FITCHBURG, Mass. – Tournament most outstanding player Alex Peck (Kirkland, Que.) made 23 saves and three different players tallied goals to help the Wentworth Institute of Technology ice hockey team capture the 2014 IC Federal Credit Union Shootout with a 3-1 win over host Fitchburg State. The win marks the third time in six tournament appearances the Leopards have claimed the title.
With the win the Leopards improve to 2-0 for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign while the Falcons slip to 0-2.
Fitchburg State jumped on the board at the 6:41 mark of the opening stanza when sophomore Mike Fish (Salisbury, Mass.) netted a shorthanded marker from classmate Jon Johannesson (Red lake, Ont.). Just under five minutes later the Leopards evened the score when senior Jordan Bourgonje (Spruce Grove, Alta.) scored from freshmen Brian Farkas (Shoreline, Wash.) and Jake McDonough (Marshfield, Mass.). Wentworth held a 14-5 shot advantage through the first 20 minutes of action.
The second period yielded no scoring, however the two teams combined to put 25 shots on net (Wentworth 13, Fitchburg State 12).
Just 15 seconds into the third period, freshman Erik Andersson (Madison, N.J.) gave the Leopards the lead for good with a shorthanded tally from senior Kevin Crowe (Galloway, N.J.). Three minutes later the Black & Gold added an insurance goal off the stick of sophomore Matthew Heise (Kirkland, Que.) and set up by senior Ben Iwanowski (Dorval, Que.) and Bourgonje.
Wentworth had a 39-24 shot advantage for the contest and Falcon senior Ryan Wysocki (Grand Rapids, Mich.) made 36 saves.
Peck made 36 saves on 38 shots in the two games to be named the most outstanding player. Joining him on the all-tournament team were Iwanowski and Bourgonje.
The Leopards open ECAC Northeast play on Saturday, November 8, against Johnson & Wales. Fitchburg State is at New England College on Tuesday.