With a dynamic offensive showing in the second period and a solid 31-save effort from senior goaltender Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT), the Clarkson University Hockey team completed a successful home stand at Cheel Arena with a 5-0 victory over American International before 3,207 fans on Saturday night to post its fourth straight win.
The Golden Knights, who also defeated AIC (0-5-0), 5-2, on Friday, will complete a six-game stretch against Atlantic Hockey foes when they play a series at Bentley College next weekend. Clarkson, which stands at 4-1-1, opened up its just completed home stand with a sweep of Sacred Heart (3-0, 5-2) on October 14-15.
Audio Casey Jones Postgame
Five different Knights scored goals on Saturday with senior assistant captain Nick Tremblay (Candiac, QUE) highlighting the offensive showing with one goal and two assists.
After a wide open, fast-paced scoreless first period, goals came in bunches for the Knights in the middle frame as the Green and Gold skated to a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes.
The scoring started early in the second period with sophomore Allan McPherson (Kinburn, ONT) connecting for his third goal of the weekend just 66 seconds into the stanza. The Knights’ top returning scorer from last year, McPherson took a quick pass from behind the net from classmate Jarrett Burton (Echo Bay, ONT) and buried a shot past AIC goaltender Ben Meisner. Sophomore Ben Sexton (Kanata, ONT) also assisted.
Audio McPherson Goal
Clarkson, which was 0-of-3 on the power in the first period, tallied back-to-back goals with the man advantage midway through the second. Freshman defenseman Sam Labrecque (Granby, QUE) scored his first career goal on a blast from the point 17 seconds into a power play at 7:59. Sexton answered at 14:37 on a shot from the right circle for his second goal of the season.
Audio Labrecque Goal
Audio Sexton Goal
The Knights followed up their power-play tallies with a shorthanded marker by Burton at 17:29. Burton stole the puck at his own blueline and finished off a breakaway with his first goal of the season and second career shorthanded marker.
Audio Burton Goal
Tremblay closed out the scoring at 1:40 of the third period. Tremblay picked up a loose puck that was poked free from a scrum in front of the Clarkson goal by freshman Joe Zarbo (Grand Island, NY) and skated down the right wing and to the circle where he wristed in his third goal of the season.
Audio Tremblay Goal
Clarkson outshot the Yellow Jackets, 35-31. Karpowich recorded his second shutout of the season and fourth career whitewash with six first-period stops, 11 more in the second stanza and 14 saves in the third.
The Knights, who have scored at least one power-play goal in each game this season, were 2-of-7 with the advantage on Saturday. AIC was 0-of-6.
