HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's ice hockey team opened their 2023-2024 season with a 4-3 overtime win over visiting Fitchburg State University on Friday evening at Lee Clement Arena in Henniker, New Hampshire in non-conference action.

THE BASICS
Score:                    Fitchburg State 3, New England College 4 (OT)
Records:               Pilgrims 1-0-0, 0-0-0 NEHC | Falcons 0-1-0, 0-0-0 MASCAC

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons struck first with 3:41 to go in the opening period when Fitchburg freshman forward Nicklas Millhorn (Brownstown, Mich.) recovered a saved puck on the putback and sent it through for his first career goal, assisted by fellow rookies Jackson Collins (Wake Forest, N.C.) and Graham Broadfoot (Dublin, Ohio). The visitors led 1-0 going into the first intermission.           
• Just 25 seconds into the second period, the 'Grims would answer as junior forward Jesper Tarkiainen (Naperville, Ill.), a transfer from the University of Vermont, scored his first goal since coming to Henniker with an assist to freshman center Paul Waldhauser (Klagenfurt, Austria)
• Fitchburg regained the lead with 6:31 remaining in the second on a power play when junior defenseman Jack Johansen (Milford, N.H.) found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, assisted by Broadfoot and freshman forward Hunter Dunn (Douglas, Mass.), as the Falcons went ahead 2-1 going into the second intermission.
• Still trailing with exactly thirteen minutes to go in the game, the Pilgrims went on a much-needed power play opportunity. They would capitalize just 26 seconds later when Waldhauser found an open shot and fired for his first collegiate goal, tying it up at 2-2 with assists to junior forward David Novotny (Boca Raton, Fla.) and sophomore forward Kam Hellman (Macomb, Mich.).
• The Falcons took the advantage back with 5:22 to go when Fitchburg junior forward Toivo Kramer (New York, N.Y.) scored with an assist to senior forward        Cole Archambeault (Leominster, Mass.) as the visitors went up 3-2.
• With 1:18 to go, NEC was awarded another power play. NEC head coach Tom Carroll called timeout to gather his team and it paid off with 33.0 seconds to go in the game as freshman right-wing Shane Adler (Dallas, Tex.) found the back of the net for his first career goal, tying it up at 3-3 with assists to Waldhauser and freshman defenseman Cam Perez (West Hartford, Conn.). A flurry of NEC shots by the Pilgrims in the closing seconds of the third came up just short, and the game headed to overtime.
• Just 1:01 into the extra period, Novotny, one of the few upper classmen on this year's team, took the game into his own hands and blasted home the game-winner, giving NEC the victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• NEC senior goaltender Kai Tomita (Misawa, Japan), getting the first start of his collegiate career, had a strong opener, tallying 33 saves on the night and keeping the young 'Grims team in the game in the early going.
• Fitchburg sophomore goaltender Max Macchioni (North Kingstown, R.I.) finished with 20 stops for the Falcons.
• Fitchburg outshot NEC on the night, 70-53, while the Pilgrims enjoyed a 42-33 advantage in faceoffs won.
• Fitchburg graduate defenseman Antoine Gignac (Quebec City, Que.) led all players with ten shots.

UP NEXT

• NEC is back on the ice next Friday when they open their New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) schedule with a 7:00 p.m. game at Elmira College.
• Fitchburg State travels to MCLA for their next game, that coming on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.