PAWTUCKET, R.I. (11/8/2024) – The Nichols College men's ice hockey team opened the 2024 Conference of New England (CNE) schedule in dramatic fashion as they faced off against Johnson & Wales University on Friday night from Lynch Arena. The Bison and Wildcats played to a 3-3 tie.

Senior Josh Dickson scored twice in the game, including a shorthanded goal. Teammate Kaiden Scott added a goal for the Bison. Six different Nichols' skaters added assists in the game, graduate student Joey Allegrini, juniors Jack Lee, and Aaron Hamel, sophomores Dylan Ray, Zac Gmerek, and Ryan O'Donnell.

Nichols found themselves down 2-0 early in the first quarter after a goal 15 seconds in and then some insurance at the 4:03 mark, to go up 2-0 in the first period. Dickson scored a shorthanded goal to cut the Wildcats lead in half. Hamel and Gmerek chipped in with assist for the first short handed goal of the season for the Bison. Nichols outshot JWU 10-7 in the first period but trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes.

The Bison scored 1:26 into the second period to pull themselves even at 2-2. Allegrini and O'Donnell added assists on the goal for the Bison. Four minutes later, the Wildcats regained the lead, making it 3-2. Nichols tied the game once again, and coming off the stick of Dickson, to make it 3-3 after 40 minutes of play. This was Dickson's third goal of the seaosn and the team lead. 

Neither team scored in the third period and forced overtime. Nichols found themselves on the power-play but were unable to capitalize and the game ended in a 3-3 tie. JWU earned the extra point for the conference standings with a 2-1 shootout win, in four rounds.

Sophomore Nick Anderson made 19 saves in the game. Nichols went 0-2 on the power-play and were a perfect 4-4 on the penalty kill with a shorthanded goal. 

Nichols (1-1-1, 0-0-1 CNE) will look for their first CNE win of the season as they play host to Johnson & Wales University from Levy Rink. Puck drop is set for 4:40 p.m.