HARRISVILLE, R.I. (11/9/2024) – The Nichols College men's ice hockey team dropped a Conference of New England (CNE) match up with Johnson & Wales University on Saturday afternoon from Levy Rink. The Bison lost 6-3 to the Wildcats in the second game of their weekend series.

Sophomores Aidan Flynn, CJ Zezima, and Rocco Bianculli scored the goals for the Bison. Senior Kaiden Scott, sophomores Dylan Ray and Ryan O'Donnell, as well as freshman Dimitri Voyatzis and Ryan Austin all chipped in with assists.

Flynn opened the scoring at the 2:06 mark of the first period. Ray dumped a puck in from the red line and Voyatzis on the forecheck and he gathered a loose puck and a centering pass found Flynn, camped out in from the net and redirected the pass into the open net. This was Flynn's first collegiate goal, coming from Voyatzis and Ray.

The Wildcats responded with three goals in a 1:44 span to take a 3-1 lead into the dressing room. Nichols outshot JWU 19-11 in the opening frame but trailed.

Nichols cut into the lead with a power-play goal off the stick of Zezima. Zezima ripped a shot from the slot that was blocked, and the rebound came to Scott who flipped the rebound back on net and Zezima picked up the loose puck and tucked it inside the near post for the second Bison goal.

Nichols trailed 3-2 after 40 minutes of action. JWU added their fourth goal of the game on the power-play and then Nichols pulled goalie Liam Choquette for the extra skater and the Wildcats scored their fifth goal of the game with the empty net.

Bianculli scored the third Nichols goal after O'Donnell forced a turnover behind the goal and Bianculli's wrist shot beat the JWU net minder. Nichols trailed 5-3 before another JWU empty net goal sealed the 6-3 win for the Wildcats.

Choquette made 24 saves in the game, while the Bison power-play went 1-7 and the penalty kill was 2-4.

Nichols (1-2-1, 0-1-1 CNE) will welcome Suffolk University to Levy Rink on Friday, November 15. Puck drop is slated for 5:40 p.m.