Men's Ice Hockey wins thrilling home opener

The Pilgrims would not waste much time getting on the board as junior Trevor Turner (Westbank, B.C.) would score a power-play goal assisted by Jim Pouliot and Johan Granath (Stockholm, Sweden) just 7:09 into the opening period.  The two teams would settle down battling through the remainder of the first scoreless.

Castleton would tie the game early in the second period as Ryan Bartlett (Brunswick, Maine) would net and unassisted goal just 5:10 into the period.  Castleton would finished the period holding the slit edge in shots out shooting the Pilgrims 7-5 but neither team would score in the final 14 minutes, heading into the third knotted at 1-1.

The two teams would continue to battle back-and-forth throughout the majority of the third period before Castleton’s Jeff Alexander (Gilbert, Ariz.) would score with just 52 seconds remaining giving the Spartans the 2-1 lead.  The Pilgrims would not give up as Jim Pouliot would net a goal assisted by Alex Muse (Lynnfield, Mass.) and Thunberg with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation, forcing overtime.

Castleton would get three shots on net early in overtime but it would be NEC who would break the tie as Pouliot would net his second goal of the game unassisted with just 1:50 remaining to lift the Pilgrims to the 3-2 win.

Picking up the win in net for the Pilgrims was Aaron Harvey (Milford, Nova Scotia) who finished with 17 saves.  In net for Castleton was Jay Seals (Alma, Mich.) who recorded 18 saves on the evening.