Maine Hockey Journal

Plymouth State has the lights knocked out

Gorham, ME – It was lights out for the Plymouth State University men’s ice hockey team, both literally and figuratively.

USM Ice Arena lost power – due to poor weather conditions – with 13:36 left on the game clock in the third period. After 20 minutes to see if power could be restored, the remainder of the game was cancelled, but not before the University of Southern Maine netted six goals in a 6-0 defeat on Tuesday afternoon to improve their overall record to 2-1-0 (1-1-0 in ECAC East).

USM dropped their season opener to Norwich University (4-2), but since rebounded with a pair of wins against St. Michaels and Plymouth State with the help of freshman Dan Rautenberg, who hails from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Currently, he’s the Huskies leading scorer with eight points (3g, 5a), including his team four points (1g, 3a) against Plymouth State, before leaving with shoulder injury late in the second period.

USM head coach Jeff Beaney didn’t have an update on his injury, but said that he would be re-evaluated tomorrow.

“He’s the real deal,” said Beaney. “He was brought in to be an offensive force and in this league he will be.”

“The nice thing is he’s from Maine (Cape Elizabeth).”

With the Huskies up 1-0 on a goal from Paul Conter, the line of Jon Rutt, Dan Gordon and Rautenberg made it 2-0 with 13 seconds left in the first period.

The Huskies, on an extended two-man advantage for 1:36, capitalized when Gordon connected on a pass from Rutt, ripping a slap shot past Plymouth State goalie Aaron Runner. Rautenberg would be credited with an assist on the play.

At 4:54 of the second period, Gordon and Rautenberg would strike again, giving USM a 3-0 lead as Rautenberg fed the puck up to Gordon, who held the puck til the last possible moment, stuffing it past Runner.

At 10:21, Rutt made it 4-0 as USM connected for their second power play goal of the night. Rautenberg fired a shot through a screen, where Rutt was able to get a piece of it, beating Runner.

That ended Aaron Runner’s night as Plymouth State put their regular starter, Allen Schneider, into the game.

“They’re (Rutt, Gordon and Rautenberg) all competitive,” said Beaney. “They are quick and it does present problems for other teams. I know Norwich struggled with them and the pace really picks up when they’re out (on the ice).”

USM would add to Plymouth State’s misery as Rautenberg scored his third goal of the season at 15:52 when he connected on a cross-ice fed from Gordon, beating Schneider gloveside, putting the Huskies up 5-0.

With 46 seconds left in the middle stanza, Pat Noonan tapped the backhand shot by Schneider, giving USM a 6-0 lead after two periods of play.

USM senior Jamie Gilbert didn’t have to work too hard in earning his first shutout of the season, stopping all 13 shots.

“(Gilbert’s) one the best goalies in the league,” said USM head coach Jeff Beaney. “He was a little inconsistent at times (last season), but with the experience of last year he’s calm (in all situations).”

USM will now take a break from regular season play as they will take part in the Babson Invitational Tournament along with Babson, Manhattanville and US National Development Under-18 team.

Cody McKinney named NESCAC Co-Player of the Week
Colby College sophomore goaltender Cody McKinney (Weston, Fla.) started out like he ended last season and earned the New England Small College Athletic Conference Men’s Hockey Co-Player of the Week honor on Monday.

McKinney made 67 saves in two 3-2 victories over University of Massachusetts at Boston and Babson College on Friday and Saturday. He had 33 saves, including 17 in the second period, in the victory over UMass-Boston. McKinney had 14 of his 34 stops in the opening period in the victory over Babson. Colby was outshot 71-45 in the two games.

McKinney has a .944 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average heading into Tuesday’s 7 p.m. home game with Curry College. Colby is ranked 14th in the latest Division III national poll.

McKinney has a 17-7-1 record, a 2.19 goals against average, a .925 save percentage, and 678 saves. He shared the NESCAC weekly award with Williams goalie Marc Pulde.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply