HARRISVILLE, R.I. (Feb. 19) – The Nichols College men's ice hockey team scored three goals in less than a minute to double up Johnson and Wales, 6-3, Saturday afternoon in the Bison's regular-season finale at June Rockwell Levy Rink. Senior Matt Roberts (Merrimac, Mass.) celebrated the Bison's Senior Night with two goals during Nichols' third-period spree, helping the Bison clinch the fifth seed in the ECAC Northeast Tournament.

Every senior in the lineup recorded at least one point in the game. Forward Matt Sayer (Lowell, Mass.) scored his team-leading ninth power-play goal of the season, JoJo Bojanowski (Washington Township, Mich.) had two assists, and Will Munson (Corona, Calif.) added his 22nd helper of the year.

Roberts put Nichols ahead at 6:41 of the third with a four-on-four goal, off assists from Andrew Ella (Schomberg, Ontario) and Wil Brown (Hershey, Pa.) and followed just 16 seconds later with a short-handed tally after stealing the puck at the Wildcats' blueline. Brown got the Bison's third scoring play rolling by forcing a turnover at the Bison blueline and passed ahead along the right boards to Bojanowski. The senior carried it in toward the net with Danny Greiner (Columbus, Ohio) crashing for the quick one-timer at the netfront at 7:38.

Andrew Ella (Schomberg, Ontario) gave Nichols (12-12-1, 6-8-0 ECAC) the early lead with a one-timer at the left post just 35 seconds into the game, connecting on a pass across the netfront from Greiner. Bojanowski set up the play with a centering pass from behind the net.

Johnson and Wales (13-11-1, 10-4-0 ECAC) answered back with the first of two power play goals in the frame at 9:51 after Jeremiah Ketts won the draw at the right circle back to Domenic Recchia. Recchia sent it across the point to Trevor Jewell for a one-timer that sailed past Nichols netminder Dylan Woodring (Rogue River, Ore.).

The Wildcats edged ahead five minutes later with a two-man advantage, this time set up by Jewell at the left point and sent across to Recchia in the right circle. Recchia slipped it to Kyle Botos in the slot for a shot that snuck under Woodring's blocker.

Sayer knotted up the game late in the frame with a power-play marker from Munson after a lengthy cycle set up by Blake Bishop (Parker, Colo.). Sayer held the puck along the right boards before trading it off with Munson, who brought it down behind the net before slipping it back out front for Sayer to pop in at 16:40.

Ryan Kelly edged the Wildcats back ahead at 7:33 of the middle frame with a high wrister in the slot, but Nichols answered back with a four-on-four goal at 16:26 to send the teams into the second intermission locked at 3-3. Zach Hendrickson (Framingdale, N.Y.) sent a long pass to Ray Furr (Woodbridge, Va.) as he came out of the penalty box, and Furr skated it in the rest of the way unopposed for his second goal of the year.

Woodring made 35 saves in the win, which snapped a five-game skid for the Bison. Cooper shouldered the loss with 39 saves, including 15 in the first and third periods.

Nichols will travel to the fourth seed in the ECAC Northeast Quarterfinals, which is scheduled for February 26th. Johnson and Wales' postseason seeding will be determined with the outcome of the Curry-Wentworth game that was postponed February 19.

Box Score