WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – With needing just one point to secure the title, the Stevenson men's ice hockey team defeated Wilkes 2-1 in overtime to claim the 2022-23 Middle Atlantic Conference Championship.
Liam McCanney scored both goals for the Mustangs to secure the program's third championship and first since the 2020-21 season.
The first period went scoreless as
Ryan Kenny stopped all 17 shots he faced in the period, including five on the lone power play opportunity in the frame. The Mustangs sent 10 shots on goal in the frame.
The second period saw five penalties leading to three Stevenson power plays and two for the Colonels. Each penalty was successfully killed off. The Mustangs broke the scoreless tie with a late goal off the stick of
Liam McCanney at 19:47 with assists from
Anthony Starzi and
Austin Master. Kenny stopped 12 shots in the period.
In the third, the Mustangs out-shot the Colonels 11-9. With their fourth power play opportunity of the night, Wilkes sent home the equalizing goal off the stick of Max Cocchi at 16:31. In the final three and a half minutes of the period, only one shot was sent on goal as the teams clamped down defensively.
In the overtime period, each team sent a shot on goal which were stopped by the goaltenders.
Liam McCanney took the third shot of the period and sent it home to give the Mustangs the overtime victory and secure the 2022-23 MAC Championship title.
Numbers and Notes
- Liam McCanney scored each goal to bring his season total to a conference leading 20 goals.
- Ryan Kenny finished with 38 saves.
- The victory is head coach Dominick Dawes 200th career win.
- The title is the Mustangs' third MAC Championship.
What's Next
- Wilkes and Stevenson square off again on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30pm. The game will be the regular season finale for Stevenson.
