The Clarkson University Hockey team’s return to action after a 27-day layoff did not go as planned as the Golden Knights fell to Maine 5-3 in the opening round of the Florida College Classic in Estero, FL on Friday night.
Clarkson (10-6) will face off against ECAC Hockey rival Cornell in the tournament consolation game at Germain Arena on Saturday at 4:35 pm. The Big Red lost to Lowell, 3-2, in the other first round game on Friday.
Clarkson, playing shorthanded with four key players missing the game for violating team rules, never led against Maine. The Golden Knights lost another player midway through the first period when freshman Lauri Tuohimaa (Helsinki, Finland) was penalized for a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The Black Bears (6-7-2) capitalized on a two-man advantage when Simon Danis-Pepin connected for a 5-on-3 power-play goal for the game’s first goal at 12:35 of the opening frame.
Just 28 seconds into the second period, Clarkson tied the game when senior captain Nick Dodge (Oakville, ONT) knocked in a rebound off classmate David Cayer’s (Longueuil, QUE) shot from in tight. For Cayer that was his 99th career point. Senior assistant captain Grant Clitsome (Gloucester, ONT) also assisted.
The Black Bears came back with two unanswered goals to grab a 3-1 lead. Andrew Sweetland scored at 3:57 followed by Rob Bellamy’s tally at 11:33 for a two-goal Maine advantage.
The Knights mounted a rally with two straight goals to tie the game 3-3 late in the middle frame. Freshman Michael Kosziwka (Mississauga, ONT) converted on a perfect pass through the crease by sophomore Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT) for his first collegiate goal at 12:49. Junior Chris D’Alvise (Mississauga, ONT) also assisted. At 16:12, Clarkson tied the game with senior Mike Arciero’s (Avon, CT) first goal of the season on a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle. Freshman Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) and junior defenseman Tyrell Mason (Dawson Creek, BC) set up the score.
With just 53 seconds left in the second, Maine went back on top with Sweetland’s second goal of the night, and the game-winner. The Black Bears iced the win with their fifth goal with four minutes left in the third.
Clarkson pulled senior goaltender David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) while on the power player with 2:53 left for a 6-on-4 advantage, and despite several excellent scoring opportunities could not close the gap.
Maine out shot the Knights 37-24, including a 29-16 margin through the first 40 minutes. Leggio finished with 32 saves. The Knights were 0-of-4 on the power play, while the Black Bears went 2-of-6 with the man-advantage.
The Knights, with the expected return to the line up of senior Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY), juniors Adam Bellows (Lancaster, NY) and Dan Tuttle (Augusta, ME), and sophomore Tim Marks (Brownville, NY), will look to snap out of a two-game losing skid with Saturday’s consolation game against the Big Red.
