PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) poured in four goals, including three in the second period alone, to spark Plymouth State University to a 7-1 win over Framingham State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Thursday evening.
Framingham State carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Stuckless and the Panthers erupted in the middle stanza. Plymouth State scored three times in the opening five-plus minutes to burst into the lead. Stuckless tied the game with a power play strike just 3:34 into the frame and PSU went ahead just 20 seconds later. Another power play tally came at the 5:26 mark to make it 3-1.
Stuckless extended the margin with four minutes left in the period, then completed the hat trick with a short-handed tally just over a minute later.
Stuckless would tack on a fourth goal early in the third period as PSU rolled to the win.
Since being shutout in the season opener, Plymouth State's offense has clicked as the Panthers have 29 goals over the last five games (5.8/game).
PSU improves to 4-2-0 (2-0-0 MASCAC), while the Rams fall to 1-4-0 (0-1-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, Framingham State 1
- Plymouth State (4-2-0, 2-0-0 MASCAC)
- Framingham State (1-4-0, 0-1-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- PSU came up empty on its first power play chance and the Rams had a golden opportunity as the penalty expired. The skater jumped out of the box behind the play for a breakaway chance, but junior Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) blocked the shot away.
- Framingham State broke the ice at the 16:31 mark of the period when a pass to the trailer in the high slot led to a wrist shot just inside the left post.
- Junior Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) and senior Connor Tait (Bible Hill, Nova Scotia) skated in on a 2-on-1 early in the second, but the Rams' goaltender made a beautiful glove save to keep the visitors in the lead.
- Stuckless tied the game shortly thereafter, firing a one-timer from the right side during a power play just 3:34 into the frame.
- Freshman Luca Rea (Burlington, Ontario) gave PSU the lead just 20 seconds later, blasting a laser from the left circle inside the left post.
- Sophomore Will Pray (Prague, Czech Republic) stole the puck in the offensive zone during another power play, then whipped a pass through the slot to senior Dante Moretti (Columbus, Ohio), who beat the Framingham State goaltender for the 3-1 lead.
- Senior Cam Patton (Bible Hill, Nova Scotia) sent Stuckless in for a 1-on-1 with the Rams' goalie late in the period and Stuckless lifted a shot to the top left with four minutes on the clock.
- Stuckless completed the hat trick just 1:11 later with a short-handed marker. He received the puck at the right circle and fought off a defender before beating the goalie to the stick side again.
- Stuckless struck again 5:06 into the third, potting a rebound goal for the 6-1 advantage.
- Redick capped the scoring with 3:48 left to play with another rebound tally during a 3-on-2 breakout.
By the Numbers:
- The four goals were a career best for Stuckless, who had not netted a hat trick previously. The last Panther to score four times in a game was JR Barone, who notched four goals and two assists in a 12-1 win over Salem State on Dec. 4, 2021.
- Stuckless was the first PSU skater with three goals in a single period since Josh Woody accomplished the feat against the same Framingham State team on Nov. 19, 2015.
- Redick (one goal, one assist), Rea (one goal, one assist), Patton (three assists) and sophomore Eddie Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) all finished with two-plus points.
- Shantz made 14 saves before giving way to senior Jameson Bourque (Weare, N.H.), who stopped all five shots he faced over the final nine minutes.
- Patton won 14-of-18 faceoffs.
- PSU finished 2-for-4 on the power play while holding the Rams scoreless in three chances and adding a short-handed goal.
- Plymouth State owned a 44-20 advantage in shots.
- PSU improves to 57-12-3 against the Rams. Plymouth State has won the last 24 meetings and is unbeaten in the last 31 (30-0-1).
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Salem State on Saturday (Nov. 23) for a 6:00 p.m. matchup with the Vikings.
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