WORCESTER, Mass. — Holy Cross senior
Nick Hale scored 33 seconds into overtime as the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team rallied from a 2-1 third period deficit to defeat nonconference and Hockey East opponent New Hampshire Saturday night in the Hart Center Rink.
Hale was in the right spot at the right time for the Crusaders (3-12-1) as he cleaned up a juicy rebound in the crease off a shot attempt by junior
Jack Ricketts. 23 seconds after the Wildcats (3-11-1) took a 2-1 lead in the third period, Ricketts tied the game at 2-2 notching his sixth goal of the season.
Junior
Jason Grande earned his first action between the pipes since the contest at Vermont (10/22) and made 35 saves, his highest total as a Crusader.
THE GOALTENDERS:
- Crusaders: junior Jason Grande: 2-2-0, 35 saves, .946 save percentage.
- Wildcats: Tyler Muszelik 1-5-1, 25 saves, .893 save percentage.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both teams had power play chances in the first period, but nothing could come of it. Grande made a spectacular save to his left on a 2-on-1 Wildcat chance at the 14:54 mark robbing Chase Stevenson of a goal.
- A turnover in the Crusader attacking zone just 37 seconds into the second period resulted in senior Alex Peterson trying to go five hole from point blank range, but Muszelik made a save.
- Holy Cross scored 4:29 into the period when freshman Joe Solimine tipped in the puck from the point off a shot by junior Jake Higgins for the 1-0 Crusader lead.
- New Hampshire's Cy Leclerc trickled in shot from point on the power play to tie the contest late in second with 8:55 left.
- 23 seconds later, Ricketts deadlocked the game skating in from the point and firing the shot into the back of the cage.
- Hale was the hero in overtime for the Crusaders.
BEYOND THE BOX:
- Grande's 35 saves were his most in a game since stopping a career-high 38 shots for Bentley at Air Force on Nov. 13, 2021.
- The Crusaders are 3-1-1 on the season when Ricketts scores a goal.
- This marks the first win in program history over New Hampshire.
POSTGAME THOUGHTS:
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders return to Atlantic Hockey Association action next Friday, Dec. 2 at Air Force.
- Puck drop is set for 9:00 p.m. EST.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossMHockey | @goholycross
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Facebook - Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey | Holy Cross Athletics
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