NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (1/21/2025) – A three goal first period helped the Nichols College men's hockey team jump out to a lead and cruise to a 6-1 win over UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday night from Hetland Arena as the Bison wrapped up non-conference play in dominant fashion.

Senior Nathan Carl scored twice and added an assist for a three-point night, while junior Aaron Hamel also tallied a three-point night with three assists for the Bison. Junior Jack Lee, sophomore Aidan Flynn, freshmen Ryan Austin and Dimitri Voyatzis all added goals as well for the Bison.

Freshman James Berg tallied an assist for his first collegiate point. Sophomore Zach Vandale also added an assist in the game for the Bison.

Lee opened the scoring with a deflection at the top of the crease that found the back of the net. Carl fired a shot through traffic and the shot deflected off of Lee and into the back of the net as the Bison grabbed a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the first period. Carl and Austin each grabbed assists on the goal.

Lee was right in the mix on the second Bison goal of the period. After a point shot from Berg missed wide, Lee grabbed the rebound and circled back to the high slot and fired a shot that was saved the rebound came right to Voyatzis who rifled the loose rebound into the open goal. Nichols led 2-0 with 2:31 remaining in the period.

The Bison were not done there as Carl jumped in on the first period scoring. After a scrum behind the net, Vandale sent a centering pass to Carl who fired the puck into the open goal for a 3-0 Bison lead, just 57 seconds after the second goal. Nichols took a 3-0 lead into the first period intermission after outshooting the Corsairs 17-4 in the period.

The offensive outburst did not stop in the second as the Bison tacked on three more goals. Flynn scored the fourth goal of the game. Ryan tallied his second point with a short-handed goal at the 9:50 mark of the period and Hamel added his second assist of the night on the man down goal for the Bison. The Bison extended their lead to 6-0 after Carl scored his second goal of the game coming off the stick of Hamel who added his third assist on the night.

The Corsairs broke the shutout bid from sophomore Nick Anderson as the Bison topped UMass Dartmouth 6-1. The Bison were 1-7 on the power-play and perfect 3-3 on the penalty kill with a short-handed goal. Anderson stopped 22 shots in the game for his third win of the season. 

Nichols will return to Levy Rink and face-off against Western New England on Friday, January 24. Puck drop is set for 5:40 p.m.