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Utica, N.Y. (12/7/2011) - The nationally-ranked No. 10 Utica College men's hockey team is set to host a pair of non conference games at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Friday and Saturday night.  The Pioneers will square off against Potsdam State Friday night at 7 p.m. before returning home on Saturday to square off against Salve Regina in the seventh annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss at 7 p.m.

About the Teddy Bear Toss: Fans who bring a stuffed animal to Saturday's game will receive free admission and after the Pioneers score their first goal fans can throw their stuffed animals out onto the ice for collection by the players … The stuffed animals will be donated to local charities for distribution throughout the Mohawk Valley during the holiday season … Over the course of the last six years the Pioneers have collected over 10,000 stuffed animals for distribution to local children … UC is now 4-1-1 all-time in Teddy Bear Toss contests headed into the match-up against the Seahawks.

UC This Year: UC is 6-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play this season … The Pioneers have outscored their opponents 40-25 through nine games … UC opened the season with two straight wins, including a 3-2 win over nationally-ranked No. 2 Oswego State (Oswego's lone loss of the season came against Utica) …  The Pioneers dropped a conference game against Elmira before rattling off three straight victories … UC hit a tough patch, losing two straight conference road games, before returning home last Saturday to take down Buffalo State, 9-3. 

Non-Conference Success: The Pioneers are 5-0 in non-conference action headed into two non conference games this weekend … UC has now won ten straight non-conference games dating back to last season … 31 of the Pioneers 40 goals this season have come in non conference play. 

Home Sweet Home: UC is 5-1 at the Aud this year … The Pioneers are currently averaging 3,380 fans per home contest (4,000 capacity) …UC has won 14 of its last 16 home games dating back to last season (includes one tie and one loss).

Friday night vs. Potsdam:  Utica is 4-2-1 all-time against Potsdam … These two teams split a pair of games at the Aud back in 2009 … Potsdam is currently 5-4 overall and 4-4 in SUNYAC play headed into Friday night's match-up against UC … Senior forward Sy Nutkevitch leads the way for the Bears with a team-high 20 points on five goals and 15 assists … Freshman goalie Dylan Ellis has played in eight games and has a 4-4 record to go along with a .903 save percentage. 

Saturday night vs. Salve Regina:  The contest between Utica and Salve Regina marks the first time that these two teams have met … The Seahawks (3-6) are based out of Newport, Rhode Island and they are a member of the ECAC North East Conference … Salve Regina has lost two in a row and will take on Geneseo Friday night before traveling to Utica … Freshman classmates Chad Goodwin and John Scorcia have each tallied eight points to lead the Seahawks … Goodwin has a team-best two game-winning goals … Junior Mike McDonald has started nine games in net and he currently has a .906 save percentage. 

Coffman Hopes to Etch His Name in the Record Books: Senior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) needs just two assists to break the College's all-time assists record held by All-American and Pioneer Hall of Famer Jimmy Sokol '05 … Coffman currently has 70 career assists … He also needs nine points to break the College's all-time scoring record of 129, which is also held by Sokol … Eight more goals would give Coffman the all-time record for goals score in a career … Coffman currently has 121 points and 51 goals. 

Hertz's Balancing Act:  Sophomore forward Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) has displayed the most balanced offensive out put for UC this season … He leads Utica with eight goals and he also has six assists, good for second on the team with 14 points. 

Graff Getting it Done: Sophomore Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) is tied for third on the team with 11 points this season … He ranks second on the team with eight assists … In 23 games as a freshman last year he tallied four goals and five assists for a total of nine points.

Chlanda Keeps Getting Better:  Junior assistant captain Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) has 51 career points on 26 goals and 25 assists … So far this season he is tied with Graff for third on the team with 11 points (six goals, five assists).

Zappia Wins Games:  Sophomore defender Steve Zappia (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJAHL)) has a team-best two game-winning goals this season … He ranks fifth on the team and leads all defenseman with eight points on three goals and five assists. 

Adam's Lends a Helping Hand:  Junior defenseman Cody Adam's leads the team with five assists in conference play this season. 

Goalie Situation: The Pioneers feature a two goalie system and sophomore Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) and Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) have each split time in net this season … Smith relieved Therrien in the Pioneers loss to Manhattanville College last Friday, giving Smith a slight edge in games played … Therrien boasts a 3-0 overall record and a 2.40 goals against average … Smith has a .900 save percentage and a 3-3 overall record. 

What's Next:  After two games this weekend the Pioneers will take 20 days off for semester break … UC returns to the ice to travel to Plattsburgh State to take on Castleton in the first round of the Cardinal Classic at 4 p.m. on Dec. 30th.