FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Vermont State University Castleton men's ice hockey team kicked off the second half of its season with a 5-3 road victory over Framingham State University on Thursday evening.
 

The Basics

• Final Score: VTSU Castleton 5, Framingham State 3

• Location: Loring Arena – Framingham, Massachusetts

• Records: Castleton 7-5-1 | Framingham 3-9-0
   

How It Happened
Castleton wasted no time starting 2026 on a high note. Just 34 seconds in, Emmett McHardy scored his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Holdin Getzlaf. Framingham responded seven minutes later with a shorthanded goal to tie the game.
 

The Spartans regained the lead late in the first period when Jackson Edwards scored at 16:16, assisted by Marcus Bellomo and Cole Bowditch, sending Castleton into the first intermission up 2-1.
 

Framingham struck early in the second period to even the score again at 2-2. But when the Rams were called for their fourth penalty of the night, Balint Mesterhazy won the faceoff to Edwards, who found Josef Vyvial for a one-timer that put Castleton back on top, 3-2. Goaltender Josh Ward made a crucial penalty-kill save to preserve the lead heading into the final period.
 

The Rams tied it at 3-3 midway through the third, but the Spartans weren't done. David Coyle fired a shot that bounced to Luke Chakrabarti, who buried it to give Castleton a 4-3 lead. With just over a minute left and Framingham pressing with an extra attacker, Coyle fed a streaking Chakrabarti, who scored into the empty net to seal the 5-3 win.
 

By the Numbers

• Chakrabarti now has 10 goals in his last eight games, including three game-winners this season.

• Edwards finished with two points (1 goal, 1 assist), while Coyle added two assists.

• Castleton dominated the faceoff circle (46-26) and outshot Framingham 56-30.

• Ward made 27 saves for his fourth win of the season.
   

Up Next
The Spartans stay on the road, traveling to Norwich University on Saturday for a 4 p.m. Little East matchup.