Big Green Score 8 Times as Gaudet Wins No. 250 at Dartmouth

Sunday, December 14

Hanover, N.H.

4:00 PM

Dartmouth College

SACRED HEART

Big Green Score 8 Times as Gaudet Wins No. 250 at Dartmouth

12/14/2014 6:44:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

By: Dartmouth

HANOVER, N.H. – Junior Jack Barre and senior Eric Neiley each scored twice as the Dartmouth men's hockey team soundly defeated visiting Sacred Heart, 8-3, Sunday afternoon at Thompson Arena.

The victory was the 250th at Dartmouth for head coach Bob Gaudet '81 who sits behind only the legendary Eddie Jeremiah '30 (308) for wins in program history.

Trailing 1-0 after 20 minutes of play, the Big Green (6-4-1) erupted for four goals in the middle frame, setting a new season-best figure for tallies in a stanza. That trend continued as they added another four in the final frame to seal the non-conference victory against the Pioneers (5-9-2).

“After the first, we knew we had to come out and simplify things,” Gaudet said. “We had to get to the net and create some traffic in front of a pretty good goaltender to make things harder for him.

“We knew in order to be successful, we had to play a simple game and get pucks deep,” Gaudet added. “There were some great offensive efforts by a lot of guys tonight and I think that speaks to the type of depth we have. Guys like Jack Barre and Corey Kalk contributing for us tonight is a great sign of things to come for this team.”

Barre entered the game with just two career goals to his credit, but found the back of the net twice in the second period alone against SHU, punishing the team from his hometown on the scoreboard. The big junior winger from Fairfield, Connecticut, bulged the twine with two laser wrist shots at the 3:10 and 17:55 marks, respectively.

Seniors Charlie Mosey and Andy Simpson also netted tallies in the middle frame with the latter coming on the power play.

The third period continued the scoring explosion as Kalk and Patterson notched goals at 10:12 and 12:31, respectively, with the Patterson tally coming shorthanded, a first for Dartmouth this season. The shorthanded marker was assisted by starting netminder Charles Grant who directed the puck into the corner that Tyler Sikura collected and eventually sent across to Patterson for the odd-man rush and goal at the other end.

For Kalk, the goal was his third point of the night after assisting on both of Barre's markers in the second. He scored the first goal and point of his career last weekend in the 4-2 win at Princeton.

Neiley put an exclamation point on the scoring with the final two goals of the game for the home team, his third and fourth of the season. Patterson (1-2-3) assisted on both goals and finished the night as one of four Dartmouth players with at least three points, joining Barre (2-1-3), Kalk (1-2-3) and Neiley (2-1-3). Grant Opperman was nearly a member of the three-point club, but settled for a two-assist night thanks to helpers on the Neiley goals.

Sacred Heart saw one goal in each period from Connor Doherty, Drew George and Jordan Minello.

Making his first appearance of the season, Grant needed to make just 13 saves in earning the win as his team outshot the opposition, 47-16. At the other end of the ice, Andrew Bodnarchuk did all he could to keep his team in the game, stopping 37 shots in 52:31 of action, while allowing six. He gave way to Sammy Bernard making his collegiate debut, but things didn't get any better for the Pioneers as Bernard surrendered Neiley's first of the game in his first shot faced.

Gaudet was unaware of his milestone win, but was appreciative of the warm response he received from those in attendance when it was announced after the game.

“I had no idea that was coming. I don't keep track of numbers like that,” the 18-year Dartmouth head coach said. “I know that I am so proud to be the head coach of this hockey program everyday. This is such a great family of people here at Dartmouth and I am lucky to have been a part of it and work with so many great people for as long as I have.”

The Big Green will enjoy a two-week break for the holidays before returning later this month. Dartmouth will host Denver and Boston College on Jan. 2-3 in the Ledyard Classic at Thompson Arena. Brown is the fourth team and will alternate opponents with their Ivy League rivals and hosts from Hanover.