WINCHENDON, Mass. (October 30, 2016) – On an emotional night at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team jumped out front with a pair of first-period, power-play goals on Sunday evening, setting the stage for a 3-0, season-opening, non-conference win over Post. Prior to the game, Franklin Pierce honored the memory of late head coach Bruce Marshall with a ceremony featuring many of Marshall's family members.

With the win, Franklin Pierce opens its season at 1-0-0, while Post falls to 0-1-0. For Post, it marked the inaugural varsity game in program history. Franklin Pierce took control early, posting an 18-4 edge in shots on goal in the first period, en route to a 45-13 advantage for the game.

Post got itself into some penalty trouble after the midway point of the first period, which allowed Franklin Pierce to capitalize for a pair of power-play goals. Junior forward Christopher Harris was whistled for hooking at the 11:01 mark, followed by an elbowing penalty to sophomore forward Mack O'Shea at the 12:26 mark, setting the Ravens up with 35 seconds of 5-on-3 time. Franklin Pierce needed just 23 seconds to cash in on the two-man advantage, as sophomore forward Nick Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.) potted his first goal as a Raven. Senior defenseman Taylor Fletcher (Leominster, Mass.) took the original shot from the point, which was saved, and Indelicato jammed home the rebound, while freshman forward James Morrissey picked up an assist as well, at the 12:49 mark.

Franklin Pierce would then strike again, just 65 seconds later, at the 13:54 mark, with another power-play marker. Amid a scramble in front of the goal, sophomore forward Travis Geraci (Old Bridge, N.J.) was able to find the puck and slip it between the pads of Post sophomore goaltender Devin Day, for his first goal of the season.

Special teams continued to be the order of the day in the second period, as Franklin Pierce added a shorthanded tally to create what would stand as the 3-0 final. Off of a faceoff in the left-wing side of the offensive end, the puck came to Fletcher at the point on the right side, and he was able to flutter a shot from there, which found the top-left corner of the net for his first goal of the campaign. Sophomore defenseman Jack Williams (Suffield, Conn.) and junior forward Evan Marek (Enfield, Conn.) picked up the assists on the play.

Junior goaltender Tom McGuckin (Clayton, N.J.) stopped all 13 shots on his goal to pick up the win (1-0-0) in net for Franklin Pierce, as well as his third career shutout. At the other end of the ice, Day (0-1-0) piled up 42 saves against 45 shots in a losing effort for Post.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Nov. 1, when they remain home to host Framingham State in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce men's ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).