Fitchburg State Overpowers Ice Hockey, 4-1

Smith notched his first goal of the season


Wright tallies his second assist of the season and 13th of his career

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 25, 2017) – The Stonehill College ice hockey team was unable to keep up with Fitchburg State University in a 4-1 non-conference loss in the opening round of the inaugural Steve L. Hoar Memorial Tournament hosted by Becker College at the Worcester Ice Arena Saturday afternoon.

Stonehill (2-3-1) saw sophomore Ryan Smith (Arlington, Massachusetts/Tilton School) tally his first goal of the season and fifth of his career for the Skyhawks only score of the game. Sophomore Cameron Wright (West Dummerston, Vermont/Springfield Pics - USPHL) assisted Smith with his second helper of the season and 13th of his career. Classmate Billy Palmer (Cranston, Rhode Island/Boston Bandits – EHL Premier) recorded 29 saves in the loss.

Fitchburg State's (5-2-1) Tyler Warila registered two goals and one assist, while Nick DiNicola and Kyle Hillick notched the other two goals. Connor McPherson, Sascha Figi, Michael Fretz, and Corey Hayashi assisted in the goals. The Falcon's goaltender Kirby Saari stopped 20 pucks in the victory.

Stonehill had the advantage in the first period with nine shots to Fitchburg's five, but the Falcons took an early lead with a goal by Warila at 12:45. Both teams fell 0-1 in power plays in the first frame prior to the goal.

In the second period, the Falcons notched three shots back-to-back before Warila found the back of the cage at 2:19 for his second goal of the afternoon. Figi recorded the assist after ripping a shot that was blocked by Thomas Mahoney (Suffern, New York/The Taft School). About three minutes later, Warila dished the puck off to DiNicola for a three-goal lead, 3-0, at 5:25 in the second frame.

The Skyhawks were able to cut the deficit to two, 3-1, as Wright and Smith were able to string together a quick goal after a line change at 8:30 in the third period. Fitchburg's Hayashi won the faceoff at 13:56 and passed it to Fretz who slapped a shot at Palmer's pads, and Hillick collected the rebound for his third goal of the season, putting the Falcons back up three goals, 4-1.

The Skyhawks will face the loser of Becker College versus Bryn Athyn in the consolation game of the Steve L. Hoar Memorial Tournament, hosted by Becker at the Worcester Ice Arena tomorrow, Sunday, November 26.

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