Henniker, N.H. (December 9) -- In their final game before the December break, the Saint Anselm Hawks men's ice hockey team defeated the Pilgrims of New England College tonight by a 5-2 final. Robert Kang (Glen Rock, N.J.) made 29 saves in the win.

Ryan Butler (Arlington, Mass.) got the Hawks first goal of the game with 10:12 remaining in the first period. The goal which was assisted by Ryan Clark (Wadsworth, Ohio) and Mike Richard (Derry, N.H.) was Butler's third of the year. NEC player Jon Boxill (Bracknell, England) tied the game up two minutes later on a shorthanded goal. The Hawks scored twice more in the period, first on a goal by Richard at the 6:43 mark, which was assisted by Coleman Noonan (Norfolk, Mass.) and Paul Snell (Groton, Mass.). The second goal was scored by Nick Wheeler (Nashua, N.H.) which proved to be the game-winning goal. Tucker Mullin (Andover, Mass.) and Alex Pascal (Blue Bell, Penn.) earned the assists on Wheeler's goal.

The second period remained scoreless until there was just 6:33 left on the clock. Timothy King (Weymouth, Mass.) scored on a goal from Pascal and Clark. Niko Uola (Turko, Finland) cut the Hawks lead in half at 4-2 with just 39 seconds left on the clock in the period.

After 14:26 had elapsed in the third period, Jim Toomey (Billerica, Mass.) added the Hawks fifth and final goal of the night from Clark and Greg Crovo (Melrose, Mass.). The assist was Clark's third of the night.

With the win, the Hawks improve to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the ECAC East. The team will not play again until January 4th when they are at home against Franklin Pierce in a 7:00 pm start. The Hawks will look to improve to 2-0 in Northeast-10 play.