CANTON, N.Y. – The Trine University men's hockey team picked up just their second loss of the season, falling to Hamilton College in the championship game of the 2023 North Country Tournament by the score of 4-0.
The Continentals scored once in each of the first two periods of the contest to build a 2-0 lead for the second intermission. The first goal came at even strength while their second period tally was on the power play.
Down two with just three minutes remaining in the contest the Thunder pulled their goalie in favor of an extra attacker. The all or nothing strategy went against the team with Hamilton adding a pair of empty net goals to finish the game with the 4-0 deficit.
The Thunder outshot the opposition in the contest despite coming up short on the scoreboard. They finished the day with 37 shots on goal to the Continentals 18. Tyler Blanchard led the effort for Trine finishing the game with five of those shots, Michael DiPietra finished with four.
In net Kyle Kozma made the start. He finished the game with 14 saves and just the two goals allowed, the others going against an empty net.
A pair of skaters were named to the weekend's All-Tournament Team, both based on strong performances on Saturday. Drew Welsch and Chace McCardle both took home the honor.
The Thunder return home and to Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play for their next games. The weekend will be dedicated to playing Marian University, with the first game scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.