Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior Greg Strootman (Aston, Pa.) scored three goals and sophomore Brett Jackson (Larchmont, N.Y.) dished out three assists as the Nichols College men's ice hockey team opened the 2012-13 season with an 8-1 win at Assumption Thursday night in first-year head coach Kevin Swallow's debut.

Freshman Frank Butler (East Haven, Conn.) picked up a goal and two helpers in his collegiate debut as the Bison (1-0-0) saw 10 different student-athletes record at least one point. Assumption dips to 1-2-0 on the year.
 
The Bison posted four tallies in the opening frame beginning with a power play marker by first-year Paul Prescott (Oakdale, Minn.) at 5:18 for his first collegiate tally. He was assisted by Butler and first-year Tyler Beasley (Indianapolis, Ind.). Just over 1:30 later, Strootman potted his first goal of the evening with help from senior Zach Kohn (Delafield, Wis.) and sophomore Chris Gularte (Salinas, Calif.). At the 17:48 mark, rookie Daniel Bufis (Linden, N.J.) notched his first collegiate goal as Jackson was credited with the helper. Strootman struck again with 16 seconds left in the stanza. He teamed with Gularte and Prescott for the second extra man tally of the game.
 
Butler and senior Wil Brown (Hershey, Pa.) setup a score by Beasley for his first collegiate marker at 3:59 in the second period. Brown found the back of the net himself at 17:23 to make it a 6-0 contest in favor of the Bison.
 
Assumption junior Nick Mattiello (Johnston, R.I.) broke up the shutout with a goal 1:47 into the final period. He received help from sophomore Brennen Shaw (Presque Isle, Maine) and junior Kyle Zobler (Millbury, Mass.). Strootman then completed the hat-trick midway through the frame as Jackson picked up his second assist of the contest. Bufis combined with Jackson and senior Danny Greiner (Columbus, Ohio) to cap the scoring at 16:49.
 
Junior Dylan Woodring (Rogue River, Ore.) earned the win (1-0-0) in a 23 save effort. Junior Bobby Bowden (Springfield, Mass.) and rookie Chris Hemhauser (Old Saybrook, Conn.) teamed up to make 44 stops for the Ice Dogs as Bowden slips to 1-2-0.
 
Nichols heads to Foxboro Sports Center on Tuesday for a 7:00 p.m. showdown with Stonehill. Assumption ventures to Suffolk on Saturday for a 6:55 non-conference game at Walter Brown Arena.

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