OSWEGO, New York– The No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's hockey team defeated Curry College 4-3 on Saturday night at the Marano Campus Center in their final game of the 2017 Pathfinder Tournament. With the win the Blugolds improve to 11-2-3 overall while the Colonels fall to 7-5-1 in the loss.
UW-Eau Claire struck first in this one late in the first period on a goal from Tyler Hart (So. - Woodbury, MN) assisted by David Henry (Sr. - Foster City, CA) and Todd Koritzinsky (Jr. - Verona, WI) to make it 1-0.
Despite a strong first period, the Blugolds would surrender a late first period goal as Jordan Williamson (Fr.- Okotoks, AB) tied things up 1-1 for the Colonels with just 31 seconds left. Tyler Vankleef (Sr.-Dundas, Ontario) was credited with the lone assist. Vankleef earned his first of three assists on the night.
Curry would take the lead very early in the second period on a goal from Lionel Mauron (So.- Lausanne, Switzerland) just over a minute into the middle frame to make it 2-1. Vankleef had the solo assist.
UW-Eau Claire would respond with a goal of their own with 9:40 left in the second period on a goal from Mac Jansen (Jr. - White Bear Lake, MN) to make it 2-2. Captain Jake Hopfner (Jr. - Eastpointe, MI) was credited with the lone assist on the goal.
Kyle Lee (Jr. - Wausau, WI) would give the Blugolds the lead back on the power play on Lee's fifth goal of the season about five minutes later with assists from Henry and Patrick Moore (Sr. - Grand Rapids, MN) to make it 3-2.
Curry would answer one more time with 9:10 left in the third period on a power-play goal from Mack Heisinger (Jr.- Winnipeg, Manitoba) that made it 3-3. The goal was assisted by Vankleef and Zach White (So.-Milford, Conn.).
UW-Eau Claire got the game-winning goal from Colton Wolter (Jr. - Fairbanks, AK) assisted by Adam Knochenmus (Sr. - Roseau, MN) with just 3:01 left the play in the game.
The Blugolds goaltender, Jay Deo (Sr. - Langley, British Columbia) made 45 saves for the win. The Colonels netminder, Brett Sinclair (Sr. –St. Catherines, Ontario) finished with 27 saves in the loss.
Vankleef was named to the All-Tournament Team after the championship game.
Curry is back in action on Friday, January 13 when they travel to Elmira College for a 7:00 p.m. game.
