Maine Hockey Journal

UNE advances to PAL Stovepipe Final

Ryan Quinn broke a 2-2 tie with a goal at 3:48 of the third period, as the University of New England men’s ice hockey team advanced to the finals of the PAL Stovepipe Tournament hosted by Southern New Hampshire University with a 4-2 victory over Daniel Webster College Saturday afternoon at The Ice Den.

The Nor’easters (3-4-1) will face the winner of host SNHU and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth tomorrow at 4:10 p.m. Daniel Webster, now 3-4-0, will take on the loser of that game in Sunday’s opening game.

The two teams had traded goals over the opening two periods until Quinn notched the game-winner on a goal assisted by Tom Gildersleeve and Blaise Healy. Quinn would add an empty-netter with just under a minute remaining to give the Nor’easters some additional breathing room.

Coming off a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 8-3 win over Bowdoin College, assistant captain Trevor Fleurent gave UNE a 1-0 lead at 14:30 of the first. Linemates Dylan Bengston and Brady Fleurent set-up the goal.

The Eagles drew even inside the last minute of the frame when Sandy Gray tallied his first collegiate goal.

Despite outshooting Daniel Webster 22-4 in the second period, the Nor’easters were unable to establish a lead on the scoreboard. Gildersleeve notched an unassisted marker at 16:03, but the lead would be short-lived as Ryan Murray scored on the power play with 32 seconds remaining to knot the score, 2-2, heading into the final period.

For the game the Nor’easters held a commanding 42-20 lead in shots on goal. Mason Riley had 18 saves to record the win for UNE, while Morgan Hudson totaled 38 for the Eagles.

The Nor’easters will be seeking their second PAL Stovepipe Tournament title. UNE topped UMass Boston in a shootout to capture the event in 2011.

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