Auburn, ME – Senior forward Cody Ivey tied the program record of 85 career points in CMCC men's ice hockey's 4-2 victory over Dartmouth College on Sunday afternoon at Norway Savings Bank Arena. The Mustangs have now won seven straight for their longest winning streak of the campaign.
Neither team found the back of the net in an entertaining first period, with both teams creating chances and setting the tone for the game between to conference rivals jockeying for playoff positioning. Central Maine was looking to avenge a 3-2 defeat in Hanover, NH on October 26th.
CMCC got its first Dirigo Technology powerplay chance of the game early in the second period after a cross-checking minor was called on Nathan Rebello. Captains Zach Mitton and Diego Alonso combined to send a breakout pass to Ivey down the left wing. The Winslow, ME native got to the left circle and sizzled a wrist shot short side past the blocker of Dartmouth goaltender Mark McGuire. That gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at the 5:06 mark.
The lead did not last long. Alex Rockmore evened things up five minutes later, on a gift from the Mustangs defense. Heath McLean looked to lug the puck out of his own zone before a poke check from the Big Green forward forced a turnover. Rockmore had plenty of time to pick his spot, giving Sebastian Couturier no chance in between the posts.
Rockmore helped set up the go-ahead tally as well with 2:17 left in the period. His feed into the corner gave Ben Offit time behind the net to look for a pass. He found Roger Friedlander at the top of the crease for a one-timer to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
Central Maine would respond before the intermission. McLean delivered an inch-perfect pass through the neutral zone to Mikita Kalmykov for a two-on-one, and when defenseman Bryce Alexander lost an edge in the slot it was up to the back-checking Spencer Watson to try to block the pass across. His headfirst dive did get a piece of the puck, but unfortunately for the forward, he diverted it past his goaltender and across the line with 55 seconds remaining. That handed Kalmykov his 17th goal of the season.
Another powerplay goal broke the deadlock midway through the third period. Mitton sent a pass across the slot to the base of the left circle for Aaron Higgins. CMCC's leading scorer planted a one-timer in the back of the net for his 25th tally of the campaign, making it 3-2 with 9:24 to play.
Ethan Blue then finished things off with an insurance marker in the final two minutes. The newcomer to the team recorded his first goal for the Mustangs after Zach Jones and Michael Belleau won a battle behind the net. When the puck came back to the left point, the defenseman from Lewiston, ME blasted a howitzer that beat the goaltender clean on the blocker side.
CMCC outshot Dartmouth 58-28 on the afternoon and went 2-for-2 on the power play. The Mustangs improve to 18-5-0 overall and 6-2-0 in the NECHA Colonial North. The team has not lost since a 3-2 defeat on the road against the division-leading Colby College Mules on November 17th.
Next up for Central Maine, a home game against Thomas College on Saturday, February 1st to close out the conference schedule. Puck drop against the Terriers is scheduled for 6:30 pm at Norway Savings Bank Arena.
