HARRISVILLE, R.I. — The Saint Mary's University men's hockey team, which has been off since Dec. 4 — when they dropped a 7-0 nonconference decision to then 10th-ranked UW-River Falls in River Falls, Wis. — is back in action Saturday, taking on host Nichols during the first day of the two-day Nichols Tournament.
The Tournament Field:
Saint Mary's Cardinals (1-8-0 Overall); Nichols Bison (5-4-1 Overall); Wesleyan University Cardinals (2-4-0 Overall); Lebanon Valley Dutchmen (0-10-0 Overall)
Tournament Schedule:
Saturday, Jan. 2: Wesleyan vs. Lebanon Valley, 1 p.m. / SMU vs. Nichols, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 3: Day 1 losers, 1 p.m. / Day 1 winners, 4 p.m.
Last Action: The Cardinals have been off since Dec. 4, when 10th-ranked UW-River Falls erupted for four goals in the second period en route to a
7-0 nonconference win over SMU in River Falls, Wis. … Nichols has not played since Dec. 5, when the Bison gave up five unanswered goals in falling to Curry
5-1. … Wesleyan snapped a three-game losing streak with a
4-1 victory over UMass Boston in their final game before the Christmas break on Dec. 5. … Lebanon Valley has been off since Dec. 5, when the Dutchmen were blanked by defending national champion Neumann
6-0.
Last Meeting: The Cardinals have never faced any of the other three teams in the Nichols Tournament.
Saint Mary's Cardinal Notes: This weekend's two games in the Nichols Tournament will be the ninth and 10th road games for the Cardinals, whose only home game thus far this season was a 3-2 loss to Hamline on Nov. 22. … SMU's loss to UW-River Falls marked the second time this season the Cardinals have been shut out. … SMU's offense has been held to three goals or less in all nine games this season. …
Jason Horstman (Faribault, Minn.) finished with 25 saves vs. UW-River Falls on Dec. 4. The freshman, who stopped 42 shots in a 3-1 win vs. Concordia on Nov. 14 for his first collegiate victory, enters the weekend boasting a team-best 4.27 goals-against-average and an .885 save percentage. …
Morgan Shepherd (Brainerd, Minn.) is the Cardinals' goal-scoring leader with three, while
Anthony Bohn (Spring Hills, Fla.) leads the team in assists (5) and points (7). … SMU's 14 goals have come from nine different players, while 18 different players have recorded at least one point. … … Bohn, meanwhile, leads the squad in assists (5) and points (7). … The Cardinals have given up 10 power play goals, while scoring on just 4 of 46 power play opportunities. … The Cardinals have surrendered nine goals in the opening two minutes of a period through eight games. … The Cardinals surrendered four second-period goals vs. UW-River Falls on Dec. 4 and have been outscored 18-5 in the game's middle period.
Nichols Bison Notes: The Bison enter their two-day home tournament looking to snap a season-high three-game losing streak. … Nichols has been held to two goals or less just four times in their first nine games. … The Bison are unbeaten in overtime games this season, beating Skidmore 3-2, while tying Franklin Pierce 2-2. … Three of Nichols' four wins have come on the road. … Zach Kohn enters Saturday's tournament opener against Saint Mary's as the team's offensive leader, boating team bests in goals (10) and points (19). Will Munson has dished out a team-leading 10 assists and is second in points with 13. … Nichols has used three goalies through nine games, and the trio have combined for a 3.63 goals-against-average and an .893 save percentage. … The Bison has scored 10 of their 29 goals on the power play, while Nichols' opponents have netted 13 goals with the man advantage. … Nichols has outscored its opponents 13-5 in the third period, but the Bison have been outscored 15-4 in the game's middle period. … The Bison are 4-1-1 when scoring first.
Wesleyan Cardinal Notes: The Cardinals' 4-1 win over UMass-Boston on Dec. 5 snapped their two-game losing streak. … Both of Wesleyan's wins this season have snapped two-game losing streaks. … Tom Salah is averaging a goal a game this season, scoring six times in Wesleyan's first six games. He also shares the team lead in points (8) with John Guay. … Six of Guay's eight points have been assists. … Wesleyan's 19 goals have come from 10 different players, while 15 different players have recorded at least one point. … Tim Archibald and Matt Hadge have shared the goalie duties for the Cardinals, combining for a 4.67 goals-against-average and an .863 save percentage. … Wesleyan has been outscored 13-4 in the third period. … The Cardinals have scored first just twice through six games, going 1-1-0 in those two games.
Lebanon Valley Dutchmen: The Dutchmen enter the weekend tournament searching for their first win of the season. … Lebanon Valley has lost its first 10 games by a combined 62-10 — including back-to-back shutout losses in the Dutchmen's last two games before the Christmas break (1-0 to Utica and 6-0 to Neumann). … Lebanon Valley has been shut out four times this season and has been held to one goal or less in seven of its 10 games. … Brad Smithis the team's leader in goals (3) and points (5), while Brent Davis' three assists are also a team best. … Matthew Turner and Rich Drazin have shared the goaltending duites, combining for a 6.20 goals-against-average and an .862 save percentage. … Lebanon Valley has scored first in just one of its first 10 games. … Six of the Dutchmen's 10 goals have come in the second period. … Lebanon Valley has covered just 3 of 70 powerplay opportunities, while the Dutchmen's opponents are 20-for-64 with the man advantage.
