CANTON, Mass. – The Curry College men's ice hockey team defeated Franklin Pierce University, 5-2, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Canton Ice House.

The Colonels snagged the early lead in the first period as sophomore Alex Ochterbeck (Dallas, Texas) lit the lamp for a power-play goal just 1:46 into the contest. The assist on the opening marker was awarded to freshman Austin Whelan (Richmond Hill, Ontario). Senior assistant captain and goaltender Justin Ketola (Cloquet, Minn.) preserved the clean sheet in the first stanza, turning away seven Raven shots.

The teams then combined to score four goals in the second period. Ochterbeck tallied his second goal of the contest 21 seconds into the frame off of helpers from junior Viktor Jansson (Stockholm, Sweden) and sophomore Mic Curran (Arlington, Mass.). Franklin Pierce got in on the scoring with two straight goals from sophomore Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) to tie the game with 10:10 to go in the middle period. Curry regained the lead just over two minutes later as freshman Nicholas Favaro (Vaughn, Ontario) put a shot past Franklin Pierce junior goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) for his second marker of the season. Junior assistant captain Tyler Lindstrom (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and classmate Eetu Selanne (Coto de Caza, Calif.) picked up the assists as the Colonels carried a 3-2 advantage into the third period.

The Colonels added to its lead in the final period of regulation, thanks to a goal from junior Tristan Morin (Unionville, Conn.) and an empty-net marker from Curran to give Curry the three-goal victory.  

The Colonels went 1-for-4 on power plays while the Ravens were 0-for-4. Curry had 40 shots while Franklin Pierce registered 29.

Ketola converted 27 saves in the victory for the Colonels. Wallace made registered 35 saves in net for Franklin Pierce in the setback.

Curry (9-3-2 overall) wraps up non-conference play on Sunday, January 5 against SUNY Potsdam at 2:50 p.m. Franklin Pierce (8-4-1 overall) returns home to host Johnson & Wales (R.I.) on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

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