Utica, NY (11/23/2012) – The nationally-ranked No. 10 Utica College men's hockey team is set to host No. 8 Amherst in a matchup of top ten teams on Saturday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium (7 p.m.).  When the Pioneers (5-2, 3-2) were last on the ice they split a pair of weekend games at the Aud against ECAC West Conference foe Elmira College. 

Follow the Game Live:  The contest will be broadcast on WPNR 90.7 FM locally and can also be heard online CLICK HERE … Fans can follow live video at www.fasthcokey.com or live stats right here at www.ucpioneers.com.

All-time Against Amherst: UC is 2-0 all-time against Amherst, outscoring the Lord Jeffs 6-1 in those two meetings, both at the Aud … UC downed Amherst 3-1 two years ago and 3-0 last season at the Aud. 

Last Meeting Against Amherst: (1/21/12) –Forward Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) netted two goals to guide the nationally-ranked No. 12 Utica College men's hockey team to a convincing 3-0 shutout victory over No. 6 Amherst College in front of 2,873 elated fans last season at the Aud … Gaffney's linemates Steve Charest (Amqui, Quebec/Walpole Express (AJHL)) and Chris Santiago (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles (BCHL)) were each credited with an assist on his two goals … Utica outshot Amherst 25-12. 

Home Sweet Home:  The Pioneers are 4-1 through five games at the Aud this year … UC is currently averaging a paid attendance of 3,802 fans per game at the Aud … UC is averaging over seven goals per game at home and in their four victories at the Aud they have won each game by at least five goals … Over the course of the last two years UC is 15-5-2 on its home ice. 

Educate Named ECAC West Player of the Week:  Sophomore forward Louis Educate registered a seven point weekend on his way to earning ECAC Men's West Conference Player of the Week honors, released by the conference office on Monday night … On Friday he exploded for a career-best four goals, three in a span of 3:35, and added two assists in the Pioneers' 11-2 victory over conference foe Elmira College.  On Saturday he added an assist as Utica fell to Elmira 7-4 … He currently leads the team and ranks fifth nationally with an average of 2.14 points per contest (seven goals, eight assists).

Nationally-Ranked:  UC dropped one spot to No. 10 in the latest USCHO.com Division III National Poll released Monday afternoon … UC received 106 points in the poll, just one shy of ninth-ranked Bowdoin … Utica ranks third nationally in scoring offense with an average of 5.71 goals per game … UC also boasts the fourth best scoring margin in the nation, averaging a margin of victory of 3.57.

In the Spotlight: Junior Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) ranks 16th nationally with 1.71 points per game (six goals, six assists), while Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)) is tied for 13th in the nation in points per game for a defenseman (six assists).

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