Potsdam, NY – The Clarkson University Hockey team and Colgate University continued their string of low-scoring defensive battles on Saturday as the two ECAC Hockey rivals fought to a 0-0 tie before 3,014 fans at Cheel Arena.
Featuring the past two Ken Dryden Awards winners, as ECAC Hockey’s top goaltenders, the Golden Knights and Raiders skated to their fourth tie in their last five meetings, including three 1-1 draws during that span.
League-leading Clarkson extended its unbeaten streak at Cheel Arena to 20 consecutive games (15-0-5) against ECAC Hockey foes, and holds a first place mark of 11-3-2 in the conference. Ranked 13th in the nation, the Golden Knights own a 16-9-3 overall record after skating to their first scoreless draw since March of 1989.
Colgate, which leaves the North Country with three of a possible four points, stands in eighth place in ECAC Hockey with a 5-7-4 league mark. The Raiders own an 11-12-5 overall record.
Last year’s ECAC Goaltender of the Year, senior David Leggio (Williamsville, NY) faced just 15 shots to record his fourth shutout of the year and seventh career whitewash for Clarkson. Leggio’s best stop came midway through the second period when he made a glove save on the Raiders' leading goal scorer, senior Tyler Burton (Langley, BC), who fired a hard shot from the low slot.
Winner of the Ken Dryden Award two years ago, Colgate senior Mark Dekanich (N. Vancouver, BC) posted 23 saves, including 10 in the second period, to post his school-record ninth career shutout. Dekanich turned aside the only two shots on goal in overtime, denying Clarkson’s leading goal scorer, senior Steve Zalewski (New Hartford, NY) and junior Shea Guthrie (Carleton Place, ONT).
Clarkson sophomore Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT) led both teams with a game-high five shots on goal.
The Knights went 0-5 on the power play, including 50.2 seconds on the man-advantage play in the extra session. The Raiders were also 0-of-5 on the power play, and had a string of three consecutive man-advantage opportunities midway through the third period, including 31 seconds of a two-man power play.
