Auburn, ME – Senior forward Cody Ivey broke the CMCC Men's Hockey program-record for points in a career in the Mustangs 6-1 win over UNH on Friday night at Norway Savings Bank Arena. The Winslow, ME native scored at the 8:15 mark in the first period for his 86th point in a Central Maine jersey, before adding a second goal later on in the team's final home game of the regular season.
Central Maine scored two goals in each period to pick up a comfortable win over the Wildcats. Dylan Blue and Aaron Higgins each joined Ivey with two goals apiece, with Higgins also picking up two assists for a four-point night. CMCC outshot UNH 53-23 in a penalty-filled game that saw the teams combine for 46 minutes in the box. The Mustangs went 2-for-8 on the power play and got a 22-save performance from goaltender Isaac White to ensure the win.
The game started out at a frenetic pace with both sides combining for 30 shots in the opening period. Higgins opened the scoring 5:33 into the contest by swiping the puck at the blue line and cruising into the zone on a breakaway. The Falmouth High School product buried a wrister underneath the blocker of UNH goalie Connor Zavory for a 1-0 lead.
Higgins was the catalyst for the second goal as well, leading a three-on-two rush up the ice and putting a hard shot on from the right circle. The rebound came out to Ivey on the left side and the fourth-year player could hardly miss the gaping net from there, sweeping home to set off the celebrations. Colby Pawson made sure to grab the puck for safekeeping and the entire team met Ivey for the handshake line. His 14th goal of the season broke his tie with Gabe Poirier on 85 points for the previous program record.
Ivey added to the 2-0 lead early in the second. Having gotten the record out of the way, the forward out of the Maine Moose seemed a little more relaxed, redirecting a Jon Rioux shot from the blue line into the back of the net just 1:12 after the intermission.
Blue made it 4-0 with 5:15 left in the frame. The teams were playing four-on-four after penalties to Ethan Blue and Rowan Silva. The extra open ice suited the Mustangs just fine. Higgins hit the post from a sharp angle and D. Blue whacked home the rebound after the Wildcats failed to clear the crease.
UNH did break up the shutout bid with 46 seconds left in the second. Alex Peterson picked up the puck behind his own net while on the penalty kill and spotted Dylan McAvoy at center ice with a step behind the defense. His pass put the forward in on the breakaway, with White getting a piece of McAvoy's shot. However, the puck had enough momentum to carry it across the goal line, making it 4-1 heading back into the locker rooms.
CMCC did have some success on the power play, scoring twice with the man-advantage in the third period. Higgins got his fourth point of the night with 5:39 remaining. Mikita Kalmykov set him up in the left circle and Higgins' shot buzzed the net for a 5-1 lead.
Blue then made it 6-1 with his second of the night on another power play chance with 1:27 left to play. Twin brother Ethan passed to Diego Alonso on the right wing and the captain spotted D. Blue in the slot, setting up the former Lewiston Blue Devil for a quick wrist shot to wrap things up.
