CANTON, Mass. – Junior
Cooper Rice scored twice, including the overtime game-winner, as the Skidmore College men's hockey team rallied for a 3-2 victory over nationally eighth-ranked Curry College on Friday night. The Thoroughbreds erased a two-goal deficit, with Rice scoring once and assisting on
Ryan Waltman's tying goal early in the third period.
- Rice netted the winner at 1:54 of overtime, converting after three point-blank saves by the Curry goaltender in a span of less than 10 seconds, moments after the Colonels narrowly missed a potential game-winner at the other end. Rice also assisted on Skidmore's other goal.
- Rice walked all the way around the perimeter of the crease before shooting for the win on the forehand.
- The victory moves Skidmore to 5-5-2 on the season, while Curry falls to 6-4.
- It marks Skidmore's first win over a top-10 opponent since the 2024 NEHC semifinal victory against Elmira.
- Curry scored first on goals by Gage Dill at 10:06 of the opening period and Jett Otwell at 2:29 of the second to take a 2-0 lead.
- Rice put Skidmore on the board at 5:30 of the second period, deflecting a Jack Bartfield point shot. Shane Baker also assisted on the play.
- The Thoroughbreds tied the game early in the third when Rice muscled past two defenders along the wall, fired a long shot that Ryan Waltman collected off the rebound and finished on the backhand.
- Skidmore went 0-for-4 on the power play, including two chances in the third period, but did not take a penalty after the 3:55 mark of the contest and successfully killed Curry's lone power-play opportunity.
- Curry held a 33-25 advantage in shots overall and led 23-8 after two periods, but Skidmore outshot the Colonels 12-9 in the third and 5-1 in overtime.
- Junior goaltender Tommy Aitken made 31 saves to earn his first win of the season for Skidmore. Thomas Heaney stopped 22 shots for Curry.
- The game marked the first meeting between the two programs since 2012, a 3-2 Curry victory.
- Curry reached the NCAA Division III semifinals last season, falling 2-1 to Utica.
UP NEXT
Skidmore will continue its non-conference New England road trip to kick off 2026 on Saturday at Plymouth State. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m.