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Men's Hockey Upsets #2 Norwich on the Road

12/6/2019 12:00:00 AM

Box Score

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – Behind 54 saves from freshman netminder Brandon Collett and a flurry of blocked shots and near-misses, the Castleton University men's hockey team defeated nationally second-ranked Norwich on the road, 2-1, on Friday evening at Kreitzberg Arena in front of a crowd of 1,347.

The victory snapped a nine-game losing streak versus the Cadets. It is just the second time Castleton has defeated Norwich since 2010, and first on the road. The win also handed Norwich its first conference loss in nearly a calendar year: a 2-1 loss at New England College on Dec. 8, 2018. The Cadets were 16-0-0 over that span in NEHC games, as well as 3-0 in the playoffs. 

Collett's 54 saves ties Jeff Swanson (2005-09) and Billy Thompson III (2003-05) for sixth-most in a single game in program history, and the most since Swanson did it on Feb. 17, 2006 in a 5-2 loss to Trinity.     

The Spartans, with back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked teams, improves to 3-6-1 (2-4-1 NEHC). The Cadets, the reigning conference champion and national runner-up, wrap up their first semester at 8-2-0 and 6-1-0 in the conference.

Freshman Calvin Moïse and junior Nick Gravina provided the goals for Castleton, both in the second period. Junior Glenn Wiswell assisted on both.

After a scoreless first period and a back-and-forth opening to the second stanza, the Spartans pushed the pace over the next few minutes and Moïse, in his first game back from injury, put Castleton up at 7:44 of the second period when he tapped a loose puck in for his third goal of the year. Moïse won the faceoff back to Wiswell, who fired a wrist shot that got through the Cadet goalie and was left rolling in the crease.

Norwich dominated play over the majority of the second period, but an interference minor at 17:30 send the Spartans to the power play. Just under a minute later, Wiswell kept the play alive along the board on the and turned the quick rush into a goal after he crossed to his forehand side and found Gravina back across the crease for the tap-in into the open net. 

Norwich scored its lone goal and activated the Darn Tough Sock Toss 3:23 into the third period to cut the deficit in half. Félix Brassard scored his team-leading 10thgoal of the season with helpers from Connor Swystun and Matt Burchill. 

Norwich seldom relinquished possession in the third period and finished with a 25-2 edge in shots, and 55-20 for the game. The Spartans were called for a too many players on the ice penalty, sending Norwich to the power play, with 7:37 left. Collett made four saves and a point shot narrowly missed the net to kill the threat. 

Norwich pulled its goalie, Tom Aubrun, with 1:09 on the clock. The Cadet shooting gallery produced six attempts over the final 69 seconds. Collett made two saves, while Asa Palker, Andrew Barber, and Brian Leonard each pitched in key shot-blocks to keep it out. The Spartans' all-out defense featured a total of 28 blocked shots on the evening.

Castleton completes its weekend road trip on Saturday at St. Michael's for a 4 p.m. start.   

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