SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Nichols College men's ice hockey team defeated Amherst, 3-2, in the second day of play to win the St. Michael's College Holiday Classic Sunday afternoon. Senior defenseman Cole Ruwe (Pekin, Ill.) was named the tournament Most Valuable Player and sophomore forward Will Munson (Corona, Calif.) earned All-Tournament honors as the Bison improve to 13-1-0 overall on the year.

Zach Hendrickson (Farmingdale, N.Y.), senior defenseman Jeff Bieber (Littleton, Colo.), and sophomore JoJo Bojanowski (Washington Township, Mich.) each recorded goals for the Bison, while junior forward Zeke Costello (Shelby Township, Mich.) handed out two assists. Senior Ryan Gervais (Chicago, Illi.) and classmate Anthony Monte (Chicago, Illi.) each picked up a helper on the night. Senior Keith Fink (Easton, Md.) made 29 saves between the pipes for the Bison to improve to 10-0 on the season.

For Amherst, senior Joel Covelli tallied a goal and an assist, while freshman Eddie Effinger netted a score. Senior Rylan Burns and sophomore Matthew Rhone, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, added an assist each. Sophomore Jonathan Larose recorded 25 saves. Sophomore forward Luke Arnold was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Nichols struck first, 10:49 into the first period, when Hendrickson scored an unassisted goal for his third score of the season. With 1:19 remaining in the first period and Nichols on the man advantage, Gervais and Costello set up Bieber for the score, giving Nichols a two-goal lead heading into the second period.

The Lord Jeffs cut the deficit in half on a power play goal when Covelli notched his first goal of the season, coming from Burns. Nichols answered back on a 5-on-3 power play goal when Bojanowski netted his third goal of the season, with the assists coming from Costello and Monte.

Once again the Lord Jeffs cut into the two-goal deficit with a power play goal of their own when Covelli and Rhone found Effinger for the freshman's third score of the season.

A scoreless and penalty-filled third period was enough for the Bison to hold on for the victory and finish 2-0 in the Saint Michael's College Holiday Classic.

Nichols returns to action on Saturday, January 10 with a 7 p.m. ECAC Northeast game at Franklin Pierce. 

Story courtesy St. Michael's Sports Information

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