The #8 Maine Black Bears scored three second period goals on Friday evening, and would defeat #18 Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) 5-2 in men’s hockey action in the opening round of the Ledyard Bank Classic at Thompson Arena in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Despite being outshot 9-8 in the first period, Maine would get the only goal of the opening 20 minutes. Brandon Chabrier snapped a long shot from the right point that beat RIT goalie Tommy Scarfone through a screen provided by Harrison Scott at the 3:06 mark. A Chabrier turnover early in the second allowed the Tigers to tie it. After Carter Wilkie picked up the mistake at the Maine blue line by Chabrier, he would skate in and fire one past Victor Ostman with a quick shot at 1:34. The Black Bears would take over after that. The Nadeau brothers connection gave them a lead they would never relinquish, as Josh from behind the net would find Bradly in the low slot who slammed it into the net at 5:17. Two more goals 21 seconds apart would make it 4-1, as Scott scored at 8:35 and Felix Trudeau tallied at 8:56. Matthew Wilde got the Tigers back within two on the powerplay at 11:55, but it was a stanza dominated by Maine as they outshot RIT 21-5. Bradly Nadeau made it five straight wins for his team when he scored his second of the game with an empty net goal at 19:44 of the third period.
Bradly Nadeau and Donovan Villeneuve-Houle were the multiple point scorers in the Maine win, as Nadeau had his two goals and Villeneuve-Houle had three assists. Cole Hanson, Sully Scholle, Josh Nadeau, Reid Pabich, Thomas Freel, and David Breazeale all had one assist each. Ostman made 14 saves, as the Bears improve to 11-3-1. Scarfone made 33 stops for RIT. The Tigers, out of the Atlantic Hockey Association, drop to 11-6 on the season. Maine was 0-5 on the powerplay, while RIT went 1-6. The Black Bears play in the championship game of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night against the hosts from Dartmouth. The Big Green (3-3-6) defeated Lake Superior State 4-0 in Friday’s second game.
Recap by Chris Lessner
Bradly Nadeau attempts to make a pass to his brother Josh during a win over UNH at Alfond Arena earlier this season. Bradly netted two goals on Friday to lead the #8 Maine Black Bears to a 5-2 win over #18 in the opening round of the Ledyard Bank Classic in Hanover, New Hampshire. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
