ASTON, Pa. - The Utica College men's ice hockey team won its fifth straight regular season conference title, and its eighth overall in the 20 year history of the program on Saturday. Needing a regulation win to make that outcome a reality, the Pioneers left no doubt as they steamrolled host Neumann University by a 6-0 score in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference game in Aston, Pennsylvania.

The Pioneers lock up the championship by way of the highest season-end points percentage in the conference. Utica locked up 87.5 percent of its available points this season to edge out second place Stevenson, who earned 85.2 percent of theirs. The championship was decided on the tightest of margins, as the Pioneers needed the three standings points from a regulation win on Saturday to stay ahead and take the title.

UC will be the top seed in the 2021 UCHC Championship Tournament, and will take on an opponent to be determined. The seeding ensures that the Pioneers have the right to host. More information from the league office on matchups and scheduling will be coming shortly. Utica is the defending postseason champion of the UCHC as well. 

Included in their streak of five consecutive championships are four straight as a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Pioneers won the 2017 ECAC West title in the final year of that league's existence.

The win was also Utica's seventh straight win as they wrap up their abbreviated regular season with a 7-1 record overall, and in conference. They have won 27 of their last 28 games dating back into last season. The Knights wrap up their regular season at 1-5-2.

The offense continued to fly high for the Pioneers as it has all year. Over their seven game winning streak, the Pioneers have scored six or more goals six times. The defensive end also continues to trend well, with goaltender Sean Dickson (Millbrae, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)) earning the third shutout of the season for himself, and for the team with 23 saves. He improved his record to 5-1.

Utica outshot the Knights 34-23. The Pioneer special teams were also outstanding, with the power play going 2-of-5, and the Knights limited to 0-for-5 on man advantages of their own.

Jamie Bucell (Garfield Heights, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) led the Pioneers with two goals and an assist in a rink he once called home during junior hockey. He scored the game-winning goal for a second straight game. Defenseman Justin Allen (Rochester, NY/Rochester Monarchs (USPHL-NCDC)) had three assists, and Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)) rounded out the team's multi-point performers on the afternoon with a pair of assists. Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)), Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)), Buster Larsson (Bunkeflostrand, Sweden/Syracuse Stars (NCDC)), and Nick Yzaguirre (Chicago, IL/Charlotte Rush (USPHL-Premier)) also added goals. Yzaguirre scored his second short-handed goal of the season. Conor Landrigan (New Tripoli, PA/Binghamton Jr. Sens (NAHL)) had an assist on the shorthanded goal to keep his point streak of over 20 straight games intact.

Just four days after his game-winning heroics rescued the Pioneers in a hard luck third period at Elmira, it took just 7:16 into the game for Bucell to net his game-winning goal this evening. Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)) provided the assist as the Pioneers roared out of the gate to a 1-0 lead. Bucell also had an assist on the Pioneers' second goal as senior Brett Everson (Mississauga, Ontario/Hawkesbury (CCHL)) scored his sixth goal of the season on the power play at 14:05. With their seniors leading the way, Utica took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
In the second period, Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) built off his outstanding home performance against Nazareth with his second goal of the season at 8:40. The even strength score was assisted by Brendan Schultz (Schaumburg, IL/Topeka (NAHL)) and Justin Allen (Rochester, NY/Rochester Monarchs (USPHL-NCDC)). The Pioneers staked their claim to a 4-0 lead after two periods when Buster Larsson (Bunkeflostrand, Sweden/Syracuse Stars (NCDC)) netted his fifth of the season on the power play at 17:30.

With the Pioneers cruising along, Yzaguirre and Bucell each took it upon themselves to provide some additional insurance in one of the toughest road venues the Pioneers play in each year. Yzaguirre scored shorthanded at 3:11, and Jamie Bucell (Garfield Heights, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) finished the job on a 6-0 win as he puffed the net a second time for the evening with 6:08 remaining.

The Pioneers now await their playoff opponent to be announced.