Top Ranked Nor’easters Shut Down Western New England in Conference Opener

BIDDEFORD, MAINE (November 4, 2022) – The Western New England men's ice hockey team traveled to their first Commonwealth Coast Conference game of the 2022-2023 season, dropping a 10-0 decision to #8 University of New England from Harold Alfond Forum on Friday night. 

Records:

• Western New England: 1-2, 0-1 CCC
• #8 University of New England: 1-0, 1-0 CCC

How it Happened:
After their historic season in 2021-2022, the #8 ranked Nor'easters from the University of New England picked up right where they left off from last season, opening with an early goal to get the crowd, and themselves going. Jayden Price led UNE off with their first goal of the game on assists from Liam Whitehouse and Logan DiScanio. Western New England would settle into the game from there, getting shots from Billy Hefferle, Tanner Coleman, and Jordan Giacomin, though UNE goalkeeper Billy Girard IV would stand tall to keep the Golden Bear off the scoreboard. After a handful of flurries that tested both Girard for UNE and Anthony Aureliano for Western New England, the Nor'easters would come out firing and found their second goal of the game when Jared Christy picked up his first goal of the season to give University of New England a 2-0 lead. Daniel Winslow and Jayden Price would pick up assists for the Nor'easters on the goal. UNE needed just 1:04 to get their third goal of the period and took a three-goal lead when Jake Fuss potted a rebound chance in front of the goal for UNE to give the Nor'easters a commanding three goal lead. Jared Christy and Liam Whitehouse picked up assists for UNE on the goal. The Nor'easters took it to the WNE defense and tallied one final goal in the late seconds of the first period when Collin Heinold scored a shorthanded goal for UNE to go up 4-0. Heinold took the puck in on a partial breakaway and stuffed it into the back of the net to give the Nor'easters their fourth goal of the game, leading Western New England 4-0. Western New England took just four shots in the period while UNE came away with 14. 

Western New England would get off to a quick start in the second period, though could not find the back of the net. Shots from Matt Dougherty, John D'Aniello, Dalton Garcia and Finn Bambery would connect with UNE keeper Billy Girard. Nearly midway through the second period, UNE would find twine for their fifth goal of the night when Ryan Kuzmich scored his first of the season for the Nor'easters on assists from Garrett Devine and Will Spitzer. Cam Gaylor nearly got Western New England on the scoreboard, though came up short following the goal from UNE. The Nor'easters picked up their sixth goal of the night when Jake Fuss beat WNE keeper Colten Lancaster with assists to Shea Courtmanche and Will Spitzer to give UNE a six-goal advantage, a lead they would hold heading into the final 20 minutes of play. 

UNE would pour it on the Golden Bears in the third period scoring 51 seconds in the period when Daniel Winslow slotted home his first goal of the season to give UNE a seven-goal lead. Kevin O'Keefe and Juraj Elias also scored with the first three minutes of the third period for UNE, giving the Nor'easters a 9-0 lead. UNE would wrap up the game taking a 10-0 victory over WNE. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The two teams will match again tomorrow, Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 5:00 pm from the Olympia Ice Center.