Hartford, Conn. - Sophomore forward Rory Gagnon (Pointe-Claire, Quebec) had two goals and one assist to lead the visiting Hamilton College Continentals to a 4-1 victory over the Trinity College Bantams in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's ice hockey action this evening at Williams Rink in the Koeppel Community Sports Center.  Trinity, ranked No. 14 in the nation, loses its second-straight game and drops to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the NESCAC.  The Continentals improve to 4-0-1 overall and 1-0-1 in the league.  The Bantams host Amherst at 4 p.m. and Hamilton plays at Wesleyan at 3 p.m. tomorrow in conference play.

Hamilton stunned the Bantams with three power-play goals in the first 16 minutes of the game. Gagnon scored the first goal of the contest 5:32 into the opening period and assisted junior forward Tyler Bruneteau (Omaha, Nebraska) on the eventual game-winner less than two minutes later. Continental sophomore forward Jason Brochu (Saint-Bruno, Quebec) assisted on both early tallies. Senior defenseman Brad Smelstor (Fairfax, Va.) scored with 4:19 left in the opening stanza, and the Continentals led, 3-0, at the first break despite a 18-to-14 shooting deficit.

Trinity got on the board with 8:35 left in the second period on a wrister by junior forward Anthony Sabitsky (Sicklerville, N.J.) from the right wing with assists provided by senior forwards Ryan Cole (Anchorage, Alaska) and Sean Orlando (Ivyland, Pa.).  Bantam sophomore forward Ryan Pfeffer (Canton, Mass.) nearly pulled the home team to within a goal late in the second period, but his shot caromed off the post.  Gagnon tacked on an insurance goal for the visitors 1:50 into the final frame, converting on Brochu's third assist of the night.  

Trinity sophomore Alex Morin (Saint-Hubert, Quebec) made 23 saves and Continental junior backstop Evan Buitenhuis (Burlington, Ontario) had 45 saves.  The Bantams were whistled for 30 minutes worth of penalties to just eight for Hamilton, giving the Continentals nine power plays.