Rutland, VT – Senior Johan Granath (Stockholm, Sweden) scored the eventual game-winning goal and assisted on another in the first period to lead sixth-seeded New England College over the third-seeded Castleton State College men's ice hockey team, 6-1, in the quarterfinal round of the ECAC Division III Men's East Tournament at Spartan Arena on Saturday night.
Alex Muse (Lynnfield, MA) added a hat-trick and an assist to improve the Pilgrims to 11-13-2 overall helping New England College advance to the semifinal round of the ECAC Division III Men's East Tournament on Friday, March 5 versus Norwich at a time to be determined later. The Cadets are the No.1 seed and will host the semifinal round game. The Spartans' season ends at 9-12-5 overall.
Castleton got on the scoreboard first receiving a goal from Dan Mauriello (Guilford, CT) only 2 minutes and 45 seconds into the playoff opener.
From behind the net, Evan Romeo (Kanata, Ont.) fed a slashing Mauriello directly in front of the net and the sophomore finished with a backhander over the glove of New England College goaltender Aaron Harvey (Milford, N.S.) for a 1-0 lead. Eric Curtis (Rockford, MI) also picked up an assist on Mauriello's second goal of the season.
The Pilgrims responded quickly with back-to-back unanswered goals – spread out just 42 seconds apart – and never looked back.
At 4:10, Muse cut through two defenders and whistled a wrist shot past the blocker of Castleton goaltender Arthur Hollinger (Homer Glen, IL) to tie the score at 1-1.
Moments later, Granath gave New England College a 2-1 advantage at 4:52 sniping a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle over Hollinger's glove into the top right corner of the net.
Granath added cushion room to the Pilgrims lead with 12 seconds remaining in the first period orchestrating a beautiful goal for teammate Jeff Armando (Canton, MA).
After a give-and-go pass from Granath to Armando that gave the Pilgrims' duo clearance into the offensive zone, Granath evaded Castleton's lone defender on a 2-on-1 break and dished Armando a one-timer in the slot for his 11th goal of the season.
Mark Ehl (North Vancouver, B.C.) put New England College ahead 4-1 late in the second period at 15:08.
Ehl ripped a shot past the blocker of Spartans backup goaltender Seth McNary (Woburn, MA) for his 10th goal of the season.
On the power play in the third period, Muse put the game on ice for the Pilgrims at 14:40 potting his second goal of the game – 17th overall on the season – with a wrister over McNary's blocker for a 5-1 gap.
Muse completed his hat-trick with a shorthanded-empty net goal at 18:41 to make it 6-1.
Harvey made 25 saves while Hollinger negated 11 shots. McNary turned away 18 shots.
