UTICA, NY - The No. 2 Utica University men's hockey team defeated Stevenson University 3-2 on Saturday night to secure their third straight UCHC Title and their fifth in program history.
 
The 2024 UCHC Tournament MVP, Ethan Roberts (Cary, NC/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) collected 28 saves with an astonishing 17 in the third period. Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) had a dominant day, taking faceoffs and going 20 for 28 on the evening giving the Pioneers plenty of extra possessions. Eric Vitale (Toronto, ON/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) led Utica with one goal and one assist along with five shots on goal. Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) and Breault had one goal each. Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) and Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) had two assists each while Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO/Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)) tallied one.
 
It was a quiet start to the game with each team only registering a few shots through the first seven minutes of first period. Utica created havoc off a turnover, and some beautiful passing in the attacking zone led to an Eric Vitale (Toronto, ON/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) goal. The goal came at the 7:09 mark off feeds from Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Preston Brighton (Castle Rock, CO/Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)) to give Utica a 1-0 lead in the physical battle.
 
The next moments of the contest featured the teams spending much of the period in the neutral zone with each goaltender denying a few fantastic opportunities for both sides. However, the Mustangs capitalized on a power play with a back door pass in a three-on-one opportunity, leading to a nice goal to knot the score 1-1 at the 18:24 mark. After one period of play, it was 1-1 in the team's biggest game of the season with the Pioneers leading the shot battle 11 to 8.
 
Utica wasted no time with Griffen Barr (Nanaimo, BC/Vernon Vipers (BCHL)) rifling a slapshot from the blue line into the back of the net just 37 seconds into the second frame to give the team a 2-1 advantage. Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) and Vitale each were credited with assists on the goal.
 
At the 14:30 mark, John Gutt (Middletown, NJ/Utica JR Comets (NCDC)) had a near breakaway attempt, which he fired just right of the net. Utica was granted a power play around the 12-minute mark and had a few fine chances yet were denied as the Stevenson defense prevailed.
 
Utica had another power play chance at the 13:36 mark due to holding, and the Pioneers were sure to capitalize. Jakob Breault (Acton Vale, QC/Alaska-Fairbanks (NCAA DI)) rifled in a rebound off assists from Kimball Johnson (Dallas, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) and Drake Morse (Grand Rapids, MI/Shreveport Mudbugs (NAHL)) to push the Utica lead to 3-1 with just under five minutes left in the second period.
 
The Pioneers were granted their third power play of the period with just 2:06 remaining due to slashing. Utica had a few strong chances yet were denied by the Mustangs' defense and took its 3-1 edge into the final period of play.
 
The first few minutes of the final period saw the teams battling in the neutral zone and fighting for possession. However, Utica was granted another power play about five minutes into the third period yet could not convert.
 
The Pioneers remained aggressive, controlling the puck in the attacking zone, with the Mustangs' netminder Ty Outen making some fine saves to keep the game 3-1. Stevenson kept inching closer putting a rebound into the back of the net at the 10:04 mark to cut the Utica lead to just 3-2.
 
Utica kept control of the puck firing off plenty of shots while playing strong defense down the stretch. In a final stretch that saw Stevenson give the Utica defense all they could handle, Roberts and company held strong to turn away any chance of the Mustangs tying the game.
 
By winning the league title, Utica (23-2-3, 19-0-1 UCHC) earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament beginning on Saturday, March 9.  Utica's fate will be decided on Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. during the selection show that will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
 
A release will be published in the coming days regarding ticket information to Utica's NCAA Tournament game.