Recap
Senior Nicholas Mangone scored at 8:31 of the first overtime to send the No. 5 seed Nichols College men's ice hockey team to a 5-4 win over No. 4 seed Salve Regina University Wednesday night in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Quarterfinal action at Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink in Portsmouth, R.I.
 
Graduate student J.B. Baker registered a goal and an assist and sophomore Curtis Carlson handed out two apples for the Bison (12-12-2), who advance to the CCC Semifinals to face No. 2 Endicott on Saturday in Beverly, Mass. Sophomore Brett Epp recorded 41 saves while senior Hogan Davidson, junior Nate Foster, and sophomore Petr Miko also potted goals for Nichols.
 
Nichols held a 4-3 lead late in the third period courtesy of a PP goal from Davidson before being accessed a pair of minor penalties, giving the Seahawks (14-11-1) a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play. With netminder Tony Rehm on the bench for a sixth attacker, the Bison – led by senior David Chevrier and Mangone – blocked multiple shots before Mitch Walinski tied the game with 59 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
The Bison dominated overtime, outshooting the Seahawks 10-3 before Mangone's clapper knuckled past Rehm for his ninth of the season.   
 
Three things you need to know...
            -Tonight's contest marked the 46th all-time meeting between Nichols College and Salve Regina University. The Seahawks won both regular season meetings, but tonight's win by the Bison extends their series lead to 22-20-4.
            -The Bison have advanced to the conference semifinals in four of head coach Parker Burgess' five season behind the bench, including a CCC Championship in 2017-18.  
            -Epp matched his career-high in saves, which ironically enough he set in the CCC Quarterfinals last season against the Gulls.
 
Quote
"What a hockey game. No words can properly articulate how proud I am of this group – not just tonight, but this entire season. They're incredible. The seniors deserved this. And, I couldn't think of a better kid to pop toe overtime winner than Nicky. I love that kid. We're not done yet. We have more work to do. 1-0 Saturday." -Nichols head coach Parker Burgess
 
Next game
Saturday, February 29 @ No. 2 Endicott (CCC Semifinals), 7:30 p.m.