Top-seed Utica University (24-2-1) will host No. 2 seed Wilkes University (20-4-1) in the 2022 UCHC Men’s Championship game at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 from Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, NY. The winner earns an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Tournament.
 
Utica is the No. 2 ranked team in Division III and enters the title game riding an 18-game unbeaten streak (17-0-1). The Pioneers earned 53 of a possible 54 points in league play this season and set a program record with 22 regular season victories. Utica advanced to the league championship after earning an 11-1 win over No. 8 seed Lebanon Valley in the quarterfinals on Feb. 22 and 4-0 win over No. 6 Manhattanville in the semifinals on Feb. 26. Jayson Dobay led the Pioneers with a career-best even points on a goal and six assists, while Dante Zapata tallied two goals and three assists. Utica went 5-for-7 with the man-advantage. On Saturday, Eric Holland and Buster Larsson tallied a goal and an assist apiece, while Sean Dickson stopped all 16 shots he faced for the shutout.
 
Utica is out-scoring its opponents, 157-34 this season and have three 40-point scorers, eight players with at least 30 points and 10 total players with at least 20 points. Larsson leads the Pioneers and UCHC in scoring with 45 points on 15 goals and 30 assists. Regen Cavanagh is right behind with 43 points on 18 goals and 25 helpers, while Zapata, the 2021-22 UCHC Player of the Year, has 42 points and John Moncovich has a team-best 19 goals. The defensive duo of Justin Allen and Jayson Dobay have combined for 71 points and a plus-64 rating. Dickson is 15-1-0 between the pipes with a 1.17 goals against average and a .935 save percentage.
 
The Pioneers are in the UCHC Championship game for the fourth time in five seasons as a member of the conference and are looking for their third league title (2018 and 2020). Utica is also looking for their third NCAA Tournament berth, having also advanced in 2013 and 2020.
 
Wilkes is ranked No. 8 in the USCHO Division III Men’s Hockey poll and enters Saturday’s title game with an 20-4-1 overall record. The Colonels advanced to the championship after knocking off No. 7 Neumann, 7-4 in quarterfinal action Feb. 23 and No. 4 Chatham, 5-1 in the semifinals three days later. Nick Fea tallied two goals and an assist, while Donald Flynn dished out three helpers in the win over Chatham. Twelve different players had at least a point in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Chatham, while goaltender Michael Paterson-Jones stopped 34 of 35 shots.
 
The Colonels have out-scored opponents, 125-58 this season and boast six players with at least 20 points and 14 with at least 10. Donald Flynn leads the team in scoring with 39 points on 10 goals and 29 assists, while Tyler Barrow is right behind with 38 points on 13 goals and 25 assists. Tyler Dill has a team-high 15 goals, while Nick Fea and Phil Erickson have each hit the back of the net 14 times. Paterson-Jones and Nico Pidro have combined to go 20-3-1 between the pipes. Pidro has recorded a 1.71 goals against average and a .935 save percentage.
 
Wilkes is looking for its first UCHC title and is making its second appearance in the league championship game, having also advanced in 2020. The Colonels are also attempting to advance to their first NCAA Tournament in program history.
 
Utica earned five of the six possible points in the two regular season meetings versus Wilkes this season. The Pioneers defeated Wilkes on home ice, 3-2 on Dec. 3, while the two teams skated to a 1-1 tie in Wilkes on Feb. 12. Utica earned the extra point in that contest by winning the shootout, 2-0. On Dec. 3, Jamie Bucell broke a 2-2 tie with 7:11 left in regulation to give Utica the win. Dickson made 23 saves for the Pioneers. On Feb. 12, Pidro of Wilkes and Utica netminder Bryan Landsberger combined to make 64 saves on 66 shots.
 
The Pioneers and Colonels met for the 2020 UCHC Championship, with Utica winning the two-game series by scores of 4-0 and 6-2.
 
Site: Higher Seeds for all games
 
2022 UCHC Men's Hockey Championship Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, February 22 (Quarterfinals)
No. 1 Utica defeated No. 8 Lebanon Valley, 11-1 - BOX SCORE

Wednesday, February 23 (Quarterfinals)
No. 2 Wilkes defeated No. 7 Neumann, 7-4 - BOX SCORE
No. 6 Manhattanville defeated No. 3 Stevenson, 4-1 - BOX SCORE
No. 4 Chatham defeated No. 5 Nazareth, 4-2 - BOX SCORE

Saturday, February 26 (Semifinals)
No. 2 Wilkes defeated No. 4 Chatham, 5-1 - BOX SCORE
No. 1 Utica defeated No. 6 Manhattanville, 4-0  - BOX SCORE

Saturday, March 5 (Championship)
No. 2 Wilkes at No. 1 Utica - 7 p.m. - VIDEO/LIVE STATS
 
ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its fifth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.