SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—The Skidmore College hockey team shook off a third-period Fredonia comeback to beat the Blue Devils 3-2 Saturday in the first round of the Skidmore Thanksgiving Tournament at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
The Thoroughbreds (1-6-1) will play either Canton or #10 Hamilton in Sunday's 4 p.m. championship game. Fredonia (3-4-1) will play the loser in the consolation game at 1 p.m.
 
Brandon Kasel had 34 saves including a pair of second period breakaways to get the win. Matt Bernot, Matt Muzyka, and Tim Allen scored for the Thoroughbreds.
 
Skidmore came out strong, outshooting Fredonia 6-1 over the first four minutes of the game. The Thoroughbreds broke through when Matt Bernot pounded home a Chris Javens pass in the crease, beating Eric Bogart stick side for a 1-0 lead at 4:24.  John Litscher assisted.
 
The Thoroughbreds killed off a 1:33 5-on-3 over the final :52 of the first period and the start of the second. Skidmore then scored on its second power play, when Matt Muzyka wristed a cross-ice pass from Owen Campbell for his third goal of the season at 4:02. Adam Moodie started the play for the assist.
 
Kasel stopped the first of two breakaways when he stuffed a shot by Colin Valentine at 5:50. He stood his ground on a Sam Wilbur break at 9:20 to keep it 2-0 at the end of two.
 
Fredonia staged a late comeback to tie it on goals :54 apart. Kyle Jelinski finally solved the Kasel puzzle with a goal at 7:20 from Bobby Polachek and Sean Leonard. Tyler Riter tied it for the Blue Devils with an unassisted goal at 8:14.
 
Tim Allen stopped the Fredonia surge with his first goal of the season at 11:46 from Corey Morgan and Muzyka.
 
The 3-2 lead held up to send the Thoroughbreds into the championship game for the second straight year.
 
Fredonia had a 36-35 shot advantage. Kasel had 26 of his 34 saves over the final two periods. Bogart totaled 32 saves.
 
HAMILTON 3 CANTON 1
In the second game, Hamilton battled back a determined Canton team. The Kangaroos poured 14 shots on net over the first 19:00, but Anthony Tirabassi was up to the challenge, holding Canton off the board. A late first period power play resulted in Rory Gagon's second goal of the year to put the Continentals in front 1-0 at 19:52.
 
Canton tied it in the second when Josh Sova connected with Joe Deveny at 13:40. Reily McIntosh had the second assist.
 
Gagon made it 2-1 at 9:31 of the third from Sterling Bray. He completed the hat trick with an empty netter at 19:48.
 
After being outshot 14-7 in the first period, Hamilton finished with a 36-28 shot advantage. Tirabassi totaled 27 saves. Austin Washkurak had 33 saves for Canton, including 15 in the third period.