Pioneers hand Seahawks first loss

UTICA, NY - In one of the nation's biggest Thanksgiving weekend matchups, the No. 12 Utica College men's ice hockey team won the championship of the Delta Hotels Thanksgiving Showcase with a 5-1 victory over No. 7 Salve Regina University at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Pioneers delivered the most complete home performance of the season on home ice to win their second all-time title in their home thanksgiving tournament in two tries. The last edition of the tournament was held in 2015. Utica is now 5-1-2 in its first eight games and has won back-to-back contests. Salve Regina falls to 8-1 with its first loss of the season.

The Pioneers out-shot the Seahawks 47-23 in the win. Utica had over 40 shots on goal in both games of the tournament this weekend, and a 47 shot effort is a new season high for the Pioneers. Utica was 0-for-7 on the power play, but kept the Seahawks silent at 0-for-5.

A balanced effort ruled the roost for the Utica offense as the Pioneers hit the five goal mark for a third time this season. Ten of the team's nineteen dressed skaters had a point in the matchup. Freshman Brandon Osmundson (Chesapeake, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) had a three point night on two goals and an assist, and continues to lead the nation in points per game by a freshman. Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) and Jamie Bucell (Garfield Heights, OH/Philadelphia (EHL)) each had a goal and an assist, and Donovan Ott (Lebanon, PA/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (ECAC Hockey)) also had a goal and assist on the way to being named the MVP of the tournament. Sophomore defenseman Cameron Bartkoski (Dallas, TX/Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)) scored his first collegiate goal in the 22nd game of his career.

Utica goaltender Sean Dickson (Millbrae, CA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL-Premier)) stopped 22 of 23 shots, and commanded the crease all night en route to his second win of the season.

Salve starting goaltender Louis-Felix St. Jean gave up three goals on the first nineteen shots of the game as he took his first career loss. Tony Rehm thwarted 26 of 28 shots in relief. The lone Salve goal was scored by Cayden Kraus.

The Seahawks next take to the ice when they travel to face Curry College in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) matchup on Saturday, December 7, at 4:50 p.m.