WORCESTER, Mass. (Jan. 13) --- Senior forward Zeke Costello (Shelby Township, Mich.) tied the Nichols College all-time assists record in the Bison's 5-2 loss at Assumption Wednesday evening at Buffone Rink. The Bison even their record at 6-6-2, and the Ice Dogs stand at 7-7 after the non-conference game.

Sophomore Pat O'Kane netted a pair of goals for the Ice Dogs, putting the home team on the board just 24 ticks into the game off an assist from Taylor Larsen. Costello found senior Eric Cremer (Chelsea, Mich.) late in the frame on the power play for the equalizer. Rookie defenseman Bryan Gill (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) also earned an assist on the goal at 14:16 to send the teams into the first break tied at one-all.

Assumption went ahead on the power play at the 5:02 mark of the second courtesy of Jamie Vona. Jon Retelle and Mike Kozza picked up the assists.

But Gill responded less than three minutes later from Cremer, also on the power play, to knot things up again at 2-2.

It was all Ice Dogs from there, however, as Larsen scored what proved to be the game-winner on the man advantage with less than three minutes left in the middle frame off a pass from Patrick Fitzgibbons.

Assumption added a pair in the third period, the first a power-play marker from O'Kane, and the final, an even-strength tally from Josh Boissoneau.

Jacob Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) made 26 saves for Nichols, while Nick Blanchette stopped 36 shots, including 16 in the final frame, to earn the win. 

Costello ties a 31 year-old record of 79 set by Dave Delmonico (1974-78).

Nichols is back in action Saturday in an 8:30 p.m. home game against Worcester State. 

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