BRIGHTON, Mass. (1/6/2024) – The Nichols College men's hockey team opened the 2024 portion of the campaign with a 4-1 win over Southern New Hampshire University in game one of the 8
th annual Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational, on Friday afternoon from Warrior Ice Arena.
The Bison saw 39 stops from junior netminder
Tyler Bost and goals from seniors
Sebastian Miedema,
Quinn McCarthy, junior
Nathan Carl, and freshman
CJ Zezima. Carl and McCarthy both added assists and senior
Philip Bjorkman and freshman
Aidan Flynn also chipped in with helpers.
Carl opened the scoring for the Bison just over two minutes into the game. Carl whipped a shot in on the netminder from the goal and the puck found its way between the netminder's legs and into the net for a 1-0 Nichols lead. The Bison took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
In the second period, Nichols extended their lead with 3:13 remaining in the second period. On the face off following a penalty, McCarthy won the puck cleanly back to Miedema. Miedema hammered the puck high into the corner for a 2-0 lead.
The Penmen cut into the lead with goal in tight as the Bison penalty expired. SNHU controlled the shot totals through the first 40 minutes, out-shooting the Bison 28-10.
The Bison offense found their rhythm in the third period and regained the two goals lead thanks to Zezima, who beat the net minder just 81 seconds into the third period. Nichols added more insurance thanks to McCarthy who scored at the 7:47 mark of the third to make it 4-1 Bison.
The Penmen pulled their goalie with three minutes to go in he period, but Bost was up the task, denying the remaining Penmen chances, and to clinch the win for the Bison. Nichols returns to the Boston Landing Championship Game for the second straight season, and will face off against the winner of Wentworth and Tufts.
Southern New Hampshire out shot Nichols 40-21 for the game but fell in the effort. Nichols was 1-2 on the power-play and 5-6 on the penalty kill.
Nichols will face off against Tufts on Sunday, January 7, at 2:40 p.m. from Warrior Ice Arena in the Championship game.