WORCESTER, Mass. (10/27/23) – The Nichols College men's hockey team opened the 2023-24 season with a defense of the Woo Cup trophy on Friday afternoon from Worcester Ice Center against Assumption University. The Bison lost 3-2 to the Greyhounds in non-conference action.

The Bison did not do themselves any favors in the effort, totaling 14 penalties which was good for 36 total minutes of shorthanded time on ice.

Senior Dylan McMahon and junior Kaiden Scott each found the back of the net in the effort for the Bison. McMahon added as assist to lead all scorers with two points. Sophomore Jack Lee and freshman Dylan Ray each added an assist on the evening. For Ray that is his first collegiate point.

The Greyhounds opened the scoring just under seven minutes into the frame capitalizing on a Bison penalty and grabbing a 1-0 lead. Nichols seemed to control most of the first period possession but trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.

The Bison evened the scoring up thanks to a strong rush up ice by Scott, who swung around the back of the net and whipped a wraparound shot on net that found its way past the net minder to even the score a 1-1 on the power-play, two minutes into the second frame. Lee and McMahon were credited with assists on the goal.

Nichols gained their first lead of the game six minutes later thanks to the captain, McMahon. Ray fired a shot on the net and McMahon was able to slam home the rebound to grab 2-1 lead for the Bison, midway through the second period.

Assumption did not go away and answered the Bison goal with their second power-play goal of the evening to pull even a 2-2. After 40 minutes of play the score remained tied at 2-2. Neither team wanted to give an inch as the Greyhounds upped their pressure with a handful of power-play opportunities but unable to cash in.

It was not until a partial breakaway that saw Assumption have their player tripped down as he was shooting and the puck finding its way past senior Mathias Backstrom, for the eventual game wining goal.

The Bison went 1-3 on the power-play and 10-12 on the penalty kill in the effort, while Backstrom stopped 37 shots.

Nichols (0-1-0) will look for their first win of the season as they face off against Worcester State University on Sunday, October 29, at 3:40 p.m. from the Worcester Ice Center in the Woo Cup Consolation Game.