Box
Score
NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Four different Cadets scored
goals, and Ryan Klingensmith made 38 saves to lead the 12th-ranked
Norwich University men's ice hockey team past Gustavus Adolphus,
4-3, in the championship game of the 10th annual Times Argus
Invitational Saturday evening at Kreitzberg Arena.
Klingensmith, who made several spectacular saves, and was solid
throughout the tournament, was named the event's Most Valuable
Player. Freshman Emmond Bell, who scored the game-winning goal
midway through the third period, and also added an assist, was
selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Rookie. Nikita Kashirsky
and Craig Serino, who each tallied goals for the Cadets were named
to the All-Tournament Team.
Norwich (5-2-2) got on the scoreboard first as D.J. Fimiani
scored a power play goal off assists from Kashirsky and Bell at the
7:37 mark. Gustavus Adolphus had several great scoring chances,
including a pair of breakaways, in the first period, but
Klingensmith stopped each of the Golden Gusties' 12 shots. The
Cadets generated several scoring opportunities of their own, but
were unable to add to their lead and they went into the first
intermission in front, 1-0.
The second period was an exciting one that featured a total of
four goals - two by each team. Serino started the scoring frenzy as
he scored off a rebound exactly two minutes into the frame. Rico
Piatelli was credited with an assist on the goal, which gave the
Cadets a 2-0 lead at the 18:00 mark.
Gustavus Adolphus (8-5-0) sliced its deficit in half midway
through the second period as Joe Welch scored off assists from
James Leathers and Eric Bigham at the 11:36 mark. Norwich
recaptured its two-goal cushion at the 13:41 mark when Kashirsky
scored an unassisted short-handed goal. Kashirsky skated into the
Gusties' zone on a forecheck, stole the goaltender's up-ice pass
and then buried the puck into the empty net. Gustavus Adolphus
fought back, however, and Bigham's power play goal with 1:22 to
play in the period made it a 3-2 game. Leathers was credited with
an assist on the play.
Bell broke through with the game-winning tally at the 8:40 mark
of the third period, giving the Cadets a 4-2 lead at the time. The
Gusties refused to quit, though, outshooting the Cadets 14-5 in the
final stanza. Their pressure paid off at the 10:53 mark as Welch
scored his second goal of the game off assists from Ross Ring-Jarvi
and Leathers.
Norwich had to hang on down the stretch, with Klingensmith
making some tremendous saves to preserve the victory.
For the game, Gustavus Adolphus outshot Norwich 41-27. The
Gusties went 2-for-7 on the power play, while the Cadets were
1-for-2.
Norwich has a quick turnaround for its next game, as the Cadets
travel across Lake Champlain to battle regional rival Plattsburgh
State on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. The Cadets and Cardinals met
earlier this season at the Primelink Great Northern Shootout, and
the two teams skated to a 3-3 tie. Tuesday's game will be available
live on the radio (WDEV: FM-96.1/AM-550), and on the internet (www.cadetsradio.com).
All-Tournament Team
Nikita Kashirsky, Norwich
Craig Serino, Norwich
David Martinson, Gustavus Adolphus
Brad Wieck, Gustavus Adolphus
Matt Ward, Neumann
Karl Linden, Elmira
Most Valuable Rookie: Emmond Bell, Norwich
Most Valuable Player: Ryan Klingensmith,
Norwich
