Worcester, MA- In the opening of the 2024-25 season, continuing with tradition, the Worcester State Men's ice Hockey team (0-0-0, 0-0-0) begins their season in WooCup fashion as they host Nichols College to begin their season. Last year the Lancers dropped their meeting with Nichols in the consolation bracket and are looking to start their season this year on a championship front by claiming the WooCup title.

Final

Worcester State: 1

Nichols: 4

How it Happened:

In the first period, both teams hit the ice and started with a faceoff between junior Aston Hamel (Okemos, MI) and graduate student Drew Eid (Gorham, ME) which was won by the Bisons. Throughout the period, Nichols took numerous shots but the Lancer goalkeeper senior Jakob Kubik (Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic) stayed strong and redirected them all away from the cage. While both sides fought hard on defense, the Bisons were able to stay in scoring position for a majority of the first period. 12:38 into the period, senior Josh Dickson (Port Perry, OT) scored the first goal for the Bisons assisted by sophomore CJ Zezima (Norwalk, CT). The Lancers were able to get the puck into scoring position multiple times but ultimately the Bisons' defense was able to hold their wall as they headed to the first intermission leading 1-0.

In the second period, the Bisons started by winning the faceoff between senior Josh Dickson (Port Perry, ON) and junior Shane Prifrel (Inver Grove Heights, MN). Both teams had a competitive back and forth on defense but the Bisons were able to apply lots of pressure on the Lancers' defense as they scored two more goals. The first goal was scored by first year Dimitri Voyatzis(Fountain Valley, CA) and assisted by junior Jack Lee (Naperville, IL) at four minute mark in the period while the second goal was scored at six minute mark by junior Aaron Hamel (Okemos, MI) and it was assisted by Zezima. The Bisons' defense would prevail the rest of the period to keep the Lancers off the board as they headed to the second intermission leading 3-0.

Worcester would find their own scoring momentum in the third when first year Christian Howanitz (Boulder, CO) connected with first year Cam Quigley (Quincy, MA) for the first Lancer goal of the season. The Bison would stall the enthusiasm though with their fourth goal that would put the lead just out of reach for Worcester, with the game ending 4-1 in the Bison's favor.

Kubik would wrap up the day with 37 saves while the Lancers would have 13 of their own. 

What's Next

The Blue and Gold will now face Assumption for their matchup on Sunday November 3rd as they head back onto the ice at 4:40pm in the Consolation match.