HENNIKER, N.H. – The New England College men's ice hockey team puts the game in the bag early against visiting Vermont State University-Castleton on Saturday afternoon at Lee Clement Arena in Henniker, New Hampshire in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) action.  

THE BASICS 
Score: Vermont State University-Castleton 2, New England College 5 
Records: Spartans 7-14-0, 4-10-0 NEHC | Pilgrims 4-17-1, 2-12-1 NEHC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After a slow run so far in NEHC play, NEC came out blazing by scoring three goals in the first period, proving they should have a spot in the postseason. The first of which came a minute and 37 seconds into the game when sophomore defenseman Graham Padgitt (St. Charles, Ill.) tried to rifle one in but was saved which allowed freshman right-wing Shane Adler (Dallas, Tex.) to shoot one in off the rebound to give the team a 1-0 lead. 
• The second of the aforementioned sequence was showing that the 'Grims wanted it more as they were trying endlessly to get the puck beneath the Castleton goaltender before finally freshman center Paul Waldhauser (Klagenfurt, Austria) flicked it in at the 13:10 mark after three tries and was accompanied by Adler on the assist. 
• If that was not convincing enough, NEC wanted to make sure that the momentum stayed on their side as sophomore forward Lukas Washco (Darby, Penn.) cleared the puck out quickly and dumped it to sophomore forward Kam Hellman (Macomb, Mich.) who pushed it in for his first goal of the season with one minute and 34 seconds to go in the first period. 
• Castleton did not want the game to get too far out of reach when early in the second period at the 3:02 mark, sophomore forward Dylan Roebuck (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) dumped it to freshman forward Josef Vyvial (Kolin, Czech Republic) who performed an effective backhander to give his team their first goal of the game. 
• But it did not stop there. The Spartans would yet connect on another goal at the 7:54 mark in the second period by senior forward Stone Stelzl (Blaine, Minn.) who put it in off a pass from behind the goal line where Vyvial and freshman forward Chance Heaphy were in on the assists to cut the Pilgrim lead to 3-2. 
• The 'Grims would not tolerate such a comeback that was seemingly about to happen as junior forward Ike Taraszewski (Wayzata, Minn.) lead the breakaway with three minutes and 10 seconds remaining in period number two and flipped it in off a pass from senior defenseman Zach Nelson (Hudson, Mass.) to give the team a comfortable 4-2 lead. 
• The final period of play did not encounter any surprises until 23 seconds remaining in regulation as junior forward Jesper Tarkiainen (Naperville, Ill.) took advantage of an open net and slid in the puck to eventually give NEC a 5-2 victory in a much-needed fashion. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• NEC senior goaltender Kai Tomita (Misawa, Japan) held firm for his team's win as he racked up 25 saves. 
• Castleton sophomore goaltender Josh Ward (Ottawa, Ontario) saw a little more activity on his end as he tallied a total of 29 saves. 
• The 'Grims outshot the Spartans on goal 34-27. 
• Despite the loss in a hostile environment, Castleton won the faceoff clash potently 37-22. 

UP NEXT 

• NEC is back in action next Saturday, February 3rd when they host the Cadets of Norwich University at the Lee Clement Arena with puck-drop set to 4:00 PM. 
• Castleton plays their next game against the University of Southern Maine Huskies in NEHC play at the Spartan Arena on Friday, February 2nd at 7:00 PM. 

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