Men's Ice Hockey

Men's Hockey Ties Wesleyan, 1-1

January 21, 2006                                                                            
Contact: Daniel O’Reilly
Phone: (802) 654-2929

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Saint Michael's College men’s ice hockey team (6-7-3, 3-5-3 ECAC East) extended their unbeaten streak to three games on Saturday, skating to a 1-1 tie with Wesleyan University (3-9-2, 2-6-2 NESCAC) at Cairns Arena.

For the Cardinals, Will Bennett (Dedham, Mass./Phillips Exeter Academy) tallied a goal, while freshman Mike Palladino (Litchfield, Conn./Taft School) stopped 34 of the 35 shots he saw between the pipes.

For the Purple Knights, senior Nick Dancey (Anaheim, Calif./American International) scored, and junior Derek Jackson (Clinton, N.Y./Gunnery School) made 27 saves.

Saint Michael's controlled the tempo of the opening period, outshooting Wesleyan 11-7. Neither side was able to take advantage of a scoring opportunity, however, though sophomore Tim Dancey (Anaheim, Calif./Berkshire School) came close during the third minute, sending a shot off the right post.

During the second period, the Cardinals held a 9-7 shot advantage, despite the fact that the Purple Knights controlled time of possession. Each team went 0-1 on the power play, with limited scoring opportunities. With just under eight minutes to play, Jeff Harris (Clifton Park, N.Y./Capital District) seemed primed to break the tie with his first goal of the season, receiving a centering pass out in front of the Wesleyan net. The junior forward chipped the puck into the air, but Palladino was able to harness the shot, denying the attempt. With 4:30 to play, and the Cardinals on the shorthand, Wesleyan freshman J.J. Evans (Orland Parl, Ill./Deerfield Academy) found his way past the defense and skated in all alone. His shot sailed just wide, and for the second day in a row, Jackson shutout the opposition for the first 40 minutes.

The final period featured end to end action, and it was the Purple Knights who drew first blood. At the 11:59 mark, Nick Dancey took a shot from just inside the right face-off circle, and the puck deflected off the top of Palladino’s glove and found the back of the net, putting the home team up 1-0. Credited with an assist was junior Jared Silver (Montreal, Quebec/Tabor Academy), who extended his scoring streak to nine games, a span in which he has contributed three goals and 16 assists. Late in regulation, with 3:27 to play, just seconds after Wesleyan called their timeout, Evans and sophomore Derek Davidson (Southington, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall) provided Bennett with feeds, which the junior forward took advantage of to even the score at one, forcing overtime.

In the extra frame, each side managed just one shot on goal, but neither managed to notch the game winner, concluding the game tied at one.

Saint Michael's plays again on Friday with a 7 p.m. match up against Northeast-10 rival Saint Anselm College. Wesleyan, meanwhile, will host Williams College Friday, also at 7 p.m.