UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team won its second straight game on Saturday night as the Pioneers topped visiting Connecticut College 5-1 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.  Three different Pioneers registered at least two points, including senior captain Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)), who totaled a season-high one goal and two assists in the victory.  Senior Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) added one goal and one assist, while sophomore Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) registered two assists in the victory.

The Pioneers, who are in the midst of a five game home stand, return to the ice on Friday for the 10^th annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss as they host nationally-ranked No. 8 Trinity College at 7 p.m. The highly popular Teddy Bear Toss game is already sold out, but the game will be televised locally on WPNY/WUTR and live streaming video will be available on the web at www.ucpioneers.com/watch. 

Utica is unbeaten in three straight games and moved its record to 3-4-2 on the season, while Connecticut's record dropped to 1-4 overall.

Utica opened up a quick 1-0 lead Saturday night when freshman Brent Wold (Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba/Dauphin (MJHL)) punched in his fourth goal of the season just 7:25 into the contest, off assists from senior classmates Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and Mike Baird (Oakville, Ontario/Huntsville (OJHL)).  The Camels answered back 3:02 later when Joe Birmingham knotted the score at 1-1 with his second goal of the season.

Utica went on to score four unanswered goals to earn the convincing four goal victory.  Educate started the surge with his fourth goal of the season on the power-play at the 14:47 mark of the first period, and freshman Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) added his third goal of the season with 34 seconds left in the first period to give the Pioneers a 3-1 lead after one.

Rome, NY native Max Bartell (Rome, NY/Walpole (EHL)), who was making his first collegiate appearance, gave Utica a 4-1 lead 2:58 into the second period when he scored his first career goal off assists from freshman Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) and Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)).  Powers now has six assists this year. 

Baird added an insurance power-play goal at the 15:31 mark of the second period, off assists from Educate and senior Peter LaFosse (Merrimack, NH/Kimball Union Academy), to close out the scoring on the afternoon.

Utica goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)) was a rock in net all night as he stopped 32 shots in his second victory of the season.  Connecticut goalie Tom Conlon made 24 saves in between the pipes for the Camels.

Utica went 2-for-3 on the power-play, while holding Connecticut to a 1-for-6 effort with a man advantage.