UTICA, NY - On a night where the Utica College men's hockey team had the ability to lock up the top seed in the conference playoffs for a third straight year, a man who has been a part of all three teams took all of 22 seconds to put his team in control. Senior forward Shawn Lynch (Syracuse, NY/Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL)) zipped Utica's first shot into the top corner past Brandon Daigle to start the scoring on a thunderous offensive day. Led by Lynch's three goals and two assists, Brett Everson's (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) five assists, and Gregg Burmaster's (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) four  goals and two assists, the Pioneers didn't look back from their early lead as they pounded the visiting King's Monarchs 10-1 in a UCHC game at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The win gives first place Utica 16-6-2 (13-3-1 UCHC) at least a share of the UCHC regular season conference title for a third straight year, and the top seeded position in the upcoming UCHC tournament. It also ensures a bye into the semifinals for Utica, who will await a team to be determined in the UCHC semifinals on Saturday, February 23rd and Sunday, February 24th. Game times will be 7 pm and 3 pm that weekend, and tickets are available now at the Adirondack Bank Center at Utica Memorial Auditorium box office during normal operating hours.

UItica remains unbeaten for an eighth straight game, and is now 12-1-2 in its last fifteen games. Gregg Burmaster's (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) six point night on four goals and two assists led the way for Utica, and he now has a hat trick in consecutive games. He has thirteen points in the last three games. Lynch potted the first hat trick of his collegiate career and has now scored in four straight games. Everson had the second five assist game of his career. Gianluca Baggetta (Maple, Ontario/North York (OJHL)) made 17 saves in goal as he remained unbeaten in a program-best twelfth straight goaltending decision, and was relieved by Sean Dickson (Millbrae, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)) in the third period. Jamie Bucell (Garfield Heights, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)), Joey Savel (Sterling Heights, MI/Philadelphia Little Flyers (EHL)), and Brandon Young (Muskegon, MI/Johnstown (NAHL)) also had goals for the Pioneers.

After Lynch's early goal, the Pioneers kept their foot firmly on the gas pedal offensively. Gregg Burmaster (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) pulled the puck back behind the net from left to right and potted a wraparound goal at 4:56 for what ultimately was the game-winning goal. Lynch then added his second at 11:46 as the Pioneers opened up a 3-0 lead after one period of action.

The good times kept rolling in the second period as the Pioneers left no doubt who would be standing as the UCHC's top team in the 2018-19 regular season. Burmaster struck again with his second goal at 5:15 of the second period, and Savel notched the first home goal of his career at 8:23 to put Utica up 5-0.

The comfortable lead was just the beginning as the players at the forefront of building it took center stage in one of the more memorable moments in program history. At 11:51, Lynch added his third goal for his first career hat trick. Not to be left behind, Burmaster netted his third goal 34 seconds later as the Pioneer seniors put up dueling hat tricks just moments apart.

The Monarchs scored their lone goal of the night at 16:23 on Jamie Lukas's ninth goal of the year, but Utica's Jamie Bucell (Garfield Heights, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) and Brandon Young (Muskegon, MI/Johnstown (NAHL)) both scored before the end of the period to build a 9-1 advantage. Gregg Burmaster (Clinton, NY/Colorado College (NCHC)) scored the lone goal of the third period, and the Pioneers killed off seven minutes in penalties in the frame to increase their lead to the 10-1 final score.

Utica wraps up the regular season on Live United night tomorrow as they host Wilkes at 7 pm at the Aud.