UTICA, NY -- The nationally-ranked No. 9/11 Utica College men's hockey team returns to action on Friday night when the Pioneers begin United College Hockey Conference (UCHC) action on the road at Nazareth College. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. at the Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex.
National Polls: After an impressive 2-0 start to the season the Utica College men's hockey team is trending upward in the latest division III hockey national polls … The Pioneers jumped five spots and are ranked No. 9 in the latest USCHO.com National Poll … Utica leaped three spots and is now ranked No. 11 in the latest D3hockey.com rankings … UC, ranked No. 14 in both of the preseason polls last week, is 2-0 to start the season for the third consecutive year.
Opening Weekend: The Pioneers went 2-0 on opening weekend after a 7-3 win over Fredonia at home on Friday and a 3-2 win over Cortland on the road Saturday … On Friday night, the Pioneers held a 3-2 second period lead and went on to net four more third period goals on its way to a convincing 7-3 victory in its season opener against visiting Fredonia State … 16 of the Pioneers 18 skaters recorded at least one point in the victory as UC extended its season opening unbeaten streak to 11 years … On Saturday night the Pioneers avenged a 2016 loss at the hands of Cortland as they used a third period goal to top the Red Dragons 3-2 … UC's
Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) deflected home the game-winner with 5:04 left in regulation … The initial shot was put on net by
Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and was also assisted by senior defender
Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)).
Hot Start for Carter: Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) registered a team-high four points over the weekend … He currently leads the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) with an average of 2.0 points per game … Carter is UC's active leading scorer among defensemen with 47 career points.
Senior Leadership: The Pioneers top four scorers are seniors …
Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)),
Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) and
Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) are all tied for second behind Carter with three points … Valenti and Bushinski each scored in the Pioneers' opener against Fredonia, while Ammirato has three helpers.
Right Place Right Time: Utica's
Justin Derlago (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Selkirk (MJHL)) is tied for the team-lead with two goals this season … He also posted the game tying goal in the Pioneers' preseason exhibition against Endicott.
Two-Headed Monster: Sophomore goalies
Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) and
Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) have split time in net through two games … Virtanen stopped 27 shots in a 7-3 win over Fredonia as he earned the opening night start … Baggetta picked up his first collegiate victory in the Pioneers win at Cortland … He stopped 22 shots and allowed just two goals in the win.
Defense Moving Forward: Five Pioneer defenders have at least one point this season … Adding to Carter's point production is
Vince Stefan (Pittsburgh, PA/Kenai River (NAHL)),
Daniel Fritz (Harwood, MD/Canisius College (Atlantic Hockey)),
Brett Szajner (Novi, MI/Amarillo (NAHL)) and
Zach Borsoi (Brossard, Quebec/Gloucester (CCHL)) … Stefan has two assists, while Fritz netted his first goal in the blue and orange on Friday night against Fredonia.
Welcome to the UCHC: The Pioneers enter their first season as a member of the newly formed United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) this season … The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States … The membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York, to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas … In its inaugural season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Chatham University, Elmira College, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and William Smith College into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures … In addition, Wilkes University is set to begin men's and women's play in the fall of 2018.
Against the Golden Flyers: Utica is 7-4-3 against the Flyers in the past five seasons… Utica was 2-0-1 against Naz in 2015-16… However, Nazareth topped the Pioneers twice last season in both of their regular season meetings.
Meet the Golden Flyers: Nazareth is 1-1 this season after a 5-2 win over Cortland and a 4-2 loss against a talented Geneseo team … Matt Manzella leads the Golden Flyers with three points this season … Oliver Janzen has a team-best two goals … Sophomore Michael Tilford has played every minute between the pipes for Nazareth through two games … Nazareth's top four scorers are seniors.
