BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (11/8/2025) - The Nichols College men's ice hockey team hosted Roger Williams University at Levy Rink on Saturday to open their conference play for the 2025-26 season. In dominant fashion, the Bison sealed a 7-1 win against the visiting Hawks, stamping their second straight win on the season.

Following the win, the Bison improve to a 2-2-0 overall record, and a 1-0-0 record for games against Conference of New England opponents. The visiting Hawks are now 1-2-0 after their loss, 0-1-0 for CNE play.

Credited to a goal at 9:05 from CJ Zezima assisted from Jacob Ammar and Jeremy Tremblay, the Bison secured an early lead 1-0. Near the end of the first period, the Bison improved their early lead to 2-0 with a power-play score from Nick Brennan, assisted by Zezima and Luca Ricci. Nichols was able to produce with an efficient 16 shots on the period to boot, having Ryan Henry keep the Hawks scoreless with his three saves.

Keeping the same momentum from the first period, the Bison capitalized with two even strength goals within a minute of each other. Zach Vandale put the Bison up 3-0 on a shot assisted by Brennan, with the addition of another point from Aaron Hamel at 3:52, assisted by a well-placed puck from Alexis Trudeau and Gavin Duckworth. Up 4-0, Trudeau went on to score a goal in power-play at 13:44, set up and assisted by Dylan Ray. The Bison's only score allowed came at 14:08 from a shot at the net from a Hawk skater.

In the third period, Brennan got his third point from a score at 3:43, assisted by Rocco Bianculli and Brendan Schmidt effectively putting Nichols up 6-1. A goal from Tristan Kimmen at 18:25 assisted by Mason Myles and Ray set the score to end the match as 7-1 in favor of the Bison, giving them their first conference win of the season.

Of Roger Williams' 19 shots, 18 being shot on goal were saved by Henry. The Bison also ended the night winning 39 of the 59 face-offs, a key factor in the win for Nichols. 

Three freshmen for the Bison came out with points in the win; Trudeau's goal and assist, an assist for Duckworth, and two goals and an assist for Brennan.

Nichols College are set to take the ice again on November 14th at home against another CNE opponent, Johnson & Wales University. The puck is set to drop at 4:40 PM.