Press Release

STRONG THIRD PERIOD LIFTS HAWKS PAST PURPLE KNIGHT MEN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               FOR MORE INFORMATION
February 14, 2004                                                                               Contact: Seth Cole
                                                                                                         Phone: (802) 654-2537

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Saint Anselm College scored eight unanswered goals in the third period to pull away for a 12-2 victory versus Saint Michael’s College in ECAC East men’s ice hockey action on Saturday at Cairns Arena. The win clinches the inaugural Northeast-10 Conference regular-season title for the Hawks, and home-ice advantage throughout the NE-10 playoffs. The Purple Knights will enter the postseason as the No. 2 seed.

Junior Mike Cronin (Milton, Mass.) scored three goals to lead the Hawks, while freshman Josh Hechter (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and senior Ryan Nolin (Berlin, N.H.) added two goals apiece. Junior Jim Merola (No. Providence, R.I.) stopped 20 shots for Saint Anselm (18-5, 11-5 ECAC East, 5-0 NE-10).

Junior Matt Anctil (Wolfeboro, N.H./Exter SnowDevils) and freshman Jared Silver (Montreal, Quebec/Tabor Academy) scored for the Purple Knights, while freshmen Derek Jackson (Clinton, N.Y./Gunnery School) and Erik Smith (Warwick, R.I./Hill School) combined for 46 saves for Saint Michael’s (8-14, 4-12, 3-1). 

Saint Anselm opened the scoring 8:27 into the contest, as sophomore Mike Walsh (Milton, Mass.) threaded a cross-ice pass to Nolin, who wristed a shot over the left shoulder of Jackson. The Hawks doubled their lead four minutes later, as Cronin beat Jackson from the slot top-shelf.

Saint Michael’s cut its deficit in half before intermission, as Silver backhanded a pass from classmate Derek Girouard (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic) past Merola for his 11th goal of the season.

The visitors regained their two-goal lead nine minutes into the second period, as Cronin potted his second goal of the contest. The Purple Knights responded just 26 seconds later, as Anctil cashed in on a 4-on-1 rush, with senior Gavin Faretra (Bow, N.H./Tilton School) earning the assist.

Saint Anselm stretched its lead late in the stanza, as Hechter connected for the first of his two power play tallies. His second goal at 2:08 of the third period gave the Hawks a 5-2 advantage, and Saint Anselm erupted for seven more goals, including three shorthanded tallies, in the final 17 minutes.    

Saint Michael’s closes the season with three road contests: Friday at top-ranked Middlebury College, Feb. 21 at Williams College, and Feb. 25 at Franklin Pierce College. The Purple Knights will host an NE-10 semifinal contest March 3 at 7 p.m., with the opponent yet to be determined.   

GAME SUMMARY
Saint Anselm                 2          2          8          --12
Saint Michael’s              1          1          0          --2

First period: Scoring: 1. STA, Nolin (Walsh), 8:27. 2. STA, Cronin (Crear), 12:21. 3. SMC, Silver (Girouard), 15:48. Penalties: Duffy, SMC (hooking), 3:12; Watts, SMC (roughing), 19:19; Cronin, STA (roughing), 19:19; Duffy, SMC (unsportsmanlike), 19:59.

Second period: Scoring: 4. STA, Cronin (Hechter, Dobler), 9:00. 5. SMC, Anctil (Faretra), 9:26. 6. STA, Hechter (Kolaric, Smith), 15:25 (pp). Penalties: Quenneville, SMC (10-min. misconduct), 5:32; Silver, SMC (holding), 13:48; Vartiainen, STA (high-sticking), 16:44.

Third period: Scoring: 7. STA, Hechter (Crear, Evjenth), 2:08 (pp). 8. STA, Evjenth (Dobler), 3:36. 9. STA, Nolin (Keeley), 6:02 (sh). 10. STA, Cronin (Rosenberger), 7:40 (pp). 11. STA, Smith (Vartiainen, Curran), 9:18 (sh). 12. STA, Mike Curtis (Curran), 10:26 (sh). 13. STA, Walsh (Nolin), 13:13. 14. STA, Rosenberger (Corley, Keeley), 18:49 (pp). Penalties: Anctil, SMC (elbowing), 1:46; Walsh, STA (tripping), 4:03; Hill, SMC (slashing), 6:02; Quenneville, SMC (roughing), 7:03; Kolaric, STA (goaltender interference), 8:47; Quenneville, SMC (holding), 14:11; Duffy, SMC (slashing), 17:54.

Shots: STA (23 – 11 – 24 – 58), SMC (6 – 13 – 4 – 23).

Saves: STA, Merola (22 shots, 20 saves); Maestranzi at 16:26 of third (1 shot, 1 save); SMC, Jackson (42 shots, 35 saves), Smith at 6:02 of third (16 shots, 11 saves). 

For complete box score, click here.

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For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002