Maine Hockey Journal

Fleurent lifts UNE to PAL Stovepipe title

Most Valuable Player Brady Fleurent scored three goals and assisted on another to lead the University of New England Nor’easters to the PAL Stovepipe Tournament title with 6-2 win over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in college men’s ice hockey action Sunday afternoon at The Ice Den.

Winners of three consecutive games, the Nor’easters squared their record at 4-4-1, while the Corsairs dropped to 2-5-2. UNE captured its second PAL Stovepipe championship in program history, with its last title coming in 2011. The event is hosted by Southern New Hampshire University.

After Casey Shea of UMass Dartmouth and Fleurent swapped first-period goals, the Nor’easters took control in the second period, outscoring the Corsairs 3-0 in the frame to establish a 4-1 advantage. Dylan Bengston gave the Nor’easters the lead for good at the 4:08 mark before Fleurent provided UNE with a 3-1 cushion on his second marker of the afternoon, which came on the power play and just before the halfway point of the period. Fleurent would complete his hat-trick less than four minutes later, pushing the Nor’easters’ lead to 4-1.

Blaise Healy converted a rebound at 15:17 of the third period to make the score 5-1 in favor of UNE. Brandon Gilmore tallied for the Corsairs just inside the two-minute mark, but Armand Uomoleale responded 45 seconds later to close the scoring and provide the final margin of 6-2.

All-Tournament selection Connor Maloney stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced in goal for UNE. First-year defenseman Tony Crow joined Maloney and Fleurent as All-Tournament selections for the Nor’easters, who led 52-29 in shots on goal. UNE was an efficient 2-for-5 on the power play.

Drew Michals piled up 46 stops for UMass Dartmouth.

The Nor’easters will conclude first-semester action with a New England Hockey Conference road trip next weekend. UNE faces Saint Anselm College on Friday (7 p.m.) and New England College Saturday (4 p.m.).

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