A pair of freshman defensemen provided the scoring, the Golden Knights’ steady goaltender made the key saves and the Green and Gold’s fourth line supplied the spark as the Clarkson University Hockey team knocked off Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) regular season champion Colgate University 2-1 in the semifinals of the league’s championship tournament at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, NY on Friday evening. The Knights, who moved above the .500 mark for the first time since early January with an 18-17-5 overall record, will play Harvard in Saturday’s championship game, beginning at 8:00 p.m.
A trio of Clarkson rookies started the scoring when freshman blueliner Matt Curley (Madrid, NY) one-timed a pass from classmate Brodie Rutherglen (Trail, BC) from the top of the right circle for his first collegiate goal at 3:01 of the opening period. Jamie McKinven (Kingston, ONT) also assisted. The Knights had an excellent opportunity to add to their lead when junior Chris Blight (Cambridge, ONT) was awarded a penalty shot after he was pulled down on a shorthanded break away attempt with 2:58 remaining in the period, but couldn’t convert on the ensuing penalty shot. With 1:40 left in the opening frame, the Raiders tied the score on a quick wrist shot by Kyle Wilson.
The Knights regained the lead at 14:34 of the second when freshman Michael Grenzy (Lockport, NY) finished off a pass from behind the net by sophomore Jeff Genovy (Kalamazoo, MI) for his second collegiate goal and first career game-winner. Junior Lyon Porter (Shaker Heights, OH) also assisted to complete a solid effort from Clarkson’s checking line, which also included freshman Max Kolu (Tuku, Finland).
Clarkson outshot the Raiders 34-28, including by a 17-8 margin in the second period. Sophomore Dustin Traylen (Kirkland, QUE) posted 28 saves, including an acrobatic sprawling blocker save on Colgate’s leading scorer Jon Smyth late in the final frame to preserve the win. The Raiders Steve Silverthorn posted 24 stops, including the save on Blight’s penalty shot.
Clarkson, which has won four ECAC Tournament titles, returns to the league championship game for the first time since 1999 when the Knights defeated St. Lawrence 3-2 in Lake Placid.
