With one of its best efforts of the year the Clarkson University Hockey team snapped a three-game losing streak to its archrival and generated some momentum for the return to ECAC Hockey League play after a convincing 6-2 victory over St. Lawrence University in a non-league game before 3,987 fans at the Corel Centre in Ottawa, Ontario Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Knights, who defeated RIT 5-2 at Cheel Arena on Friday night, improved their record to 12-6-2 overall. Ranked 18th in the country, Clarkson will begin a four-game conference road trip when it travels to New York’s Capital District region to battle Union and Rensselaer next weekend.
Junior Mike Sullivan (Stouffville, ONT) highlighted the Knights’ most productive offensive outing against the Saints since late in the 2001-02 campaign with his first two-goal effort of the season. All four lines accounted for goals and 12 different players recorded points for Clarkson, including sophomore Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) who collected a career-high three assists.
Although out shot 13-8 in the opening period, Clarkson made the most of its chances to grab a 2-0 lead in the first. Sophomore David Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) scored his second goal of the weekend taking a pass from Dodge at the right circle, where he wristed in his seventh goal of the season at 4:30. Sophomore defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) also assisted. At 11:53, the Knights’ fourth line produced the Green and Gold’s second goal as junior Max Kolu (Turku, Finland) finished off assists from linemates, freshman Mike Willemsen (Stittsville, ONT) and sophomore Mike Arciero (Avon, CT) for his first goal since the season opener on October 7.
The Knights poured it on in the second period adding four more goals in a span of 4:42 to take a commanding 6-0 lead through 40 minutes. Sullivan began Clarkson’s roll in the middle frame with a pair of power-play goals just under three minutes apart. Sullivan made it 3-0 at 7:35 finishing off a pass from Cayer from the right side with junior defenseman Michael Grenzy (Lockport, NY) also assisting. Sullivan struck again from the same spot at 10:33 for his ninth goal of the season with Dodge and Grenzy assisting. Just 57 seconds later, sophomore Shawn Weller (South Glens Falls, NY) continued the Knights’ scoring barrage with his first goal in five games and team-high 11th of the season. Freshman Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) and Grenzy assisted. At 12:17, senior Jeff Genovy (Kalamazoo, MI) close out Clarkson’s scoring with his seventh goal of the season with freshman Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) and sophomore Clitsome assisting.
St. Lawrence (12-7-1), ranked 11th in the nation spoiled the Knights’ shutout bid with two goals early in the third.
Clarkson held a slight 31-30 shot advantage. Junior Kyle McNulty (Wakefield, RI) played a solid game in the Knights’ goal with a 28-save outing, including 22 stops through the first 40 minutes.
The Knights were 2-of-5 on the power play, while St. Lawrence was 1-of-9 on the man advantage.
