EVERETT, Mass. (1/12/2024) – The Nichols College men's hockey team battled to a 3-3 tie in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play against Wentworth Institute of Technology on Friday evening from Allied Veterans Memorial Rink. The Leopards secured the extra conference point with a 2-1 win in the shootout over the Bison.

Junior Gabe Temple, freshmen Zach Vandale, and CJ Zezima all found the back of the net for the Bison in the effort. Junior Nathan Carl tallied two assists, while senior Philip Bjorkman, freshmen Zack Kent and Aidan Flynn each chipped in with an assist.

Vandale opened the scoring for the Bison as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period. Vandale crisscrossed with Kent in the offensive zone and ripped the shot from the slot over the net minder's shoulder. Kent and Flynn grabbed assists on the goal. This was Vandale's second goal of the season and the Kent's first collegiate point, with the primary assist. 

The Bison doubled up their lead eight minutes later, with the goal coming off the stick of Zezima. Zezima capped off the loose puck in the slot and fired the shot past Wentworth goalie Jack McGovern. This goal was Zezima's fourth goal of the season, tying him for the team lead in goals.

The Leopards scored two goals in the second period to pull themselves even, 2-2, with 20 minutes to play. The Bison earned a 5-on-3 power-play at the end of the second period and started the third period on the two-man advantage.

Temple grabbed the lead back for the Bison just 24 seconds into the third period. Carl and Bjorkman played pass into the offensive zone and off of a set play and Carl laid a pass off to Temple, who one timed the shot past the goalie for a 3-2 Bison lead on the power-play. This was Temple's second goal of the season.

The Leopards tied the game once again, just under three minutes later. After 60 minutes, both teams remained deadlocked at 3-3 and needed extra time. In overtime Nichols found themselves shorthanded and the defense stood tall to force a shootout. The Leopards scored goals on their first two attempts to grab a 2-0 lead in the shootout. Carl scored for Nichols to force the next round and junior net minder Tyler Bost made a save. The Bison
missed the final shot and lost 2-1 in the shootout to the Leopards.

Bost made 24 saves in the effort for Nichols. Nichols went 1-5 on the power-play and went 4-5 on the penalty-kill.

Nichols will honor their seniors; Collin McGuire, Quinn McCarthy, Dylan McMahon, Brandon Cope, Philip Bjorkman, Mathias Backstrom, Joey Allegrini, and Jack Goodman, on Saturday January 13, at June Levy Rockwell Rink. Puck drop is set for 4:40 p.m.