Box Score Box Score

NEW LONDON, CT (11/30/2013) – The nationally-ranked No. 8 Utica College men's hockey rebounded nicely from a loss at home on Friday night by topping host Connecticut College 5-1 in non-conference action Saturday night. Junior All-American Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) scored the first two goals of the contest, while senior defender Steve Zappia (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJAHL)) tallied the final two goals of the game to help the Pioneers improve to 7-2-1 overall on the year.

The Pioneers return home Saturday for the New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss as they take on Salve Regina at 7 p.m. The event, which is one of Utica's favorite holiday traditions, will be televised live locally by WUTR. Game attendees are asked to bring a donation of a new teddy bear or stuffed animal and when the first Utica College goal is scored fans throw the stuffed animals onto the ice. Thousands of teddy bears will rain down to be collected by New York Sash and the Pioneers. Last year 4,500 toys were collected and since its beginning, the New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss has been able to donate nearly 20,000 toys to the community.

Utica jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period of play Saturday night after Educate netted goals at the 4:43 marker and the 17:39 mark. Senior forward Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) assisted on both of Educate's goals. Educate now has four goals this season and Hertz pushed his assist total to eight, which leads the team.

UC freshman Jide Idowu (Copper City, FL/Carleton Place (CCHL)) registered his first collegiate goal in the second period and Zappia followed that up with his first of the season as the Pioneers skated to the end of the second with a 4-1 advantage. Zappia netted the final goal of the contest in the third period to hand the Pioneers the four goal victory.

Utica freshman Ryan Walker (Detroit, MI/Kenai River (NAHL)) registered his first multi-point evening, as he assisted on both of Zappia's goals. Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)), Steve Charest (Amqui, Quebec/Walpole Express (AJHL)), Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) and Nick Miglio (San Antonio, TX/Bismarck (NAHL)) also added assists for the Pioneers. Graff currently ranks second on the team with 10 points this season.

Freshman goalie Marcus Zelzer (Green Bay, WI/Kenai River (NAHL)) moved his record to 3-0 on the year after stopping 24 of the 25 shots he faced.

The Pioneers went 2-for-7 on the power-play and they also outshot the Camels 37-25 on the evening.

Utica improved to 5-0-1 on the road this season. Connecticut College has now lost their first five games as their record fell to 0-5 on the year.

Mike Doyle scored the lone goal of the afternoon for the home team, short-handed, midway through the second period. Tom Conlin registered 26 saves in net for the Camels.