Hartford, Conn. – First-year forward Ryan Cole (Anchorage, Alaska) recorded a hat trick, including the game-winner that broke a 3-3 tie 3:44 into the third period, to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a 6-3 victory over the visiting Colby College Mules in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's ice hockey action on Williams Rink at the Koeppel Community Sports Center this afternoon.  Trinity wins its fourth game in a row and improves to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in the NESCAC, while Colby drops to 8-5-3 overall and 5-4-1 in the league with its first loss in five games.  The game was preceded by a ceremony dedicating the new Duncan Family Stick Racks in the Trinity men's and women's locker rooms in memory of Gary J. Duncan P'96

Trinity held a 3-2 lead after two periods, but Colby freshman forward Michael Van Siclen (Carlisle, Mass.) tied it 3:10 into the final frame from classmates Colin Reilly (Pelham, N.Y.) and Kevin Doherty (Wakefield, Mass.).  Cole answered just 34 seconds later, blasting in a wrist shot from the left wing from fellow rookie Ethan Holdaway (Glastonbury, Conn.) and junior Liam McKillop (New York, N.Y.).  Trinity took advantage of the last of three power-play opportunities in a 5:41 second span when Cole added an insurance goal at the 12:20 mark for his first career hat trick, and Bantam junior forward Jackson Brewer (Newton, Mass.) put the puck into Colby's empty net with 1:10 left to play to account for a 6-3 final tally.

Colby had struck first just 1:40 into the game on an unassisted goal by Reilly, but Cole responded almost immediately with his first goal of the game just 26 seconds later.  The teams traded goals again early in the second stanza, but Bantam senior captain forward Will Gray (Wellesley, Mass) gave the home team a 3-2 lead with 4:19 left before the final break.  Shea, who had scored Trinity second goal 7:08 into the second period, provided an assist on Gray's goal.  Senior forward Ben Chwick (Purchase, N.Y.) scored for Colby 30 seconds after the first intermission.

Trinity senior goaltender Ben Coulthard (South Windsor, Conn.) improved to 8-2, as the Bantam blueliners held the Mules to 20 shots on goal and Coulthard made 17 saves.  Colby junior backstop Sam Parker (Cambridge, Mass.) had 28 saves.  Trinity outshot the Mules, 34-20, and both teams were 1-for-5 with the extra skater.  McKillop and sophomore forward Michael Hawkrigg (Toronto, Ontario) each finished with a pair of helpers for the Bantams.

Stick Rack Dedication Photos