SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Brandon Kasel stopped 21 shots for his third career shutout and William Brochu scored his first collegiate goals to lead Skidmore College to a 5-0 New England Hockey Conference win over Suffolk University Friday night at the Saratoga Springs City Rink.
 
It was the league opener for both teams. The Thoroughbreds are 2-0 overall, while the Rams drop to 1-1.
 
Skidmore struck early when David Poirier rocketed a shot home from just inside the zone for his first collegiate goal at 2:26. John Litscher and Cole Beckstead assisted. Brochu made it 2-0 when he scored off a give-and-go on a 2-on-1 breakaway with Nicolas Stuckless at 12:59.
 
Brochu's power-play goal at 3:16 of the second upped the lead to 3-0. He drilled a shot into the net from the blueline with Reid Russell and Stuckless assisting.
 
The Thoroughbreds scored twice in an 18 second span of the third to put the game away. Avery Steele one-timed a rebound off his own shot at 15:06. Nicholas Charron became the third Skidmore freshman to collect his first collegiate goal at 15:24 when he snuck the puck past Suffolk goalie Cal Wilcox. Mike Gelatt and Poirier were credited with the helpers.
 
Skidmore outshot Suffolk 41-21. Kasel had 21 saves. Wilcox finished with 36.
 
The Thoroughbreds are home on Saturday at 4 p.m. for Senior Day against Johnson & Wales.