Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Feb. 18) - In a terrific ending to the regular season, Western New England and Nichols skated to a 2-2 overtime tie in well-played ECAC Northeast men's hockey contest Saturday night at Smead Arena.
 
The outcome was significant for the Golden Bears (13-11-1) who clinched a home game in the upcoming playoffs after finishing fourth in the league with an 8-5-1 mark.
 
Nichols (11-12-2), who entered the contest with a four-game win streak and 8-1 mark in its last nine outings, also will be hosting a playoff game next week after taking third in the league at 9-4-1.
 
Both goalies were outstanding with Nichols senior Jacob Rinn making 41 saves and Western New England freshman Tim Carr turning away 28 shots. Rinn had 19 of his saves in the second period and 12 in the final stanza. Carr, filling in for injured sophomore Eric Sorenson, had two nice saves in the final five minutes of regulation and two in the extra session.
 
The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead just a minute into the first period on a goal by sophomore forward Trent Krueger. It was his 11^th score of the season. Sophomore forwards John Kelly and Brian Prost had the assists.
 
Freshman defenseman Kyle Shapiro tied the game with a power play score at 1:57 of the second stanza as freshmen forwards Louie Educate and Joe Sposit earned the assists.
 
WNE went ahead when freshman defenseman Adam Bristol found the back of the net at the 8:57 mark with an assist from freshman forward Brandon Stroud.
 
Junior Bryan Gill scored his first goal of the season to again tie the game at 13:24 as Educate received his second assist.
 
There was no scoring for the final 31 minutes, 36 seconds.
 
The Bison converted one power play opportunity in five chances while the Golden Bears were 0-for-4. Each squad had six penalties.

Box Score

Release Courtesy Western New England Sports Information