Box Score

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.—The Skidmore College men's hockey team didn't get caught looking ahead to its Saturday showdown with defending NCAA III champion Norwich with a 7-0 win over St. Michael's College, Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.

Thoroughbred goalie Colin Bessey (Montclair, N.J./Trinity-Pawling) stopped 27 shots for his first career shutout and the first Skidmore shutout since 2007-08 season.

The Thoroughbreds (9-11-2/8-6-2 ECAC East) got out of the gate quick when Alex Radmin (Watchung, N.J./Northern Cyclones) converted a breakaway from Brendan Cottam (Belmont, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) and Philip Buonocore (Westfield, N.J./N.J. Rockets) just 53 seconds into the game. The onslaught continued with Skidmore scoring three straight power-play goals. Nick Dupuis (Holyoke, Mass./Springfield Falcons) started it, scoring a power-play goal at 7:03 from Hunter Thayer (Shelburne, Vt./Green Mountain Glades) and Tony Giacin (St. Louis, Mo./N. Iowa Outlaws). Buonocore made it 3-0 37 seconds later from Alex Essaris (Dollard-Des-Ormaux, Que./Worcester Acad.) and Giacin. Zach Menard (Burlington, Mass./N.H. Monarchs) scored the fourth goal at 19:39 from Thayer and Brad Schuler (Delran, N.J./Hamilton Red Wings).

In the second period, Skidmore extended its lead to 6-0 with a pair of goals 18 seconds apart. Aaron Beck (Maribel, Wisc./Lake Forest Acad.) scored his second of the season from Essaris and Giacin at 17:30 and Joe Melnyk (Rotterdam, N.Y./CD Selects) scored 18 seconds later from Thayer and Tyler Doremus (Aspen, Colo./New England Huskies).

Beck had the lone goal of the third at 7:47 from Schuler and Thayer.

Bessey improved to 7-5-1 overall and 7-1-1 in ECAC East play with the shutout. He lowered his league GAA to 1.99.

Skidmore will host Norwich on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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Hockey Game Box Score (Final)
2011 Skidmore College Hockey
St. Michael's vs Skidmore College (Feb 11, 2011 at Saratoga Springs, NY)
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St. Michael's (8-12-1, 5-10-1 ECAC) vs. Skidmore College (9-11-2, 8-6-2 ECAC)
Date: Feb 11, 2011 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Arena: Saratoga City Rink
Attendance:285 Start time:7 pm End time:8:51 Total time:1:51
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Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
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St. Michael's....... 0 0 0 - 0
Skidmore College.... 4 2 1 - 7

1st period - 1, SKDM, Alex Radmin/2 (Brendan Cottam, Phil
Buonocore) :53. 2, SKDM, Nick Dupuis/8 (Hunter Thayer, Tony Giacin)
7:03 (pp). 3, SKDM, Phil Buonocore/2 (Alex Essaris, Tony Giacin) 7:40
(pp). 4, SKDM, Zach Menard/4 (Hunter Thayer, Brad Schuler) 19:39 (pp).
Penalties - Reave MacKinnon, STMM (high sticking) 5:16; Nick Sheehan,
STMM (cross-checking) 6:46; Kevin Lampron, STMM (hooking) 10:25; Tully
LaBelle-Hamer, STMM (hooking) 18:14.

2nd period - 5, SKDM, Aaron Beck/2 (Alex Essaris, Tony Giacin)
17:30 (pp). 6, SKDM, Joe Melnyk/3 (Hunter Thayer, Tyler Doremus)
17:48. Penalties - Jake Lewis, SKDM (tripping) 3:08; Glenn Belmore,
STMM (cross-checking) 15:32.

3rd period - 7, SKDM, Aaron Beck/3 (Brad Schuler, Hunter Thayer)
7:47. Penalties - Joe Melnyk, SKDM (boarding) 3:20; Fran Briand, STMM
(hooking) 13:11.

Shots on goal - STMM 7-11-9 27; SKDM 17-14-13 44.

Power plays - STMM 0 of 2; SKDM 4 of 6.

Penalties - STMM 6 (12 min); SKDM 2 (4 min).

Goalies - STMM, Brendan Rimmer 2-5 (40:00 minutes, 31 shots-25
saves) , Mike Dizgun (20:00, 13-12); SKDM, Colin Bessey 7-5-1 (60:00,
27-27).

Penalty shots - None.

A-285 T-1:51
Three stars: 1. None 2. None 3. None
Referee:Mike St. Louis Linesman:Scott Spencer; Matt Brady
Win-Colin Bessey (7-5-1). Loss-Brendan Rimmer (2-5).