Men’s Hockey: Cadets shutout Spartans, 3-0

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Norwich Sports Information

NORTHFIELD – The Norwich University men’s ice hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to 15 straight games with a 3-0 victory over Castleton University in another edition of the Battle of Vermont rivalry at Kreitzberg Arena on Friday night.

 

No. 2-nationally ranked Norwich (18-1-2, 13-1-0 NEHC) got goals from Tyler Piacentini (South Weymouth, Mass.), Kevin Salvucci (Plymouth, Mass.) and Taeron Lewis (Winnipeg, Manitoba), while senior goalie Ty Reichenbach (Billings, Mont.) made 22 saves to pick up his second shutout of the season.

 

Reigning New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Player of the Week senior defenseman Cody Smith (Hudson, Mass.) kept up his recent hot streak with two assists to help pace the Cadets’ offense. He has 10 points in the last three games and he increased his Division III-leading assist total to 26 on the year.

 

NU improved to 22-5-1 all-time against Castleton and broke the Spartans’ six-game unbeaten streak in the process.

 

Norwich took advantage of two power-play opportunities in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Piacentini tipped an initial shot from the point by Smith for his 13th goal of the season at the 13:27 mark. Salvucci picked up the second assist after sliding the puck over to Smith after a crisscross.

 

Piacentini now has scored in five of NU’s last six games with six total over that span.

 

Salvucci increased the lead to 2-0 exactly five minutes later with another redirection goal for his 13th of the season. Senior William Pelletier (St. Jean Chrysostome, Quebec) took a rip from the point that hit off Salvucci’s skated and redirected into the back of the net at the 18:27 mark. Smith picked up the second assist on the goal for his second point of the night.

 

The Cadets extended the lead to 3-0 at the 15:29 mark of the second period when Taeron Lewis (Winnipeg, Manitoba) shoved home the puck after an initial shot by Christian Thompson (Windham, N.H.) was saved by Mulder. Austin Surowiec (Louisville, Ky.) picked up the second assist with a great look to spring Thompson for the shot.

 

Norwich will look to avenge its only loss of the 2016-17 season on Saturday when it faces Skidmore at 4 p.m. on Senior Day. Skidmore beat Norwich 3-2 in overtime on Nov. 18 in Saratoga Springs.