NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The Norwich Men's Ice Hockey team fed off a raucous student turnout on Friday night at Kreitzberg Arena, earning its third straight Little East Conference (LEC) victory with a 3–1 win over Keene State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

The opening period was a feeling-out process for both sides, as neither team could sustain offensive pressure. Sami Molu (Toronto, Ont.) and Keene State netminder Ethan Swanson were sharp early, tracking pucks cleanly and keeping rebounds to a minimum. Chances were limited at both ends, and while the Cadets held a slight edge in possession, the Owls defended well through the neutral zone to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.

Norwich broke through early in the second period, capitalizing on a defensive play that quickly turned into offense. Just over two minutes into the frame, as Keene State entered the attacking zone, Zach Ophoven (Burlington, Ont.) stripped the puck from an Owl forward and immediately pushed play the other way. Ophoven's takeaway sprung a two-on-one rush with Ben van Waterschoot (Whitby, Ont.) and Nick Cordeiro (Mississauga, Ont.). Van Waterschoot slid a perfectly timed pass across the slot to Cordeiro, who finished past a sliding Swanson to give the Cadets a 1–0 lead.

The goal energized Norwich, which continued to dictate play throughout the middle frame. A strong penalty kill kept Keene State from recording a shot, and the Cadets quickly turned defense into offense once again. Just before the halfway point of the period, Norwich earned its first power play of the night, which soon became a 5-on-3 advantage.

Off the faceoff, van Waterschoot won possession cleanly, allowing Norwich to set up. Devon Thibodeau (Pelham, Ont.) and Cordeiro worked the puck back and forth at the top of the zone, drawing the penalty killers out of position. Thibodeau then found van Waterschoot waiting at the top of the left circle, where he unloaded a one-timer that beat Swanson cleanly, doubling the Cadet lead.

Norwich continued to pour on pressure, hemming the Owls in their defensive zone for extended stretches. Swanson made a series of key saves to keep Keene State within striking distance, but the Cadets' pace and puck movement controlled the period. With just over four minutes remaining, the Owls finally broke through. A point shot found traffic in front, and Joe Fontaine was able to redirect the puck at the top of the crease to cut the deficit to 2–1. Even with the late goal, Norwich dominated the frame, outshooting Keene State 17–4 in the second period.

Keene State carried momentum into the third period and pressed early, looking for the equalizer. Molu stood tall, turning aside several shots through traffic and calmly handling rebounds as the Owls pushed. Six minutes into the period, Keene State went to the power play, but the Cadets delivered a backbreaking response.

Jed Brazo (Homer, N.Y.) collected the puck behind his own net and started the breakout, sending it up the left side to Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, Ont.). Bertrand gained speed through the neutral zone and chipped the puck ahead to Owen Sclisizzi (Milton, Ont.), who raced into the attacking end on a partial breakaway. Sclisizzi snapped a shot over Swanson's shoulder, scoring a shorthanded goal to restore Norwich's two-goal advantage.

From there, the Cadets focused on managing the game. Norwich continued to generate chances, but Swanson made several strong stops to keep the scoreline close. At the other end, Norwich's forecheck and puck control limited Keene State's opportunities and prevented the Owls from setting up sustained pressure.

The Cadets kept the puck in the offensive zone during the closing minutes, delaying any chance for Keene State to pull its goaltender until just 47 seconds remained. Norwich closed out the contest defensively, sealing the 3–1 victory and extending its winning streak in conference play.

Molu earned the win in net for Norwich with a steady performance, while Swanson was tested heavily and kept the Owls competitive with several quality saves. Offensively, the Cadets received goals from Cordeiro, van Waterschoot, and Sclisizzi, with special teams once again playing a pivotal role.

"I can't thank the other teams and student-athletes enough for the support tonight, the energy in the rink was the best it's been all year,: said Head Coach Dominick Dawes '04. "Didn't think we had a great start, but thought we did a great job settling in and dominated the 2nd and 3rd."

Norwich will continue its homestand on Saturday, Jan. 17, when the Cadets host Western Connecticut State for their first-ever meeting at 4 p.m. The contest will also serve as Cadets Fight Cancer Night at Kreitzberg Arena.