OSWEGO, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team opened up the New Year with a 4-1 victory over Curry College at the Pathfinder Bank Oswego State Hockey Classic on Friday evening.  Eight different Pioneers registered a point in the victory as Utica improved to 10-4 overall on the season and will advance to Saturday's Championship game against host Oswego State at 7 p.m.

The last time Utica had ten wins this early in the month of January was back in 2013-14 when it eventually advanced as far as the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament for the only time in program-history.  

Utica's Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)) led the Pioneers with two points (one goal, one assist) on the afternoon, while Luc Boby (Chicago, IL/Kalamazoo (NAHL)), Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) and Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) each chipped in with a goal. The Pioneers opened up a 4-0 lead in the first two periods and never looked back as they won their second consecutive contest. 

Freshman goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) stopped 27 shots and improved to 6-2 overall on the season in net for the Pioneers.

Senior Luc Boby (Chicago, IL/Kalamazoo (NAHL)) got the Pioneers on the board just 3:16 into the contest on a breakaway as he gave UC a 1-0 lead in the first period. Boby now has four goals and four assists this season.

Mikhail Bushinski (Woodbury, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) gave Utica a 2-0 lead at the 7:37 mark of the second period when he ripped a wrist shot past Curry goalie Brett Sinclair, assisted by Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) and Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)).  Less than two minutes later the Pioneers took a 3-0 lead after junior Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) registered his first tally of the season. Carter now has 36 career points (11 goals, 25 assists). Ammirato remains the team leader with 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists through 14 games.

Utica then went on top 4-0 just under 13 minutes into the second period when Stefan netted his fourth goal of the season. Stefan now leads all UC defenseman with 11 points this year. He was assisted by Riley Egan (Lakewood, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) to hand the Pioneers a convincing four goal lead through two full periods.

Curry finally beat Utica goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) with 1:49 left on the game clock in the third period when Mack Heisinger lit the lamp, assisted by Jerret Kup and Tyler Vankleef.

Utica out shot Curry 35-28 on the afternoon.  Curry goalie Brett Sinclair made 31 stops in the loss.