PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) and sophomore Jeromey Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) each tallied hat tricks as Plymouth State University exploded for a 12-1 win over Salem State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday night.
 
Barone, who tallied his first career hat trick on Nov. 22, outdid himself with a four-goal, two-assist effort for a career-best six-point game. He sparked the offensive outburst with a pair of power play goals just two minutes apart in the opening frame.
 
Rancourt was impressive as well, totaling three goals while going 14-0 in the faceoff circle.
 
The Panthers' 12 goals were the most since a 12-2 win over Framingham State University on January 29, 2015.
 
Junior Brendahn Brawley (Morton, Pa.) was solid between the pipes with 37 saves.
 
Plymouth State rises to 7-1-1 (5-0-1 MASCAC), while the Vikings fall to 2-7-0 and 1-5-0 in the MASCAC.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 12, Salem State 1
  • Plymouth State (7-1-1, 5-0-1 MASCAC)
  • Salem State (2-7-0, 1-5-0 MASCAC)

How it Happened:

• Barone jumpstarted the Panthers with back-to-back power play goals in the first period, striking at 7:36 and then against at 9:38.
• Senior Simon Besner (North Lancaster, Ontario) added to the first period scoring with his first of the year for a 3-0 lead after one.
• The second period scoring opened just 33 seconds into action with junior Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.) lighting the lamp, and Rancourt's first of the evening at the 8:20 mark made it 5-0.
• Salem State briefly slowed the momentum after converting on a power play at 10:11, but Barone completed the hat trick just 12 seconds later for a 6-1 advantage.
• Sophomore Whim Stalberg (Gotenburg, Sweden) batted home his second of the season at 15:58, and Rancourt's second of the game pushed the lead to 8-1 heading into the third period.
• Freshman Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) scored at 3:09 of the third period and senior Mike McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) added a marker a minute later as the lead ballooned to 10-1.
• Rancourt scored midway through the period to complete his first hat trick, and Barone wrapped up his career night with a third power play tally in the final minute.

By the Numbers:

• After being held without a goal through the first six games, Barone has seven goals and two assists over the last three.
• Rancourt has a point in each of the last four games.
• Abbate had a six-point game with a goal and five assists, while Besner added four helpers to his score. Junior Niks Krollis (Riga, Latvia) also had a multi-point game with a pair of assists.
• PSU converted 3-of-7 power plays, with Barone scoring all three goals, while the Vikings were 1-of-6 with the man advantage.
• The Panthers improve to 9-1-1 in the last 11 meetings with the Vikings.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers head to the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday (Dec. 7) for a non-conference battle with the Beacons. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m.