Hockey's Amazing Playoff Run Ends with Loss to Endicott in CCC Championship

BEVERLY, Mass. – Using a pair of goals in the third period, the top-seeded and 12th ranked Endicott College men's ice hockey team edged Wentworth Institute of Technology, 2-0, in the championship game of the 2020 Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament.

THE BASICS:

RECORDS:  WIT (9-15-3); EC (22-5-0)
SHOTS:  WIT 49; EC 31
PENALTIES/MINUTES:  WIT 7/14; EC 6/23
POWER PLAYS:  WIT 0-3; EC 0-4
GOALIE SAVES:  WIT – Connor Carbo, 47; EC – Conor O'Brien, 31

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both teams battled through a scoreless first period, a period that was not without scoring chances, however. Endicott had a 21-13 edge in shots through the first period. Freshman Connor Carbo (Berlin, Vt.) continued to be hot in the playoffs, making 21 saves.
• Wentworth saw a great chance in the second period by senior Georgy Gorodetsky (Yekaterinburg, Russia), which was saved by sophomore Conor O'Brien (Pinellas Park, Fla.). The Gulls had a 13-7 shot advantage in the second period.
• Endicott took a 1-0 lead at the 12:40 mark of the third period when freshman Eric Johansson (Malmo, Sweden) put home a rebound. Classmate Zach Mazur (Lancaster, N.Y.) took an initial shot which Carbo made a tough save on and the rebound popped out to Johansson who provided all the offense the hosts would need. With 12 seconds left and Carbo pulled for an extra attacker, junior Jake Simons (Coral Springs, Fla.) sealed the championship with an empty-net tally.
• Carbo made 47 saves for the Leopards, many of which from point-blank range, while O'Brien turned aside 31 shots for Endicott.
• Endicott has a 49-31 shot advantage. Wentworth killed off all three of its shorthanded situations, making the Leopards 10-for-10 on the penalty kill in the postseason.

NOTEWORTHY:

• Wentworth is the first-ever number six seed to make the CCC championship game.
• The Leopards are now 6-6 in 12 championship game appearances since the 1999-2000 season.
• Carbo finished the tournament with a goals against average of 1.01 and a save percentage of .976.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the fourth meeting this season between the two foes and the 14th all-time. Endicott leads 12-2, having won the last five meetings. Today was just the second postseason meeting between the Leopards and Gulls with Endicott holding a 2-0 edge.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth wraps its season up with a 9-15-3 record. Endicott wins its second CCC Championship and advances to the NCAA Division III Tournament where the Gulls will find out their opponent on Monday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m.

For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Wentworth Leopards "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.