Box Score WORCESTER, Mass. (Jan. 7) – Nichols first-year Louie Educate recorded his first collegiate hat-trick and registered an assist to help lead the Bison to a 6-2 victory over host Assumption on Saturday afternoon in men's ice hockey action. With the win, the Bison (3-9-1) capture third place at the inaugural Worcester City Shootout and snap a two-game skid. Assumption slips to 6-7-1 on the season.

Junior Wil Brown joined Educate on the Worcester City Shootout All-Tournament team that was announced following the championship game.
 
Educate knocked home three of the game's first four goals. The first came 16:05 into the game as the rookie snuck the puck past the Assumption netminder on the glove side off a rebound shot taken by sophomore Greg Strootman. Nichols held a commanding 19-5 edge on shots to begin the contest.
 
Just 3:01 into the second frame, Educate netted another goal with help once again from Strootman to put the Bison ahead 2-0. Junior Bryan Gill also recorded an assist for the Bison. The Ice Dogs responded 1:27 later to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sophomore Kyle Zobler found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal after receiving the pass from senior Kevin Glanzman. Educate completed the hat-trick with the help of first-year Tyler Marek and Gill at the 5:29 mark. Assumption finished the period with a slim 11-10 lead on shots.
 
Strootman and Educate combined efforts again 3:38 into the final period with Strootman attacking from the right side. With 12:29 left senior Andrew Ella wristed a shot past the Ice Dog goalie to push the lead to 6-1. Seniors Zach Hendrickson and Andrew Letellier forwarded the puck to aid the scoring opportunity. Not going down without a fight, Assumption senior Pat O'Kane along with Zobler worked up the ice and found senior Taylor Larsen who beat the Nichols backstop despite making a great move on the puck. 
 
The Bison came out shooting in the third to post a 16-7 margin in the shot department and finished with 45 of the 68 shots in the game. For the tournament Nichols outshot its opponents 86-52.
 
Each squad potted a power play goal while Nichols killed off nine of the 10 Ice Dogs extra-man opportunities. Assumption finished one-for-five on the power play.
 
Nichols netminder senior Jacob Rinn stopped 21 shots and improves to 3-5-1 on the year. Assumption senior goalie Steve DIDomenico collected 25 saves in his first start this season while sophomore Bobby Bowden manned the net for the final period turning away 14 shots.
 
The Bison hit the road next weekend to face SUNY Brockport on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Hobart on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Assumption continues a five-game homestand as the Ice Dogs entertain Suffolk next Saturday at 4:35 p.m.

Box Score