WILKES-BARRE,
Pa. – In the ninth shootout round, junior
Eric Olson netted the lone shootout goal for either team to lift the Stevenson men's ice hockey team past Wilkes in the season finale for the Mustangs. Stevenson finished the season with a 14-9-2 record overall and 12-6-2 in the UCHC while remaining undefeated in the MAC with a 9-0-1 record.
Wilkes (12-9-2, 10-7-1 UCHC, 7-2-1 MAC) wasted no time in taking the lead, netting the games' first goal just 32 seconds into the first period. Christian Blomquist earned the goal for the Colonels. The Colonels took a 2-0 lead at the 4:08 mark when Max Cocchi found the back of the net. Stevenson cut the lead in half with a goal from
Evan Beers at the 13:38 mark with assists from
Austin Master and
Frank Vitucci.
The Mustangs knotted the game with a goal at 7:48 off the stick of
Anthony Starzi with assist from
John Musella and
Aidan McDowell. The teams clamped down defensively, not allowing a goal in the remainder of the period.
Ryan Kenny tallied eight saves in the second period.
Wilkes regained its lead just 2:40 into the third period when Lorenzo Marcolin. The Mustangs found the equalizer just over two minutes later to force overtime.
Liam McCanney deposited a goal at 4:58, assisted by
Austin Master. The goal is McCanney's 21s of the season which sets the program's single season goals record.
In the overtime period, Kenny recorded just one save while the Mustangs ripped four shots on goal but were unable to break the tie.
The shootout went nine rounds with
Eric Olson being the only skater able to send the puck across the goal line.
Numbers and Notes
- Liam McCanney set the single season goals record with his 21st goal of the season, surpassing Nick Gray's record of 20 in the 2019-20 season.
- Stevenson clinched the second seed in the UCHC playoffs and will host the seventh-seeded team.
- The Mustangs finished the 2022-23 regular season winning 14-9-2 and un-beated in their final six games.
- Seven Mustangs recorded points in the game.
- Austin Master dished out two assists and has added a point in each of his last eight games.