NCAA TOURNAMENT: No. 7/7 Endicott Visits No. 8/9 Trinity In Quarterfinal Round On Saturday

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BEVERLY, Mass. – The No. 7/7 nationally ranked Endicott men's ice hockey team (24-3-2) will travel to No. 8/9 Trinity (19-6-3) this Saturday to play in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament at the Albert Creighton Williams '64 Rink in the Koeppel Community Sports Center at 7 PM.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will be available at the door at 6 PM. There will be no advance sales for Saturday's NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal Round game. Ticket prices are as follows: $6 for adults, $4 for students with ID, and $3 for senior citizens and children ages 12 and under. Children two and under get in for free.

THE MATCHUP/SERIES HISTORY

Saturday's meeting will be the first between the two programs. Endicott enters this weekend's NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round matchup on a 12-game winning streak. During that span, the Gulls have outscored their opponents 71-24 (includes two shutouts). Endicott also sports a 10-1-2 record on the road this season.

Meanwhile, Trinity has won nine games in a row headed into Saturday's contest, and also boasts a 12-2-0 record at Williams Rink in 2016-17. The Bantams have outscored 44-13 during that span.

SCOUTING ENDICOTT: The Gulls' national ranks include - No. 1 scoring offense (4.97 g/gm, 144 goals), No. 6 scoring defense (1.97 g/gm, 57 goals), No. 1 scoring margin (3.00), No. 2 power play (43/149, 28.9%), No. 10 penalty kill (143/165, 86.7%), No. 2 combined special teams (186/314, 59.2%), No. 2 team winning percentage (24-3-2, .862%), No. 2 longest current unbeaten streak (12-0-0).

NOTABLE GAMES

• No. 13/14 Norwich, October 28, 2016 (Tie, 3-3 OT – Box Score | Recap)
• No. 11 Neumann, January 7, 2017 (W, 4-3 – Box Score | Recap)
• University of New England, March 4, 2017 (W, 5-4, CCC Championship – Box Score | Recap)
• No. 4/5 Hobart, March 11, 2017 (W, 4-3, NCAA Tournament First Round – Box Score | Recap) 

SCOUTING TRINITY: The Bantams' national rankings include – No. 11 scoring offense (4/18 g/gm, 117 goals), No. 4 scoring defense (1.82 g/gm, 51 goals), No. 4 scoring margin (2.36), No. 16 fewest penalty minutes (11.5 PIM/gm), No. 26 power play (28/135, 20.7%), No. 4 penalty kill (109/122, 89.3%), No. 14 combined special teams (137/257, 53.3%), No. 11 team winning percentage (19-6-3, .732%, No. 3 longest current unbeaten streak (9-0-0). 

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH – ENDICOTT 

Tommy Besinger (Milton, Mass.): Ranks No. 5 in the country in points per game at 1.69… has compiled 18 goals and 31 assists for 49 points… holds single-game record for most assists with five which occurred this season against Salve Regina University on January 28, 2017… that was a 9-1 victory for the Gulls… No. 6 in the country in assists per game (1.07). 

Ross Olsson (Billerica, Mass.): Ranks No. 16 nationally in points per game at 1.46… has registered 17 goals and 18 assist for 35 points… leads the program in career points with 65 (29g, 36a)… No. 7 in the country in power play goals (8). 

Cam Bleck (Lake Forest, Ill.): Ranks No. 19 in the country in points per game at 1.43… has tallied 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 points… scored the CCC Championship game-winner with 8.7-seconds remaining after giving Endicott a 4-3 advantage earlier in the third period with a beautiful toe-drag, sniper from the left face-off circle… No. 8 in the country in goals per game at 0.75 (21g)… tied for first in all of NCAA Division III in power play goals at 10 total… ranks second in career points in program history with 61 (31g, 30a). 

Logan Day (Seminole, Fla.): Leads all defensemen in the country in points per game at 1.31… has collected 38 points on 15 goals and 23 assists… the No. 2 defenseman in the country has 34 points (8g, 26a, 34p)… only one of four defensemen to have 10 or more goals… leads all defensemen in total goals, and has three more than the No. 2 defenseman… ranks No. 29 in Division III in points per game at 1.31. 

Kevin Aldridge (Birmingham, Mich.): No. 17 in the country in goals against average (2.02)… No. 8 in save percentage (.935)… No. 3 in winning percentage (21-3-2, .846)… No. 3 in shutouts (4)… has made 35 or more saves in eight games… 40 or more save five times… 767 saves total in 26 games played. 

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH – Trinity 

Sean Orlando (Ivyland, Pa.): Team leader in points with 35 total (17g, 18a)… ranks No. 35 nationally in points per game at 1.25… is No. 32 in the country in goals per game (0.61)… scored a hat-trick against Franklin Pierce University on November 26, 2016… also has two 2-goal games versus Wesleyan (Feb. 17) and Plattsburgh State (Mar. 11 – NCAA Tournament First Round). 

Tyler Whitney (Wakefield, Mass.): Second on the team in points with 34 (12g, 22a)… tied for No. 42 in the country in points per game (1.21)… No. 35 in assists per game (0.79)... has dished out two assists in a game six times this season including the Bantams' NCAA Tournament first round win over Plattsburgh State on March 11. 

Ryan Cole (Anchorage, Alaska): Tied for third on the team in points with 31 (13g, 18a)… leads the country in game-winning goals with six total… his six game-winning goals also would stand tied for second among NCAA Division I leaders and tops among NCAA Division II leaders. 

Alex Morin (St. Hubert, Quebec): Seventh nationally in goals against average (1.77)… No. 12 in save percentage (628 saves, .932)… No. 13 in winning percentage (17-6-3, .712)… tied fourth in shutouts with eight other student-athletes (3). 

WHAT'S NEXT 

The winner of Saturday's matchup will play the winner of St. Norbert and Augsburg on Saturday, March 24 in the NCAA Tournament semifinal round at 6:30 PM in Utica, N.Y. at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

NOTES

• Endicott is ranked No. 7 in both the D3hockey.com and USCHO.com national polls
• Trinity is ranked No. 8 via D3hockey.com and No. 9 by USCHO.com 

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(Photo Credit - Kevin Colton)