UTICA, N.Y. – Gus Katsuras '06 (Toronto, Ontario) celebrated his 22nd birthday with a goal and two assists, and Hamilton College held Utica College scoreless in five power play opportunities en route to a 5-2 non-conference victory in a men's ice hockey game at the Utica Auditorium on Dec. 9.
Hamilton (4-2-0 overall) will go into the winter break on a two-game win streak while Utica dropped to 5-5-1.
Jeff Corey '04 (Niagara Falls, Ontario) also had a goal and two assists, and Vincent Rinaldi '07 (Norwood, NJ), Jim Nolan '07 (Lynnfield, MA), and Scott Gordon '04 (Peterborough, Ontario) all scored for the Continentals. Nolan has two goals in three games. Jeff Vautour '06 (St. John, New Brunswick) was credited with two assists.
Gordon put Hamilton on the scoreboard 17 minutes, 19 seconds into the game on assists from Katsuras and Vautour. Katsuras made it 2-0 on the team's only power play opportunity just 1:17 into the second period. The Continentals killed three straight penalties and overcame a 5-on-3 disadvantage before Nolan's goal made it 3-0 with 5:22 left in the second.
The Pioneers pulled within 3-2 on two goals midway through the third period. However, Corey made it a two-goal game again 45 seconds after Utica's second goal. Katsuras controlled the puck along the right boards by the blue line until he saw Vautour cut to the goal. Vautour took his pass, found Corey by the crease, and Corey redirected Vautour's pass into the net at the 12:26 mark. Rinaldi added an empty net tally with 1:18 left.
Gabe Tash '06 (Evanston, IL) held the Pioneers scoreless for more than 49 minutes and finished with 23 saves. Both teams took 25 shots on goal. Hamilton and Utica will play again at Sage Rink on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.
