USCHO.com Poll

D3Hockey.com Poll

Utica, NY (1-16-13) – The nationally-ranked Utica College men's hockey team (12-3, 3-2 ECAC West) dropped to No. 6 in the D3Hockey.com poll while remaining at No. 8 in the USCHO.com national poll, respectively Both polls are compiled weekly and consist of voters, including coaches, media members and sports information directors.  Both media outlets provide in-depth coverage of Division III hockey.

The Pioneers went 1-1 over the weekend losing to Cortland State, 5-0, Friday and rebounding Saturday night with a 5-1 victory over Western New England … On Friday night, UC was stunned, on the road, by the Red Dragons snapping a six game winning streak … Utica responded Sunday with a convincing 5-1 victory at Western New England College to wrap up the weekend.

UC currently leads the nation in penalty kill percentage with an impressive 91.5 mark … The squad also ranks third in the country in scoring margin (2.67) and fifth in scoring offense (4.80 GF/G) with a total of 72 scores in 15 games.

Sophomore forward Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) presently leads the team and is fifth in the country in points per game (1.67 P/GM) … Educate has tallied 25 points on 13 goals and 12 assists … His 13 goals rank him fourth nationally.

Freshman Donny Olivieri (Philadelphia, PA/Bismarck (NAHL)) has stepped up of late and currently ranks fifth in points per game for defensemen with 14 … Last week, Olivieri was named ECAC West Rookie of the Week as well as the College's Male Athlete of the Week while posting seven points and leading UC to two wins.

Junior goalie Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) has been solid all season between the pipes for the Pioneers and holds an overall record of 10-2 … His .833% winning percentage ranks him sixth nationally while his 2.03 goals against average is good enough for 12th.

The Pioneers remain on the road this weekend for a pair of crucial ECAC West Conference games against Elmira and Hobart College's … UC travels to Elmira College Friday and then heads to Geneva, NY Saturday to face-off against the nationally-ranked No. 3 Hobart College Statesmen… Both games are set to begin at 7 p.m.