Box Score Yale Back From Break, Take Exhibition
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale hockey team finished off 2015 with a dominating performance against the No. 2 ranked team in Canada. Four different Bulldogs hit the net while Alex Lyon and Patrick Spano each made 11 saves in a 4-1 victory over McGill before a big crowd at Ingalls Rink.
Charles Orzetti, Carson Cooper, Joe Snively and Ted Hart scored goals as the Blue outshot the Redmen 37-23 in the exhibition contest, Yale's first action since a 3-2 win over Boston University on Dec. 11.
The Bulldogs, No. 12 in the Pairwise, have made a recent tradition out of playing an exhibition game after the long break for holidays and exams. It has helped get the team ready for the stretch run.
"We get a lot more out of this than a practice," said Keith Allain '80, Yale's Malcolm G. Chace Head Coach. "The guys are more excited to put the jersey on and play a game… and they [McGill] are a good team."
Yale had the edge in shots in a scoreless opening period. The Bulldogs also had most of the quality chances, including a nifty move by Snively and a pair of grade-A opportunities by Hayden.
The best save of the period came from Lyon, who stoned Alexandre Tremblay on the doorstep after a one-timer.
The Blue began pouring on the shots in the second; nine of the first 11 on the mark came off Yale sticks, including Frankie DiChiara from the slot. The big Bulldog forward hit Jacob Gervais-Chouinard in the shoulder midway through the second.
The home team's 10th shot of the frame ended up in the back of the net, and it opened up a wound in the Redmen defense. That was Orzetti following up a rebound and crashing the net to smack it home.
Snively, the freshman right wing from Virginia, was using his speed and stick handling skills to create space and opportunity all night. It was fun to watch, especially when it sparked the playing of Bulldog. Snively, Cooper and Hayden combined on a line that caused big headaches for the visitors.
That line was responsible for the second tally. Snively created space and spun around a few times in the offensive end before hitting Cooper with a lead pass that ended up in the net to make it 2-0.
Spano replaced Lyon in the Yale net, but most of the action was still at the other end. Spano, however, needed a great save on a screened shot to keep the momentum on the home side.
A few minutes later, the Elis made it 3-0 on a great Hayden feed to Snively. The rookie ended up with the puck and maybe a few feet between his stick and the goalie. Snively quickly flicked it over his shoulder for a very pretty goal.
Mitch Witek, Yale's captain and a senior blueliner, helped finish off the scoring. A little while after McGill got their only goal, Witek fired a shot from the point that was re-directed by Hart in the low slot.
It was the Bulldogs' final tally, but was not the final scoring chance. Yale continued to hound the Redmen with the forecheck while pouring shots toward the visitor's goalie.
The Redmen had some great opportunities to cut into the lead but Spano made two spectacular saves midway through the third.
"I think we really opened it up tonight," said Cooper, who went on to talk about the way his line was working tonight. "We started playing together in the BU game, and we are jelling now. Hayds [Hayden] and I play a similar style and Snively is playing very well."
The Blue skates next at UMass next Tuesday, a few days before heading to Arizona for the Desert Hockey Classic on Jan. 8-10.
Filed by Steve Conn, Yale Associate AD & Sports Publicity Director – steven.conn@yale.edu
Joe Snively image by Don Clark
