Junior Chase Nieuwendyk
(Georgetown, ONT) scored a shorthanded goal in the third period for The
College at Brockport Hockey team to cut the lead to 2-1 but a late goal
by Hobart sealed the season-opening loss for the Golden Eagles as
Hobart scored a 3-1 victory Friday night at the Tuttle North Ice Arena
in Brockport.
Hobart (1-0), ranked #15 in the preseason D3Hockey.com national poll, opened the scoring in the second period taking the lead with less than four minutes to play in the period.
Brockport (0-1) had a late power play opportunity that carried over into the third period but could not capitalize and Hobart scored less than 30 seconds after the penalty expired to take a 2-0 lead.
Midway through the third period, Brockport was fighting off its first penalty of the game and defenseman Jonathan Demme (Brampton, ONT) stole the puck along the boards in the Brockport zone and chipped the puck toward the blue line to clear the zone. The Hobart defenseman at the line misplayed the puck and Nieuwendyk was there to collect the loose puck and break down the ice for a breakaway on the goalie.
Nieuwendyk skated across the front of the goal and slipped a backhanded shot between the legs of Lino Chimienti for the shorthanded goal trimming the lead to 2-1 with 10:58 to play.
With two minutes remaining, defenseman Chris Luker (New Hartford, NY) and forward Nate Pelligra (Webster, NY) had shots in close as the two slapped at a loose puck on the corner of the goal but could not score. The puck squirted loose and a quick Hobart breakout led to an insurance goal at the other end of the ice as the Statesmen took a 3-1 lead with 1:47 on the clock.
Brockport goalie Jared Lockhurst
(Caledon, ONT) made 38 saves for the Golden Eagles including 17 in the
first period when Brockport was outshot 17-7 in a scoreless first 20
minutes.
