UTICA, NY - The No. 3 Utica College men's ice hockey team put together an important 60 minute effort to close out the semester. Senior Eric Holland led the way with two goals, including the anticipated Teddy Bear Toss goal, and the Pioneers cruised to a wire-to-wire win by an 8-0 score over visiting King's College in the 17th New York SASH Teddy Bear Toss game at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Utica totes a 9-2 overall record into the break, and remains atop the United Collegiate Hockey Conference with a 7-0 league record. King's falls to 2-8, and 1-5 in the UCHC. 

With the win, the Pioneers run their all-time record in Teddy Bear Toss games to 13-2-1. Over 50,000 teddy bears and other stuffed toys have been collected to benefit local charitable causes since the event began in 2005. 

Holland's two goals set the benchmark for a rampant offensive performance. John Moncovich and Mic Curran each had a goal and two assists. Curran has goals in back-to-back games, while Moncovich's next point will be his 50th for his career. Brandon Osmundson had a goal and an assist to now stand at 74 career points. Defensemen Justin Allen and Blake Holmes had a goal and an assist apiece. Buster Larsson also added a goal for UC. 

Bryan Landsberger and Louis-Felix St. Jean teamed up for the shutout in goal, combining to make 23 saves. 

Utica out-shot their visitors 49-23.

Known for getting the big moment out of the way quickly in recent years, the Pioneers did not disappoint this time around. Just 5:05 into the first period, Eric Holland turned a sold-out building into a toy drive when he took his defender off his gap, then shelved a breakaway goal over the shoulder of Kings netminder Tyler Sayger for a 1-0 lead. 

After the pause, Utica did not slow down. Brandon Osmundson puffed the net for an eighth time this season, while Buster Larsson ended a three-game drought for the Utica power play with a one-timer goal at 16:14 for a 3-0 lead after one period of play. 

Utica turned in another three-goal period to double its lead in the second. Mic Curran started the period's scoring at 8:34. John Moncovich snagged his team-leading tenth goal of the season on a re-direction of a Jayson Dobay shot at 11:24, and Holland netted a second breakaway at 12:38 for a 6-0 lead. 

The Pioneer defensemen put on an offensive show in the third period. Blake Holmes connected on his first of the season, and Justin Allen potted his fifth of the campaign to finish off the 8-0 rout. 

Utica will host Curry in a non-conference game on January 8.