HARRISVILLE, R.I. (Nov. 13) – The Nichols College men's hockey team defeated Stonehill College 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Levy Rink in Harrisville, R.I. With the win, Nichols improves to 2-0-1 while Stonehill drops to 1-3-0. JoJo Bojanowski (Washington Township, Michigan) netted the game-winner and an assist for the Bison.

From the drop of the puck, Nichols came out firing from all cylinders, outshooting the Skyhawks 19-5 in the first period. However, their efforts went unrewarded as Stonehill senior goalie Derek Chapdelaine turned away all 19 shots to end the period with a 0-0 tie. Most of Stonehill's five shots came from their lone power play as their strong power play unit put the pressure on the Bison. In the final seconds of the first period, Nichols went on the power play and looked to capitalize on it at the beginning of the second period.

Only 22 seconds into the period, Nichols took advantage of that power play when sophomore Zach Kohn (Hartland, Wis.) ripped a wrist shot past the goalie after picking up his own rebound. Five minutes later, Stonehill responded and knotted the game up at one goal each. Sophomore, Tyler Beauregard shot the puck from the point, which was redirected by a Nichols defenseman and tipped in by senior Angelo Todesca.

With the score at 1-1 both teams were looking to gain the momentum with another goal. The Bison got the momentum when senior Will Munson (Corona, Calif.) received a pass from behind the net from Kohn and put the puck top shelf past the goalie's glove, 7:38 into the period. The entire period went back and forth though, as Stonehill answered again a little over three minutes later when Todesca roofed the puck from the lower left slot to tie up the game. The Bison and the Skyhawks each netted one more goal in the period to make the score 3-3 heading into the third period. Senior Matt Sayer (Lowell, Mass.) scored for the Bison while sophomore George DeMello scored on a power play.

Nichols wasted no time taking the lead when 59 seconds into the period, Bojanowski scored on a one-timer after receiving an across the crease pass from sophomore Josh Moles (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Nichols added an insurance goal 8:42 into the third when junior Drew Palmer (Chelmsford, Mass.) took a shot from the point past a screened goaltender.

Nichols outshot Stonehill 63-26 in the game. The Skyhawks had eight penalties for 30 minutes while Nichols had four penalties for eight minutes. Nichols was two for six on power play opportunities while the Skyhawks were one for three. Sophomore Ryan Casey (Pelham, N.H.) picked up the win in his first start of the season. Derek Chapdelaine drops to 0-2-0 after making 58 saves for the Skyhawks.

Nichols travels to Becker on Wednesday November 17th for a 6:40 PM match up. Stonehill travels to Assumption on the same day to play at 7:35 PM.

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