RUTLAND, Vt. -- The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team downed Western Connecticut on Friday evening, 6-2, as six Spartans recorded multiple-point games.

The Basics
• Final Score: Castleton 6, Western Connecticut 2
• Location: Spartan Arena, Rutland, Vt.
• Records: Castleton 8-6-1 (4-4-0 LEC) | WestConn 1-14-0 (0-8-0 LEC)

How It Happened
Castleton was all go from the opening puck drop as Emmett McHardy won it back for his squad, firing five shots on goal in the opening five minutes. WestConn was whistled for a tripping penalty at 5:48, leading to a Spartan power-play goal just eight seconds later off the stick of Trevor Castino, assisted by Cam Reid and McHardy.

The hosts recorded two more tallies in the opening stanza, the second coming from Jackson Edwards at 11:01, assisted by Tyler Burke and Josef Vyvial. The final goal of the period, the eventual game-winner, came on the power-play at 15:57 from Cam Reid, with assists from Luke Chakrabarti and David Coyle to give Castleton a 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

WestConn found some offensive momentum to open the middle stanza, forcing Lukas Bukatovs to make four saves early, before scoring its first goal of the game, a short-handed tally at 6:59, to pull within two. Castleton responded just 28 seconds later with an even-strength goal as the penalty expired, as Burke finished a play set up by Cedrick Theodore and Vyvial in the crease to make it 4-1.

Burke recorded his third point of the night at 13:29, scoring again to make it 5-1, with assists from Castino and Reid. The Spartans' final goal came less than 60 seconds later, as Chakrabarti added his name to the scoresheet on the power-play, assisted by Reid and McHardy, giving Castleton a 6-1 advantage heading into the final period.

After opting for a goalie change to start the third period, the visitors came out firing, recording four shots on goal before finding the back of the net at 2:14 for the game's final tally, making it 6-2 in favor of Castleton. The Spartans forced the relief keeper to make 14 saves in his 20 minutes of action.

By the Numbers
• Reid led the Spartans with a career-best four points, combining three assists with his game-winning goal.
• Burke finished with three points on two goals and one assist, while Castino and Chakrabarti added one goal and one assist apiece.
• Vyvial and McHardy each recorded two assists, while Edwards (1g), Coyle (1a), and Theodore (1a) chipped in one point each.
• In the second start of his collegiate career, Bukatovs turned aside 24 shots to earn his first victory.
• Castleton dominated the shot count, outshooting the Wolves 50-26, and edged them on faceoffs, 34-30.

Up Next
Castleton remains at home on Saturday, January 17, hosting Keene State for a 4 p.m. Little East Conference matchup. Live music from the band PRYMORA will follow.