A four-goal outburst in the first period started off the 2007-08 campaign in the right fashion for the Clarkson University Hockey team which skated to a 5-2 victory over Acadia University in exhibition play at Cheel Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Knights, ranked 7th in the national polls, officially open the season on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. when they take on archrival St. Lawrence University in Canton, in a game to be televised live by ESPNU.
Last year’s ECAC Hockey Tournament MVP, junior Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) led a balanced scoring effort with one goal and one assist. Nine different Knights recorded at least one point, including five different goal scorers.
Senior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY), the 2007 ECAC Goaltender of the Year, started in the Clarkson goal and posted eight saves on nine shots through 30:35 of play. Sophomore Tim Potter (Bakersfield, CA) made 18 saves, including 13 in the third period, while allowing one goal.
D’Alvise opened the scoring against Acadia when he knocked in a rebound off a shot by classmate Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT) three minutes after the opening faceoff. One of eight Clarkson freshmen, Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) made it 2-0 at 9:15, taking a feed out of the corner by senior Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY).
At 17:45, junior defenseman Tyrell Mason (Dawson Creek, BC) continued the outburst with a power-play shot from the slot. Guthrie and D’Alvise assisted. Just seven seconds later, senior Mike Arciero (Avon, CT) put the Green and Gold up 4-0 with junior Dan Tuttle (August, ME) assisting.
With 48 seconds left in the period, Paul McFarland put the Axeman on the scoreboard with a shot from the blueline.
At 7:36 of the second, senior defenseman Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) connected on the power play, one-timing a pass from rookie blueliner Bryan Rufenach (Cameron, ONT) to give the Knights a 5-1 lead through two periods.
Acadia started the third period with a 5-on-3 power-play marker by David Lomas 90 seconds into the final frame to cut Clarkson’s lead to 5-2.
The Knights went 2-of-5 on the power play, while Acadia went 1-of-5 with the man advantage.
