RUTLAND, Vt. – Three different players scored goals to lift the Castleton University ice hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in the season opener for both teams played at the Spartan Ice Arena.
The Spartans peppered junior netminder Ryan Hubbard (West Bridgewater, Mass.) with 15 shots in the first period, however Hubbard denied all 15 attempts. Castleton had a 15-5 shot advantage in the first period.
At 3:54 of the second period, Castleton finally broke the ice as senior Kevin Rosset (Crans-Montana, Switzerland) scored from classmate Patrick Thornton (Orillia, Ont.). Fourteen seconds into a man advantage, the Spartans struck again as senior Bart Moran (Calgary, Alta.) scored from freshmen Henning Dahlberg (Mariestad, Sweden) and Troy Taylor (Mississauga, Ont.) at 16:41. Wentworth had an 11-9 shot advantage in the second period.
Early in the third period Castleton made it a 3-0 game with its second power-play goal of the contest. Just 10 seconds into the man-advantage and 47 seconds into the period sophomore Gus Carlsson (Orebro, Sweden) scored from senior Nick Kovalchik (Brownstown, Mich.).
Wentworth had numerous chances throughout the period, however were denied by junior Ryan Mulder (Ottawa, Ont.). With 2:33 remaining, Hubbard was pulled for an extra attacker and the Leopards would have four shots saved by Mulder before sophomore Paul Filippone (Cranston, R.I.) scored off the rebound of a freshman Dakoda Menslage (Orleans, Mass.) shot which was also set up by sophomore Sam Levin (Simsbury, Conn.) at 18:28. The Leopards attempted to close the gap late in the contest but were unable to get another puck past Mulder.
Mulder made 28 saves while Hubbard made 27 saves. Castleton had a 30-29 shot advantage for the game.
Wentworth is at Southern Maine on Saturday.
