Thursday in Lake Placid - NCAA's Gallery
The Utica College men's hockey team is set to take on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Friday night in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Tournament at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY. The contest is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Follow the Game through Live Video: Fans who could not make the trip to Lake Placid have a variety of options for following the game live from the comfort of their own home … For a link to live video please visit the NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Interactive Bracket:
CLICK HERE
You will see Utica's progression in the tournament up to Friday night's contest against Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Click on the Utica vs. Wisc.-Eau Claire game and a new window will pop-up. When the video becomes available around 7:30 pm, a WATCH LIVE link will appear with in the pop-up window. Click the WATCH LIVE button!
Live Audio (ESPNUR/WPNR): If you prefer to listen to the radio or live audio online, please tune into the radio stations below or use the following links: Live Audio: ESPN Radio Utica/Rome 99.1 FM & 1310 AM … ESPN's Live Audio Internet link:
CLICK HERE (Click Listen Link on the right side of the page) … Live Audio: WPNR 90.7 FM … WPNR's live audio Internet link:
CLICK HERE (Click Listen Live Headphones in the middle of the page).
Record Breaking Season: The Utica College men's hockey team heads into the semifinals with a program-best 21-5-1 overall record … The Pioneers earned a share of the ECAC Men's West Conference regular season title after posting a school-record 11-3-1 record in conference play … The Pioneers had never won more than nine games in conference before this season … UC won the conference title, an honor they shared with Hobart College, marking their second regular season title in program-history … The last time UC won the regular season title was in 2004-05.
First-Timer: The Pioneers earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the first time in program history… UC also won its first NCAA quarterfinal game against Bowdoin, 4-2, last Saturday … The Pioneers were hosting their first NCAA Tournament game against the Polar Bears last weekend and Friday night's semi-final is the first time the Pioneers have advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
Top Seed in the Conference Tournament: Despite sharing the ECAC West Regular season title, the Pioneers earned the top seed in the conference tournament due to a 2-1 season series advantage over Hobart.
Hottest Ticket in Town: Utica led the nation in home attendance for the sixth consecutive season this past year at the Utica Memorial Auditorium … In 17 home dates, 63,824 fans came through the turnstiles at the Aud … Utica's average home attendance of 3,754 fans per home game set a new single season record for home attendance in Division III … UC's average attendance ranks 21st nationally at all levels of NCAA hockey (DI-DIII) … The Pioneers sold out 11-of-17 home games this past season, including the recent NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game against Bowdoin.
Toughest Schedule in the Nation: According to the KRACH rankings on USCHO.com the Pioneers endured the strongest strength of schedule in the country … UC also ranked second, behind Norwich, in Round Robin Winning Percentage (.8899) … Round Robin Winning Percentage is what your theoretical winning percentage would be if you played every other team, one time each.
Highest Scoring Team In School History: Utica has set a new program-record with 121 goals this season … The Pioneers broke the previous school-record of 120 originally set back in 2003-04 … 326 team points is also a new school-record … Utica has also set a new school-record for margin of victory, outscoring its opponents by 62 goals this season for an average margin of +2.30.
Fewest Goals Allowed: The Pioneers are on pace to set a new school-record for goals against average in a single season (2.16) … Two years ago the Pioneers set the school-record with a 2.26 goals against average when UC won 17 games.
Staying Out of the Box: UC currently holds the school-record for fewest penalty minutes in school-history … The Pioneers have spent just 147 minutes in the penalty box this season … The previous record of 152 was set last season.
Lend a Helping Hand: The Pioneers set a new school-record for assists in a single season … UC became the first team in program-history to register 200+ assists this past year … They currently have 205 assists as a team.
Spreading the Wealth: UC has tied the school-record for most players with at least ten points in a single season … UC has 13 players who have scored at least ten points, tying the 2007-08 edition of the Pioneers … Utica set a new school-record for most players with 20+ points in a single-season … Seven different Pioneers have 20+ points this year.
Getting Out of the Gates Quick: The Pioneers have outscored their opponents 34-13 in the first period this year … UC has proven it does not slow down in the second period, outscoring its opponents 44-20 in the second 20 minutes of the contest this season.
Get the First Goal: Utica has scored the first goal 18 times this season … The Pioneers are 17-1 when scoring the first goal … UC is 4-4-1 when they have not scored the first goal, including a victory over Bowdoin last weekend after falling behind 2-0 in the first period … UC scored the first goal nine times in conference play this season and went on to win all nine of those contests.
Home Sweet Home: In 17 home contests this season the Pioneers went 14-3 at the friendly confines of the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Therrien is a Rock: Junior goalie
Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)), an ECAC West All-Conference second team selection, is on pace to break the school-record for lowest goals against average in a season (among goalies who played at least 75% of the teams total minutes) … His 19 wins are a new school-record … He currently ranks sixth nationally with a .812 winning percentage … He also ranks 17th in goals against average and 21st in save percentage (.924) … Therrien needs 25 saves to move into sole possession of second place on the College's single season saves list … Adam Dekker holds the school-record with 658 set back in 2004-05 … Therrien currently holds a 33-11-1 overall record … 33 wins ranks second on the College's all-time list … He has 1,103 career saves and a 2.34 career goals against average.
The Educate Resume: Sophomore
Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) was named the ECAC Men's West Player of the Year this past season … He led the conference with 35 points on 17 goals and 18 assists … He also tied for the team-lead with 19 points in conference play … Educate tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals … He currently ranks third on the College's all-time single season list with 17 goals this season … He needs two goals to tie the school-record of 19 set by All-American
Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) back in 2010 … Educate, who spent his freshman campaign at Nichols College, now has 77 career points.
Hertz is a Gamer: Junior forward
Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) is ranked third on the team with 26 points on 13 goals and 13 assists in 24 games played … 19 of his 26 points came in ECAC West Conference play … He is tied for the team lead with four power-play goals.
Chlanda is a Leader: Senior captain
Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) is the program's active scoring leader with 93 career points … He is one of just three players in program-history to score 90 or more career points … He is coming off a three assist night in the Pioneers win over Bowdoin and he now has 19 points this season (four goals, 15 assists).
Getting Over the Ridge: Junior forward
Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH)) is having a break out year and he currently ranks second on the team with 27 points on ten goals and 17 assists this season … In his first two seasons as a Pioneer he totaled 17 points on seven goals and ten assists in 25 games played.
Highest Scoring Freshman Defender: Freshman
Donny Olivieri (Philadelphia, PA/Bismarck (NAHL)) is the highest scoring rookie defender in the nation with an average of 0.85 points per game … The ECAC West All-Rookie selection leads the Utica defense with 22 points this season on five goals and 17 assists.
Gaffney Lights a Fire for UC: Junior assistant captain
Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)) ranks fourth on the team with 13 goals and 13 assists this season … He also ranks second on the team with 11 penalties for a total of 30 minutes … He has two game-winners this year … In 77 career games he has 72 points on 37 goals and 35 assists.
Graff is Mr. Consistency: Junior forward
Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) has come up big for the Pioneers all year with three game winning goals … He has 11 goals and 11 assists for a total of 22 points.
Home Grown: Junior forwards
Rob Morton (New Hartford, NY/Merrimack (Hockey East)) and
Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School) both hail from the Utica area … Morton, who transferred in from Division I Merrimack at the beginning of last season, is from New Hartford, NY and has 22 points for the Pioneers this season (12 goals, 10 assists) … Hobaica, from Clinton, NY, has played in 75 career games for UC and has 15 goals and 13 assists, including a huge second period goal against Bowdoin last weekend in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Last Time Out: (3/9/2013) –The Utica College men's hockey team netted four unanswered goals, including three in the third period alone, to earn a 4-2 come from behind victory over visiting Bowdoin College in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals on Saturday night in front of 3,847 fans at the Utica Memorial Auditorium … The Pioneers got behind 2-0 in the first period, but used goals from junior's
Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School),
Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)), and
Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH)), followed by an empty-netter from senior
Eric Peterson (Newton, NH/Valley (EJHL)) in the final minute to secure UC's spot in the NCAA Division III Semifinals against Wisconsin-Eau Claire at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, NY Friday … Utica senior captain
Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) tallied a season-best three assists on the evening … Therrien finished the night with 27 saves as the Pioneers were outshot 29-25 on the afternoon.
Big Time “D”: Junior
Mike Slowikowski (Ewing, NJ/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)) is a three time All-Conference selection for the Pioneer defense … The 6-foot-6 defender has made his second consecutive appearance on the honorable mention list after earning all-rookie team status as a freshman … He has played in 25 games this year and has 15 points on seven goals and eight assists … He is a smart defender who has the highest cumulative grade point average on the team … In 76 career games he has 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 career points.
LaFosse Scores in Bunches: Sophomore forward
Peter LaFosse (Merrimack, NH/Kimball Union Academy) has shown signs of streakiness … He posted two separate three game scoring streaks this season … He scored two or more points five times this year including a two-game stretch where he totaled five points … He tallied three assists against Nazareth on Feb. 8th and came back the next night to score two goals … In 23 games played this season he has 17 points on six goals and 11 helpers.
Winning Streaks: The Pioneers longest win streak this season was six games … UC is 10-2-1 in its last 13 games …UC opened the season on a four game winning streak.
Common Opponents: The Pioneers only common opponent in the Frozen four is Central New York native Oswego State … Utica played a home-and-home series with the Lakers this past season, winning both games by a combined score of 9-2 … Utica beat Oswego 3-2 at the Campus Center Ice Arena on Dec. 7th, then came back and defeated Oswego 6-0 at the Aud on January 5th.
First Meeting Against Wis.-Eau Claire: Friday night's contest marks the first time the Pioneers will square off against the Blugolds in the program's 12 year history … These two teams had no common opponents this season.
How Do They Stack Up: Utica has played in 27 games this season, Wis.-Eau Claire has played in 29 … UC has 121 goals compared to the Blugolds 115 … Utica has 205 assists and Wis.-Eau Claire has 195 … The Pioneers have 16 more points than the Blugolds this season (326-310) … Both teams have 23 power-plays goals this season … Both goalies
Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) (Utica) and Brandon Stephenson (W-EC) have a 2.13 goals against average … UC's leading scorer is
Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)), who has 35 points … Jordan Singer leads the Blugolds with 33 points … The Blugolds have 15 10+ points scorers compared to the Pioneers 13 … Utica holds a slight advantage on the penalty kill (.862 - .832) … UC has scored 42 third period goals compared to 37 for the Blugolds … Wis.-Eau Claire has allowed 64 goals, Utica has allowed 59.
Scouting The Blugolds: In the 36 years since the Blugolds began varsity hockey, this is only the ninth winning season (plus one .500 season) but the third consecutive under sixth-year head coach Matt Loen … After their great start, the Blugolds faltered slightly at mid-season, going 2-3-1 during a six-game stretch from Dec. 1 through Jan. 12 ... But since then, with the bulls-eye squarely on their back, they have won 10 of 12 down the stretch … Maybe as evidence of their maturity, the Blugolds did not let down following a 3-0 home victor over St. Norbert on January 25, but went on the road the next night to claim a 3-2 triumph over UW-Stevens Point before a packed house at Point …Then when they were bounced by St. Scholastica, 3-0, at home on Feb. 8, they went on the road the next night for a 4-1 triumph over UW-Superior to clinch the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association title, their first ever … The outstanding season was capped with the Blugolds collecting the three major awards in the NCHA with coach of the year honors going to Loen, player of the year to goalie Brandon Stephenson and Scholar-Athlete of the year to Jordan Singer ... Loen earned the CoY honor for the second time in his six- year stint as head coach. He is the only person to be named both the player of the year (1995) and coach of the year in the league … Earning All-Conference first team honors were Singer, Stephenson and defenseman Jack Callahan while Isaiah Bennis, Andrew McCabe and Dave Donnellan all were honorable mention ... The latter three are all products of Eau Claire Memorial High School … This year's team is sure to break the school records for most goals scored and fewest goals allowed in a season … They may also set a record for fewest penalties in a season … In addition, Stephenson has shattered the school standards for single season and career wins in goal. (
Courtesy of W-EC).
Pioneer Reactions:
The following are quotes from the Utica College men's hockey press conference after the Pioneers defeated Bowdoin on Saturday in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Junior forward Jordan Hobaica (Clinton, NY/Northwood School) on the Pioneers advancing to the NCAA Frozen Four:
“It's beyond words right now. It's going to take a while to set in. Here we are now going to the final four, I'm just happy to be a part of it and I know my teammates are just thrilled to be a part of it. This is a tight knit group and we're glad that we're taking it to the final weekend.”
Junior forward Ridge Garbutt (Toronto, Ontario/Brewster Academy (NH))'s thoughts on advancing to play in the Final Four at Lake Placid:
“I'm very excited, it's something you wish for all year and I can't wait to go there and get the job done.”
Senior captain Evan Chlanda (Islip, NY/Springfield (EJHL)) on advancing to the frozen four:
“It's another step in the right direction for the program. The guys really came together tonight. We never let up. We are a veteran team and we weren't worried that we were down two goals going into the second period. We believe in ourselves.”
Head Coach Gary Heenan on facing Bowdoin in the NCAA quarterfinals:
“We have a ton of respect for Bowdoin. They have always been a powerhouse program. Coach Meagher is one of the legends of the game. They are a classy group of kids who looked you in the eye and said best of luck, great battle out there. They had us on the ropes for a lot of that game. That game could have went either way for a while. But certainly there is some pride in beating a NESCAC team - we respect those guys through and through. They have been here three of the last four years they deserve all the credit in the world.”
Heenan on Hobaica's second period goal against Bowdoin:
“He's not a goal scorer and for him to score was a huge lift for us. If we didn't get the next goal when we were two down we would have been in a lot for trouble.”
Coach Heenan on playing in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament for the first time:
“It's a great group, we tried to stay humble and stay the course all week. We really didn't address the tournament, we didn't address “Here we are boys”. Even through tonight's game we didn't say “We gotta get to the frozen four” We just talked about how we have to get through tonight's game.
Heenan speaking about starting seven defenders for the first time all year in the NCAA quarterfinals against Bowdoin:
“I knew if we lost I'd be hearing it. It was a gutsy call. I thought power-play would be a big difference in this game and we needed (senior defender Josh) Schmitt's hands on the power-play. He did a great job on the power-play although we didn't get a goal in those situations. I thought our forwards were deep and they could suck up an extra shift when needed and they did just that.”
Coach Heenan on the play of junior goalie Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) against Bowdoin on Saturday:
“I thought a big difference maker for us tonight was
Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)). We made some really questionable mistakes in the second period and if
Nick Therrien (Rochester, NH/NY Apple Core (EJHL)) didn't step up and stop that puck several times we wouldn't be sitting here in front of you today.”
Hobaica on the atmosphere at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in the third period of Saturday night's win over Bowdoin:
“You heard the crowd roaring and there is nothing like that. There is nothing like that at all. You can't deny that the home crowd is a big boost for us late in the game.”
Coach Heenan on the atmosphere at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in the third period of Saturday night's win over Bowdoin:
“For Division III we've got it made here. You can't beat the atmosphere here (at the Aud). For us to earn a home ice game, that got us through the game tonight no question about it. It's emotional when you're walking off the ice and you are hearing them chant UC, it's a big time feeling and it's fun.”
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