Utica, N.Y. (1/6/2012) - 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 Cortland State at 7 p.m. Friday night before hosting the Colonels of Curry College on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
A Closer Look at UC: The Pioneers (9-4, 1-3 ECAC West) are coming off a 1-1 weekend on road at the Cardinal Classic in Plattsburgh, NY last Friday and Saturday … The Pioneers dropped a 5-2 decision against No. 3 Castleton in the semi-final game on Friday … UC turned right back around and defeated Babson College 6-2 in the consolation game on Saturday … Utica has won four of its last five contests.
The Aud is the Place to be: Utica is currently 7-1 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium this season … The Pioneer nation has come out in droves to see their home team play this year … Utica leads the country in home attendance with an average of 3,336 fans per home contest … UC sold out the Aud for the first time in program-history on Dec. 10 when they beat Salve Regina 12-0 at the seventh annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss.
All-time vs. Cortland: Utica has never lost to the Red Dragons in nine previous meetings … The Pioneers are 7-0-2 all-time against Cortland … UC downed the Red Dragons 10-1 on Jan. 8 at the Aud last season … Cortland has visited the Aud three years in a row, losing all three games.
All-time vs. Curry: UC beat Curry for the first time in four tries last season by the score of 5-2 … Saturday's match-up marks the fourth straight year Curry has visited the Auditorium … The first three times the Colonels came to the Aud they beat the Pioneers … Curry earned all three of its victories over UC by one goal.
Leading the Way for UC: Senior captain
Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) and sophomore forward Trever hertz are tied for the team lead with 20 points apiece … Hertz has a team-best nine goals and he also has 11 assists … Coffman has a team-best 13 assists to go along with seven goals … Junior assistant captain
Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) has 18 points on eight goals and ten assists, while sophomore forward
Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) has 12 points on four goals and eight assists.
In Net For UC: Sophomore goalies
Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) and
Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) have split time in net for UC so far this season … Therrien is expected to get the start against Cortland on Friday night, while Smith is the probable starter for the Pioneers match-up against Curry … Therrien is 4-1 with a 2.63 goals against average … Smith is 5-3 with a 2.15 GAA … Therrien hopes to bounce back from a tough outing against Castleton State last Friday night … He allowed four first period goals and was relieved by Smith mid-way through the first period.
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