
• With the win over the Wildcats, Western New England is now 4-0-1 in its last five games and hasn't lost since December 9.
• Kleyman has recorded four points (two goals, two assists) during that same stretch. 
• Johnson & Wales outshot Western New England 30-26, but the Golden Bears held a 35-32 edge in the faceoff circle.

Up Next
Western New England (8-9-2, 3-8-1 CCC) will now head on the road next Thursday, January 25 to take on Wentworth for a 7 p.m. faceoff. Johnson & Wales (5-14, 3-9 CCC) will also return to action on Thursday,  when the Wildcats host Nichols College at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I. at 7 p.m.