UTICA, NY - The No. 3 Utica University men's hockey team gears up to host the Delta by Marriott Utica Thanksgiving Showcase this weekend. On Friday, the Pioneers will take on Saint John's University at 7:30 p.m. before clashing with either No. 8 Oswego State or (RV) Elmira College at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. 
 
Follow Along: Live video and stats for all games this weekend can be found through https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Last Time Out: Then-No. 4 Utica wasted little time making its case for a weekend sweep on Sunday. The Pioneers powered out of the gate with three goals in the first period, and added two more to seal the deal in the third as they topped UCHC foe Wilkes by a 5-1 score at the Toyota SportsPlex at Coal Street. The win improves the Pioneers' record to 6-0-2 overall, and a 5-0-1 mark in conference play. They have won five in a row since a tie against Stevenson on November 3rd. They depart the weekend with a one point lead in the conference standings over second place Alvernia. Wilkes falls to 4-3-0 overall, and 2-2 in conference. Utica's sweep this weekend halted a four game win streak for the Colonels heading in. The Pioneers held a 29-23 advantage in shots on goal, and added leverage on the scoreboard in a variety of situations. The Pioneers netted a power play and shorthanded tally in the game in addition to three even strength goals. Utica was 1-for-5 with the man advantage while holding Wilkes to an 0-for-4 clip. Aidan Hughes had the first multi-goal game of his college career to set the pace for the Pioneers. He scored both of the team's special teams goals. Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) and Alexander Gullichsen (Turku, Finland/Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)) scored the first goals of their Utica careers, with Gullichsen's also counting as his first NCAA goal. Spagnuolo added an assist for a multi-point outing. Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)) extended his point streak to four games with his fourth goal of the season. Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) added two assists to the Pioneer effort, while defenseman Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO/Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)) assisted on a first period goal for his first NCAA point. Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) now has a five game point streak after logging an assist, while Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) and Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) each tacked on a helper of their own. Nick Swain scored the lone goal of the weekend for Wilkes. In net, Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) made 22 saves to get the win in his first start of the season. Wilkes netminder Jack Perna stopped 24 shots in the loss. The Pioneers jumped on the gas pedal to pull away in the first period with a three goal frame. Gullichsen opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 2:34, Spagnuolo netted his maiden Pioneer goal at 6:11, and Hughes scored shorthanded to round out the period at 3-0. Swain's second period goal tightened the score ever so slightly, but the Pioneers saw fit to turn up the heat in the final stanza. Hughes landed his power play marker early in the third, and Scoville added the finishing touch at 16:02 to secure a four goal win.
 
Weekend Sponsor: Delta Hotels by Marriott will once again proudly sponsor the Utica Thanksgiving Showcase. For more information visit their website at https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ucade-delta-hotels-utica/overview/. 
 
In the Polls: Utica moved up one spot to No. 3 in this week's US College Hockey Online Men's Top 15. The poll was released Monday by the national college hockey website. Utica received 267 points including three first place votes, the second most of any team in the poll, to advance one position from last week. The Pioneers swept the Wilkes University Colonels this past weekend to earn six points in league play. Utica shutout Wilkes 5-0 on Saturday before netting five more goals on Sunday in its 5-1 win. The entire poll can be found at https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-iii-mens-poll/. 
 
Nationally Performing: Utica is tied for second in NCAA Division III with three shorthanded goals this season and has not let off the gas while in man down situations. The Pioneers' defense has been resilient on the kill with its percentage of .889 tied for 14th in DIII, allowing just three opponent power play goals. The team is also fourth in DIII in goals allowed per game, allowing just 1.14 overall. 
 
Hey There Hughes: Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) earned UCHC Rookie of the Week honors for his performance this weekend. In all, Hughes notched a pair of goals on four total shot attempts while assisting on two other goals. In Saturday's win, Hughes assisted on the team's first and fourth goals of the game while on the other end of the ice he blocked a pair of Colonels shots. On Sunday, Hughes netted a shorthanded goal late in the first period before scoring his second of the game early in the third. Hughes has been fantastic this season, ranking second on the team with nine points which ranks top-10 in the UCHC and top-30 in the NCAA Division III.
 
Top Ranks: The Pioneers have had plenty of contributors this season with many ranking as some of the top players in the UCHC. Brian Scoville (Agawam, MA/Alabama-Huntsville (NCAA DI)), Michael Herrera (Syracuse, NY/Utica Comets (NCDC)), and Aiden Hughes (Mississauga, ON/Milton Menace (OJHL)) are all tied for 10th in the conference in goals with four. Khristian Acosta's (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) six assists are tied for fourth in the UCHC with Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)), Hughes, Herrera, and Acosta all ranking top-12 in points, each tallying at least eight thus far. Scoville's pair of game-winning goals are tied for the most in the conference and he has been clutch in big time moments for the Pioneers. Goaltender Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) is top-15 in NCAA Division III with a 1.561 goals against average and is the UCHC leader. 
 
About the Johnnies: Saint John's is 2-5 this season and 1-3 in MIAC play thus far. The team fell to current No. 6 St. Scholastica 3-0 in its last outing on Saturday, November 18 and is currently amid a two-game losing streak. Lewis Crosby leads the Johnnies with five points with Jack Wandmacher, Matt DeRosa, and Cam Boche all being effective playmakers with four thus far. Wandmacher is the team's top scorer with three goals including one game-winner while Crosby leads the Johnnies with three assists. Bailey Huber is the top goaltender with a 1-3 record, 110 saves, .917 save percentage, and just 10 goals allowed. This will be the second all-time meeting between Utica and Saint John's. The Pioneers topped the Johnnies, 4-2, in the only other prior meeting on November 27, 2015. 
 
The Field: The other side of the bracket will feature No. 8 Oswego State and (RV) Elmira College, who are set to square off at 4 p.m. on Friday. The Lakers are 5-2 this season and boast a 4-1 SUNYAC record after falling to SUNY Geneseo 2-1 on Saturday, November 18. Shane Bull is the offensive leader amassing 13 points with a team-leading five goals and eight assists. Tyler Flack and Connor Gatto are two more weapons with each totaling at least six points and Gatto being one of the team's top facilitators with six assists. Cal Schell is the Lakers top goaltender boasting a 3-2 record with 82 saves, a .891 save percentage, and 10 goals allowed. The Soaring Eagles are 5-2 thus far and 2-2 in NEHC play with the team topping Lebanon Valley College 7-3 in its last outing. The team will face SUNY Geneseo on Tuesday, November 21 before clashing with Oswego on Friday. Nicholas Domitrovic has the most points on the team with 13 with six goals and seven goals. Shawn Kennedy and Janis Vizbelis are two more threats with each tallying at least nine points this season with at least three goals. Kyle Curtin is Elmira's top goaltender with a strong 4-2 record, 156 saves, .912 save percentage with just fifteen goals allowed. 

Up Next: The team remains home to host NCAA Division I Stonehill College on Friday, December 1 at 7 p.m. for the 2023 New York Sash Teddy Bear Toss Game.