UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team hits the road Friday to square off against host Castleton University in a non-conference rematch of the Pioneers' season opener. The game is schedule to start at 7 p.m.

Follow the Action Live: The Castleton Athletics Communications office will provide live video and stats for Friday night's title … Live video: http://www.nsnsports.net/colleges/castleton/ … Live Stats: http://www.castletonsports.com/sports/mice/2015-16/boxscores/20151204_bvux.xml
 
Jersey Auction: The Utica College men's hockey team will once again join forces with AmeriCU Credit Union to support the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY through their AmeriCU Jersey Night initiative … The Pioneers are currently auctioning off their collector's edition New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss game jerseys from now until game time on December 12^th … The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. for the 11^th annual New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss, against Salve Regina … Follow the link to the auction page http://ucpioneers.com/jersey.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers picked up two wins on Friday and Saturday and took home the Radisson Thanksgiving Showcase Trophy at the Utica Memorial Auditorium … The showcase featured and East vs. West format as the Pioneers hosted Saint John's (Minn.), St. Thomas (Minn.) and central New York power Oswego State ... On Friday night, UC defeated St. John's 4-2 to advance to Saturday's championship game … Utica took a 4-0 lead after scoring two goals in the first and second periods before surrendering two goals to the Johnnies in the third period … In Saturday's finale, the Pioneers took on St. Thomas in the Championship game and defeated the Tommies, 1-0 … UC took the lead in the first period on a power-play goal by freshman Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and held on to win the tournament.

All-Tournament Team Honors: The Pioneers were well represented on the Radisson Thanksgiving Showcase All-Tournament Team … Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) earned the showcase's most valuable player honors after posting a tournament-best two goals and one assist … UC goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) earned all-tournament team status alongside senior forward Joel Wetmore (Horseheads, NY/Lindsay (OJHL)) and freshman defender Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)).

Rookie Of The Week: For the second time this year freshman goalie Michael Fredrick (Lethbridge, Alberta/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) has earned the ECAC West Rookie of The Week honors … Fredrick is first in the ECAC West in saves (215), second in the conference in goals against average (2.23), and third in the conference in save percentage (.923) all while leading the team to a 5-3-1 overall record and a 2-3-1 conference record.

National Poll: The Pioneers are receiving votes in the latest D3hockey.com National Poll released on Monday afternoon ... They are receiving five votes in the poll, good for eighth among teams in the receiving votes category. 
 
Leading The Way: Freshman Hayden Dawes (Stony Plain, Alberta/Drayton Valley (AJHL)) leads the team in points (nine) and in goals (six) so far this season … Sophomore Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) is second on the team in points (eight) and leads the team in assists (7) … Dawes is fourth in the ECAC West in goals and seventh in the conference in points, while being tied for 15^th in Division III hockey in points per game for a rookie (1.00) … Valenti is tied for second in the conference in assists so far this year.
 
Team Effort: The team has 18 players with at least one point so far this season … Tied for third on the team with seven points are Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) (two goals, five assists) and Anthony McVeigh (Kemptville, Ontario/Carleton Place (CCHL)) (one goal and six assists) … Tied for fifth on the team with six points is sophomore Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) and Alex Roberts (Burnaby, British Columbia/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) each with four goals and two assists … Nick Miglio (San Antonio, TX/Bismarck (NAHL)) is seventh on the team with five points (three goals and two assists), but is tied for fourth in DIII in game winning goals with two so far this year. 
 
Penalty Kill: UC is tied for sixth in DIII on the penalty kill this season … The team has killed 30 of 32 chances for a 93.8 percent penalty kill … Alex Brissette (Atlanta, GA/Hampton Roads (USPHL)) is tied for first in Division III for short-handed goals with two on the year.
 
Scouting Castleton: The Spartans are 1-7-1 overall with a 0-5-1 New England Hockey Conference record … Castleton is coming off of its first win of the season beating Western New England 3-2 … The Spartans are led by Will Laking (eight points off of five goals and three assists), Derek Gingera (five points off of two goals and three assists), and goalie Brody Wagner (.894 save percentage, 2.66 goals against average, and 118 saves).
 
Against The Spartans: The Pioneers defeated Castleton 5-2 in their season opening game at the Aud. … Including the victory earlier in the year UC is 3-1-1 against the Spartans all-time.
 
Social Media: Make sure to follow live updates of the game on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers ... Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.
 
Looking Ahead: Utica will be hosting Salve Regina on Saturday December 12, for its annual "Teddy Bear Toss" game … The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.