UTICA, NY - The No. 1 Utica University men's hockey team will kick off the UCHC Tournament this week starting with the quarterfinals on Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m. against the Arcadia University Knights.  
 
Follow Along: For those who cannot attend the games this week can follow along with live video or live stats at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/utica/. 
 
Last Time Out: The No. 1 Utica University men's hockey team finished off a perfect conference record with a 7-1 win over the Arcadia University Knights in the regular season finale on Sunday. The win pushes the Pioneers' winning streak to 15 games as well as their unbeaten streak to 23 straight. Mic Curran (Arlington, MA/Curry College (CCC)) and Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) turned in two goal performances each while Parker also added an assist for a three point day. Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) totaled three points as well with one goal and a pair of assists. Matt Wood (Garnet Valley, PA/Richmond Generals (USPHL)) and Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) also scored in the win. The Pioneers put 61 shots on goal to the Knight's 18 while also taking 43 of 65 faceoffs. Despite nine penalties for a total of 26 minutes in the box, the Utica defense and goalkeeper Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) kept Arcadia off the board and limited the hosts to just four shots in man-down situations. Landsberger finished the game with 17 saves. Coincidentally, Utica's first goal of the game came short-handed. Following a takeaway at 9:10 in the first, Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) received a beautiful pass from Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) to set up Parker's 20th goal of the season. Four minutes later, however, Arcadia responded with a goal to even the score at 1-1. Upon entering the second with the score 1-1, the Pioneers took over. Parker scored his second of the game on a power play at 4:59 with Lucas Herrmann (Elma, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) and Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)) assisting. Later in the period, Wood scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 12:44 to make it a 3-1 game. A couple minutes later, Curran scored his first of the game and was quickly followed by Breault, who scored the team's fifth goal just 30 seconds later. Utica added two more goals in the third, one by Johnson just 22 seconds into the period and the last by Curran at 18:42 as the Pioneers went on to win its program-best 20th conference win of the year. 
 
Getting in: For further information regarding playoff tickets, as well as 2023-24 season ticket renewal, visit https://uticapioneers.com/news/2023/2/10/mens-ice-hockey-no-1-mens-hockey-playoff-tickets-2023-24-season-ticket-renewal-to-open-on-february-14.aspx. 
 
In the Polls: The team concluded the regular season as the No.1 team in the country in this week's US College Hockey Online Men's Top 15. The poll was released Monday by the national college hockey website. Utica compiled 294 points after receiving 290 last week. The team received 14 first place votes, up from the 12 that the team had last week. No. 1 Utica closed out the regular season at Arcadia University this past weekend. The Pioneers beat the Knights 7-1 in both games to complete the sweep and improve to 22-2-1 overall and 20-0-0 in UCHC play. 
 
Tourney History: With Utica making the UCHC Tournament this will mark the sixth-consecutive time that they have made the tournament, as well as its sixth time in a row entering as regular season champions. Since the jump from the ECAC to the UCHC, Utica has been nothing short of impressive with a 13-2 record in the conference tournament. The team has not lost a game in the opening round once and has won the tournament three times looking for its fourth this season.   
 
Constant Threat: Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) pushed the Pioneers further along their impressive season this past weekend with a 2-0 sweep against Arcadia University. With his four point weekend, Parker pushed his way further on the top leading the UCHC in goals and being a huge piece to the puzzle in the Pioneers search for their fourth UCHC championship. Since January 20, Parker has scored 10 goals in a 10-game stretch as he looks to continue his hot streak over the course of the tournament. He also enters the UCHC Tournament tied second all-time for most goals in a single season and two away from standing alone at the top.  
 
Landy Land: Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) has been a huge piece to the success of the Pioneers this season. Entering UCHC play, Landsberger has accumulated 503 saves with a .925 save percentage and has 22 wins including four shutouts. Landsberger also stands alone atop the single season wins record with his 22 for the Pioneers. Along with the wins record, Landsberger is also tied for the single-season record for most shutouts. With four entering the UCHC Tournament, Landsberger has a real shot at standing alone with five shutouts on the year. 
 
About Arcadia: Arcadia University went 6-16-3 overall on the year while clinching the eighth seed in the tournament with a 5-12-3 record in league play. The Knights will be making their first UCHC Tournament appearance in their two-year stand in the UCHC. Arcadia looks to James Spaargaren and Dylan Florit to help surge and provide life to the Knights as their leading goal scorers with 10 apiece. In goal for Arcadia is Fletcher Bolda, who looks to be the wall that the knights will need against the Pioneers. On the season, Bolda has 480 saves with an .894 win percentage. Handling the puck and making opportunities for the knights is Drew Iannucci. Iannucci this season is the third leading scorer for the Knights with five but, most notably has 17 assists on the season for the knights. The knights need all hands on deck in this coming game in order to move forward in the tournament and surpass the No.1 Utica Pioneers.    
 
Head-to-Head: This season the Pioneers went against the Arcadia knights and came out with a 2-0 record on the season against them which included 7-1 victories both times. With both of these games being the final two for the Pioneers they look to take what they have already accomplished against the Knights and put the finishing touches on them this Wednesday. Within these two games Remy Parker (Montclair, NJ/University of Maine (NCAA DI)) had four points with two goals and two assists, Justin Allen (Hilton, NY/Rochester Monarchs (NCDC)) had three points with two goals and one assist, and Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) with four. points which included two goals and two assists.  

Up Next: The Pioneers will host the lowest seeded quarter final winner in the UCHC Semifinals at 7 p.m. on Saturday.