UTICA, NY – The nationally-ranked No. 8/10 Utica College men's hockey team returns to the ice for a pair of games this weekend.  The Pioneers will travel to Morrisville State on Friday night to wrap up a three game road trip against the Mustangs at 7 p.m.  Utica returns home on Saturday to host SUNY Potsdam for The House of the Good Shepard Night at the Adirondack Bank Center at 7 p.m.

Recent Results: Utica recently snapped a seven game win streak against host and nationally-ranked No. 4 Adrian College after a 2-1 loss in Michigan on Saturday night.  The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the contest but could not hold on as the Bulldogs came away with a 2-1 victory.  Utica rebounded with a great confidence builder on Sunday as it rallied from a three goal deficit to defeat the U.S. National Under-18 team 5-4 in an exhibition contest at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, MI.

On Top of the League: Utica currently holds a 10-3 overall record and the Pioneers sit atop the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) standings with a 6-2 league record.

In the National Spotlight: Utica is ranked in the top ten nationally in both of the latest national polls released on Monday.  The Pioneers moved up two spots and are ranked No. 8 in the D3hockey.com National Poll and they remain in the No. 10 spot in Monday's release of the USCHO.com National Poll. Utica has made an appearance in the top 15 of the USCHO.com National Poll in all ten weeks this season, including 12 consecutive polls dating back to last season.

Producing on Both Ends of the Ice: As a team the Pioneers rank fourth nationally with an average of 4.62 goals per game. Utica's defense ranks sixth nationally allowing just 1.69 goals per game. Utica has outscored its opponents by an average margin of 2.92 goals per game, which ranks second in the country.

Ammirato Leads the Way: Senior forward Roman Ammirato (Williamstown, NJ/Union College (ECAC)) leads the team and is ranked 11th nationally with an average of .85 goals per contest. His average of .54 power-play goals per game leads all of Division III men's hockey. He has now played in 91 career collegiate games and has 61 total points. He has six goals and one assist in his last four games.

Carter Contributing on the Offensive End: Senior defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) is tied for second in the country in points per game among defensemen as he is currently averaging 1.33 points per game.

You Can Always Count on Mik: Senior forward Mikhail Bushinski (St. Paul, MN/Kenai River (NAHL)) leads the team with 11 assists this season and he ranks second on the squad with 14 total points. 

Freshman Phenoms: Freshman Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)) ranks sixth nationally among rookies with an average of 1.08 points per game. Freshman Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) is tied for second on the team with 10 assists.

Between the Pipes: Utica goalie Patrik Virtanen (Vantaa, Finland/Lincoln (USHL)) ranks in the top ten nationally with a .940 save percentage. He has a 1.87 goals against average and a 6-2 overall record this season. Sophomore Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) is 3-0 in three starts this season and he has a 1.00 goals against average.