HENNIKER, N.H.- For their first road trip in New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) play, the Norwich Men's Ice Hockey team ventured down Interstate 89 to take on former travel partner and twin state for New England College Friday night.

The first period saw the two sides trading chances with both sides having extended shifts in the offensive zone. First, it was the Cadets who held the edge in the early minutes, but then the Pilgrims roared back in response. They continued to trade long stretches of possession, but after the first period the game remained scoreless with Norwich holding a 12-11 shot advantage in a burgeoning goaltending duel between Anthony Beaulieu and Sami Molu (Toronto, On.).

The early part of the second period was much the same as the two sides were looking for the ice breaker. Eight minutes in, the Pilgrims would take the first penalty of the game where the Cadets would make them pay. A Zach Ophoven (Burlington, On.) chance at the side of the net was stopped, with the long rebound that came to the middle. Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, On.) shoveled it back to the right point for Johnny Johnson (Naperville, Ill.). Johnson slid the puck across to Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.) whose wrist shot through traffic gave Norwich the lead on the power play goal. The Cadets continued pressing, but Beaulieu kept the game at 1-0 after forty minutes.

After weathering the storm during a four-on-four, the Pilgrims put their foot on the gas seeking the equalizer with Molu making numerous saves in the process. Norwich looked to extend their lead late on a powerplay 13 minutes in but could not convert. Minutes later, David Novotny would score amid traffic off a faceoff to tie the game with 3:39 remaining, eventually sending the game to overtime. The Cadets had the early flurry in the extra period, while NEC held the edge late but both sides were held off the scoreboard ensuring the 1-1 draw with the Pilgrims scoring the lone marker in the shootout. Molu finished the day with 35 saves, while Kerner and Kyle Kudrna (Bartlett, Ill.) led the team in the shot department with five each.

Norwich and NEC will conclude their two game weekend series Saturday Nov. 16 at 4 PM.