SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Castleton State men's hockey team (8-2-0) rolled to its second decisive victory in as many days defeating Johnson & Wales, 5-0, en route to being crowned champions of the sixth annual Saint Michael's Holiday Classic at Cairns Arena on Sunday.

 The final game of the tournament featured four of the five top scorers in the nation in Division III including Castleton sophomore and tournament Most Valuable Player Justin Alonzo (San Jose, Calif.), Castleton sophomore Josh Harris (Torrance, Calif.), Castleton senior Stuart Stefan (Delhi, Ontario) and Johnson & Wales junior Jeremiah Ketts (Foristell, Mo).

The Spartans came out firing and never let up the entire game and worked a 55-15 shot advantage over the runners-up Wildcats, who won their first game yesterday over the hosts Saint Michael's College.

Five different players lit the lamp for Castleton, starting with junior Cody Ayers (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who netted a 5-on-3 goal on a rebound from Stefan at 8:13 of the first.

Stefan, who had three assists on the day, ended the tournament with seven earning a place on the All-Tournament squad.

Harris followed with a breakaway goal, using a brilliant fake to his right to open up the left side of the net for an easy score at 13:23 of the first period.

After the Wildcats battled through a scoreless second period, Castleton freshman Ross Herzog (Wainwright, Ala.) put the Spartans up 3-0 with his first-collegiate goal on a shorthanded effort. Senior Jonathan Lafrance (NDIP, Quebec) followed with his first goal of the season and freshman TJ Hermans (Chesterfield, Va.) added a final goal at 9:26 of the third to cap the tournament win.

Castleton freshman goalie Erick Cinotti (Mahwah, N.J.) earned his first-collegiate shutout turning away all 15 shots he faced. Johnson & Wales sophomore goalie Jeff Menzel (St. Louis, Mo.) made 50 saves against the Spartans.

The Spartans return to action on Friday, January 7 on the road against Trinity with the opening faceoff scheduled for 7 pm.

 All-Tournament Team

Justin Alonzo, So., F, Castleton (Most Valuable Player)
Stuart Stefan, Sr., F, Castleton
Jeremiah Ketts, Jr., F, Johnson & Wales
Domenic Recchia, Jr., D, Johnson & Wales
Alex Higgins, Sr., F, Saint Michael's
Tom Longland, Jr., D, Morrisville