Chighisola collects hat trick; Tuttle posts program’s first shutout

Box Score

HOOKSET, N.H. (January 15, 2009) – Freshman forward Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass./Archbishop Williams) scored three times to tally his first career hat trick on Thursday night to lead the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team to a 4-0 victory over Southern New Hampshire in ECAC Northeast Conference play at The Ice Den. Junior goaltender Jon Tuttle (Concord, N.H./Concord) made 30 saves in net for the Ravens to post the first shutout in program history.

Franklin Pierce wasted little time getting things started, as Chighisola potted his first of a pair of first-period goals just 27 seconds into the contest on assists from sophomore defenseman Sean Carroll (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Thunder Ridge HS) and junior forward Phil LaBreck (Thornton, N.H./John Stark Regional). The Ravens would push the lead to 2-0 on another tally by Chighisola at the 10:45 mark of the opening stanza. LaBreck picked up his second of four assists on the evening, while senior forward Coursen Schneider (Stony Point, N.Y./Avon (Conn.) Old Farms) picked up a helper as well.

After a scoreless second period, the Ravens netted two more goals in the third frame to create the 4-0 final. First, senior forward Jeff Kasper (South Boston, Mass./Catholic Memorial) scored his second of the season just 70 seconds into the frame off assists from LaBreck and junior forward Casey Goodell (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding). Later, on the power play at the 7:12 mark, Chighisola capped his hat trick with his ninth goal of the season. LaBreck dished out his fourth assist of the night while senior forward Jay Stempniak (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Francis HS) provided the secondary assist.

Southern New Hampshire held a 30-29 edge in shots on goal in the game and went 0-for-6 on the power play. Franklin Pierce finished 1-for-5 with the man advantage.

Tuttle made 30 saves in net for the Ravens to earn Franklin Pierce’s first shutout in its 157-game history which dates to the 2002-03 campaign. Junior Shane Brooks (Kennebunk, Maine/Northern Cyclones) started in goal for Southern New Hampshire, made 14 saves against 18 shots and took the loss. He was relieved after the final Franklin Pierce goal by sophomore Todd Rowley (Billerica, Mass./Kimball Union Academy), who stopped all 11 shots he faced over the final 12:48.

The Ravens (4-7-2, 1-1-0 NE-10, 3-4-2 ECAC Northeast) return to the ice on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they travel to Curry for an ECAC Northeast Conference contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. at Max Ulin Hockey Rink in Milton, Mass. Southern New Hampshire (4-6-0, 2-0-0 NE-10, 4-4-0 ECAC Northeast) returns to action on Jan. 17 at home against Fitchburg State.