Nikora Records Four Points In 4-2 Win Over Union

Friday, January 30

Hanover, N.H.

7:00 PM

Dartmouth College

15-6-1, 9-4-1

Union

15-9-2, 5-8-1

Union (NY)

Dartmouth

Nikora Records Four Points In 4-2 Win Over Union

1/30/2026 11:41:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Dan Richeal

HANOVER, N.H.—No. 14/13 Dartmouth men's hockey returned to Thompson Arena on Friday night as Union traveled to Hanover. The Big Green skated to a 4-2 win over the Garnet Chargers for their 12^th home win of the season.

The first period was a face paced 20 minutes that saw 12 shots and 14 faceoffs but no goals. The Big Green led in the shot category 8-4 while dominating the faceoff circle by winning 12 of the 14 draws.

At the 7:01 mark of the second period, the Big Green broke the scoreless tie. Nikita Nikora picked up a loose puck high in Dartmouth zone. Nikora and Jack Silverberg flew up the ice and forced a two on one. Nikora drew the defender to him before firing a cross-ice pass to Silverberg who one-timed home his fourth goal of the year. Nikora notched his 12^th assist of the season on the play.

Over 11 minutes later, the Garnet Chargers tied the game at one while on the power play.

With less than 30 seconds left in the middle frame, the Big Green broke the tie. The trio of Brock Cummings, Silverberg, and Nikora were on the forecheck and forced Union to scramble in its own zone. The puck was in the slot and pinballed around to Colin Grable who was in the high slot. Grable ripped a wrister towards the net that caught the goalie out of position to make it a 2-1 game. Nikora picked up his second assist of the game while Cummings recorded his fourth assist of the year on Grable's fifth goal.

After 40 minutes of play, the Big Green held a 2-1 lead while leading 21-10 in shots and 28-12 in the faceoff circle.

2:32 into the third period, the Garnet Chargers tied the game at two.

Both teams looked for the go-ahead goal but it was the Big Green that would score the next goal. Union looked to breakout, but Nikora forced a turnover and looked to attack just inside the Union zone. He skated the puck towards the slot and found Cummings coming off the bench on the far side. Nikora fed a backhand pass across and Cummings took a wrist shot that rung off the inside of the right post and into the net. Cummings notched his fourth goal of the season while it was Nikora's third assist of the night and 14^th of the year.

With 36 seconds left in regulation, Hank Cleaves won a faceoff deep in the Dartmouth zone with the Union goalie on the bench. The puck came to Nikora who aimed for the Union net, he fired it over all the Union players into the net for his fourth point of the game and his fourth goal of the year. H. Cleaves picked up his team leading 17^th assist.

Dartmouth held on to the two-goal lead and skated away with their 15^th win of the season.

Emmett Croteau improved to 8-3-1 with the win, he made 17 saves including eight in the third period. His goals against average is now 1.83 while having a .928 save percentage this season.

It is the third time this season that Nikora has tallied a multi-point game as he becomes just the 10^th ECAC player this season to record four or more points. It is the first time in his career that he has tallied four points in a game.

Cummings recorded his second career multi-point game as he had a goal and an assist. He added a blocked shot and a nine faceoff wins.

The Big Green dominated in the faceoff circle by going 38-24. H. Cleaves had 11 wins while Andrew Clarke added eight wins, Nathan Morin went 7-0 in the circle.

Dartmouth blocked 12 shots in the game with Grable and Tim Busconi each blocking two shots to lead the Big Green.

The Big Green close out the home weekend on Saturday, Jan. 30 against RPI at 7 PM. Prior to the game, the first 100 fans will receive a free Dartmouth scarf, to purchase tickets click here.