Box Score HARRISVILLE, R.I. (Jan. 21) – First-year Louie Educate took a well-placed shot to net the game-winner to push Nichols past Johnson & Wales, 5-3, on Saturday night in an ECAC Northeast men's ice hockey showdown at Levy Rink. With the win, the Bison improve to 5-11-1 overall and even out at 3-3 in conference play. The Wildcats dip to 10-5-2 on the season and 4-1-1 in the loop.
 
Junior Jason Pietrasiak lit the lamp first for the Wildcats as he wristed a feed from senior Domenic Recchia with help from junior Danny Kaufmann at 10:52 on a power play. The Bison responded at 14:28 as first-year Louie Educate found the back of the net with assistance from juniors Zach Kohn and Danny Greiner. Nichols outshot Johnson & Wales 27-9 as the Wildcats went one-for-two on the power play and Nichols had three extra man opportunities.
 
Following the first break, junior Erick Vos put the Wildcats ahead once more at 4:39 on a point blank shot off passes from rookie Alex Porrier and junior Patrick Colclough. Senior Tony Galante increased the Johnson & Wales advantage a minute later as he netted a rebound off a shot by senior Jeremiah Ketts. Kaufmann would get credit for an assist on the play. With 7:09 left in the stanza, sophomore Greg Strootman took advantage of an open net, as the goalie was halfway to the blue line, to bring the game within one on a shorthanded goal. Nichols held a slim margin taking 12 of the 22 shots in the frame. Each team would have a power play chance in the period.
 
The third period would be scoreless until senior Andrew Letellier took a shot at the Wildcats netminder that was saved and then the shorthanded goal was deposited by classmate Zach Hendrickson at 8:51. Under two minutes later, Educate sniped the puck past the goalie after receiving the pass from junior Wil Brown who carried the puck into the zone for the 4-3 lead. Letellier scored an empty net goal with 35 ticks left in regulation. Both teams had a pair of opportunities with extra personnel.
 
Bison senior Jacob Rinn earned the win stopping 26 shots on the night as junior Matt Cooper turned away 46 shots for the Wildcats.
 
Both teams return to the ice on Wednesday. Nichols continues its three-game homestand hosting Salve Regina at 8:10 p.m. as the Wildcats head to Boston to take on Suffolk at 7:35 p.m.

Box Score