WORCESTER, Mass. - The Nichols men's hockey team defended their WooCup championship title with a 5-4 overtime win over Assumption University Sunday night at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.

Sophomore Owen Gonter opened the scoring for the Bison (2-0-0) at the 4:26 mark of the first period, finishing off a play from classmate Luke Harvie and junior Collin McGuire.

Assumption (1-1-0) tied the game at 1-1 with a power play goal just over halfway through the frame, before senior Hunter Fraser netted a power play goal of his own with two minutes remaining off a feed from sophomore Josh Dickson.

The two teams traded goals, with Assumption tying the game at 2-2 halfway through the second. In the third, sophomore Brandon Cope put the Bison up 3-2 at the 12:58 mark with a goal assisted by junior Philip Bjorkman. Assumption tied the game at 3-3 30 seconds later, forcing the overtime period.

Just 19 seconds into overtime, Assumption was sent to the penalty box, putting the Bison in a four on three situation. Sophomore Nathan Carl was the hero of the night, beating the Assumption netminder with a top shelf shot off a set play that saw fellow sophomore Gabe Temple and senior Conor Leonard credited with assists. 

Following the game, the Bjorkman and Carl were named the All-Tournament Team, with Carl also being named the tournament's MVP.

The Bison return to the ice Friday, November 4, when they head to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) rival Endicott College to open their conference schedule at Raymond J. Borque Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.


2022 WooCup All-Tournament Team
Guillame Coulombe (Anna Maria)
Colin Phillipon (Assumption)
Philip Bjorkman (Nichols)
Nathan Carl (Nichols)