UTICA, NY - The #3 Utica College men's ice hockey team put together an important 60 minute effort to close out the semester. Senior Eric Holland (Whitby, ON/Brockville Braves (CCHL)) led the way with two goals, including the anticipated Teddy Bear Toss goal, and the Pioneers cruised to a wire-to-wire win by an 8-0 score over visiting King's College in the 17th New York SASH Teddy Bear Toss game at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Utica totes a 9-2 overall record into the break, and remains atop the United Collegiate Hockey Conference with a 7-0 league record. King's falls to 2-8, and 1-5 in the UCHC. 

With the win, the Pioneers run their all-time record in Teddy Bear Toss games to 13-2-1. Over 50,000 teddy bears and other stuffed toys have been collected to benefit local charitable causes since the event began in 2005. 

Holland's two goals set the benchmark for a rampant offensive performance. John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) and Mic Curran (Arlington, MA/Curry College (CCC)) each had a goal and two assists. Curran has goals in back-to-back games, while Moncovich's next point will be his 50th for his career. Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) had a goal and an assist to now stand at 74 career points. Defensemen Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (USPHL-NCDC)) and Blake Holmes (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)) had a goal and an assist apiece. Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Syracuse Stars (NCDC)) also added a goal for UC. 

Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) and Louis-Felix St. Jean (Montreal, Quebec/Salve Regina (CCC)) teamed up for the shutout in goal. 

Utica out-shot their visitors 49-23.

Known for getting the big moment out of the way quickly in recent years, the Pioneers did not disappoint this time around. Just 5:05 into the first period, Eric Holland (Whitby, ON/Brockville Braves (CCHL)) turned a sold-out building into a toy drive when he took his defender off his gap, then shelved a breakaway goal over the shoulder of Kings netminder Tyler Sayger for a 1-0 lead. 

After the pause, Utica did not slow down. Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) puffed the net for an eighth time this season, while Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Syracuse Stars (NCDC)) ended a three-game drought for the Utica power play with a one-timer goal at 16:14 for a 3-0 lead after one period of play. 

Utica turned in another three-goal period to double its lead in the second. Mic Curran (Arlington, MA/Curry College (CCC)) started the period's scoring at 8:34. John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) snagged his team-leading tenth goal of the season on a re-direction of a Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) shot at 11:24, and Holland netted a second breakaway at 12:38 for a 6-0 lead. 

The Pioneer defensemen put on an offensive show in the third period. Blake Holmes (Apple Valley, MN/Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)) connected on his first of the season, and Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (USPHL-NCDC)) potted his fifth of the campaign to finish off the 8-0 rout. 

Utica will host Curry in a non-conference game on January 8th.