Courtesy Castleton Sports Information
RUTLAND –– The Castleton University men’s hockey team, in overtime for the second straight day with Bryn Athyn, came up short on Saturday at Spartan Arena by the score of 4-3.
Sheldon Brett came down the left wing and found the back of the net on a low shot for the winner for Bryn Athyn with 2:21 remaining in the extra frame, as the Lions improve to 6-3-1. Castleton will go into the new year at 3-8-2.
Castleton was without five regular skaters due to illness and Brandon Collett’s stellar performance in goal was cut short due to injury in the early stages of the third period.
Devn Becker set up the game-winner with a stretch pass from the Lion end to connect with Brett behind the changing Spartan unit. Becker led all players with three points. He scored Bryn Athyn’s second goal, and assisted on its first in addition to the primary helper in overtime. Nikita Smirnov accounted for the other two goals for the Lions. Tanner Congdon also had a multi-point afternoon with a pair of assists.
Jeremy Laplante scored for the second consecutive day to put Castleton up at the 11:23 mark of the first period. Laplante finished with a goal and an assist. Conner Ladabouche scored his first-career goal to extend the lead to two early in the second period. He raced in the right wing and fired a shot near-side over the goalie’s glove. Mark Shroyer moved up to play forward and finished with a goal and an assist. He gave Castleton a 3-2 lead at the 9:29 mark of the third period on a rebound from in close.
The Spartan lead held for just 1:38 before Smirnov got his second of the day after forcing a turnover in the neutral zone and beating Luke Cohen with a long shot.
Collett made 32 saves for Castleton before his early departure. His only blip came at the 15:21 mark of the second period when a partially-saved shot from Smirnov trickled in. Ismael Ralsten earned the win for the visitors in a 30-save performance. Highlighted by a 23-10 third period, Bryn Athyn outshot Castleton, 51-33.
After the break, Castleton returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 4 to host Plymouth State in a non-conference matchup.