Saint Michael's College

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Killian Wright's (Arlington, Mass./Thunder Hockey Club) tying goal with 2:16 left in regulation was the fourth scored by a Saint Michael's College men's ice hockey first-year on Saturday in a season-opening 5-5 draw with 15th-ranked Babson College at the Babson Skating Center.
 
First-year DJ Parouse (Los Angeles, Calif./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) capped the comeback by scoring the only goal in the ensuing shootout against the Beavers, whose ranking was according to the most recent U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) Division III national poll.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (0-0-1), Babson (0-0-1)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Wright, 1 goal (1st career), 1 assist
• Senior Brayden Naumann (Boston, Mass./Dexter Southfield School), 1 goal, 1 assist
• First-year Cam Fahey (Reading, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club), 1 goal (1st career), 1 assist
• First-year Ty Gwatkin (Lyndonville, Vt./Boston Dogs), 1 goal (1st career), 1 assist
• First-year Beckett Homlish (Cherry Hills Village, Colo./New Jersey Rockets), 1 goal (1st career)
• Senior Ty Bloom (Helena, Mont./Helena Bighorns), 1 assist, 16-for-24 faceoffs
• Sophomore Evan Dresser (Everett, Mass./Belmont Hill School), 1 assist, 3 blocked shots
• Junior Evan Plunkett (Charlotte, N.C./Holderness School), 35 saves

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Senior Jimmy Fallon, 1 goal
• First-year Declan Grenache, 1 goal
• First-year Hayden Hutner, 1 goal
• First-year Nico Pasquale, 1 goal
• First-year Nolan Russell, 1 goal
• Senior Mason Rosado, 29 saves

GAME FACTS

• Saint Michael's had a positive decision against a nationally-ranked team for the second time this calendar year, downing No. 14 Salve Regina University, 2-1, on Jan. 10.
• Babson held narrow advantages in shots (40-34) and faceoff wins (38-33).

THE ACTION

• Gwatkin scored just 1:59 into his college career after a scrum out front, with Naumann and Bloom assisting. The Purple Knights made it 2-0 by 13:54 of the opening period when Fahey put home a rebound from the left circle. Wright and sophomore Aj Sacco (Middleton, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) lent helpers.
• Pasquale netted a rebound 2:09 into the second stanza, but Saint Michael's reestablished its two-goal lead at the six-minute mark, when Naumann banged in junior Jack Tuite's (Shrub Oak, N.Y./Springfield Jr. Pics) centering pass. Gwatkin's poke check near the wall set up the opportunity.
• Babson responded with the next four goals in a matter of 8:27, with Russell's tip from the slot seconds after the end of a power play at 14:47 kicking off the flurry. Grenache took advantage of a bad line change for the equalizer on a breakaway 34 seconds after that.
• Hutner deposited a rebound for the go-ahead strike 1:34 into the third period, and Fallon finished an odd-man rush at 3:14.
• Homlish countered with 5:47 gone from the slot, converting assists from junior Sj Lecomte (Port Monmouth, N.J./Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings) and first-year Will Rob (East Montpelier, Vt./Carleton Place Canadians).
• In the waning minutes of regulation, Wright took Fahey's post-to-post pass to the left post to tie the game once more, at 17:44. Dresser also assisted.
• Plunkett made two stops in the final 29 seconds to ensure overtime before the Purple Knights held a 4-1 advantage in shots during a scoreless 3-on-3 extra session.
• With Saint Michael's shooting second, both teams missed their first three shootout tries. After Plunkett made his fourth save in as many Beaver attempts, Parouse, a rookie defenseman, concluded his college debut by deking Rosado to pot the clinching tally.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Friday at Worcester State University, 2:30 p.m.