BOSTON, Mass. – Senior goaltender Colin Brennan made 45 saves and sophomore J.B. Baker scored twice to lift the Nichols College men's ice hockey team to a 3-1 win over the University of St. Thomas (MN) at the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational Friday night at Warrior Ice Arena.
 
Senior Scott Cuthrell collected a goal and an assist as the Bison converted on two of their six power-play chances to advance to tomorrow's championship contest, where they will face Elmira at 4:00 p.m. The Tommies (6-4-1) will face Connecticut College in the consolation game at 1:37 p.m.
 
Baker netted the only goal of the first period with a redirect at 2:47. Junior T.J. Roche sent the puck back to classmate Ben Campbell at the point, and he let go of a shot that Baker redirected past sophomore Ben Myers' blocker.
 
The Bison extended the lead to 2-0 with a power play marker at 15:46 of second period. Junior Matthew Menta drove the net with the puck on his stick before it was knocked away and found Baker, who sent it to Cuthrell in the slot. The captain pulled it the puck to his backhand and tucked the puck inside the right post.
 
In the third, Baker's one-time off a backhand feed from sophomore Vincent Crivello on the power play pushed the Bison lead to 3-0 at 6:56. Less than three minutes later, sophomore Jack Christensen banged in a rebound from a point shot to make it 3-1.
 
Brennan was at his best in the third, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced in his first game in over a month. Overall, the Tommies outshot the Bison 46-19 and went 1-for-6 with the man advantage.  
 
Myers made 16 saves for St. Thomas.
 
All-Time Series
Tonight's contest marked the inaugural meeting between St. Thomas (MN) and Nichols College. The Bison now lead the series, 1-0-0.