UTICA, NY - For a seventh consecutive season, the UCHC Tournament Will run through Utica, NY. With the No. 2 Utica University's 4-1 win over the visiting Alvernia University Golden Wolves, the Pioneers clinched the 2023-24 UCHC regular season crown. 
 
This was made possible by Stevenson's 3-2 overtime loss to Wilkes University on Friday night (Stevenson max points now 48, Utica's current total is 49). 
 
Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) notched the game-winning goal for the team while John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)), Dante Spagnuolo (Newmarket, ON/Adrian College (NCAA DIII)) and Eric Vitale (Toronto, ON/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) all had one. Vitale tied for the team lead with two points as he added an assist to his line. Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) and Khristian Acosta (Port Monmouth, NJ/Mercyhurst University (NCAA DI)) also had two points via a pair of assists. 
 
In goal, Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) showed out with 20 saves and just one goal allowed en route to his seventh win of the year. 
 
Midway through the first period the Pioneers jumped on the board. At 13:35, John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)) rifled in his fourth goal of the season with assists from Vitale and Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, ON/Georgetown Raiders (OJHL)). Less than two minutes later, Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) nailed a one-timer from the point for what would serve as the game-winner and, at the time, made it a 2-0 game. Breault and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) assisted on the score. 
 
It was a quiet second period offensively for both sides as Utica outshot Alvernia 12-8 while Landsberger made a handful of gorgeous saves to keep the shutout intact. 
 
In the third, Spagnuolo extended the team's lead to 3-0 at the 13:29 mark with assists coming from Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO/Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)) and Acosta. 
 
Two minutes later, the Golden Wolves took advantage of a delayed penalty and scored their first goal of the game with the extra attacker. However, Landsberger and the Pioneer defense sniffed out the ensuing power play to keep it a 3-1 contest. 
 
With 1:30 to play, Vitale put the final touches on the game with his team-leading 10th goal of the season to cap off the 4-1 win. 
 
Utica (17-2-3, 16-0-1 UCHC) and Alvernia will complete the weekend set at 7 p.m. on Saturday on Wurth Night.