Hockey Wins North Country Tournament With 3-1 Victory Over Rivier

CANTON, NY (December 1, 2024) - Trace Norwell scored two goals and Tournament MVP Gus Bylin was particularly strong in the third period as the Tufts University men's hockey team won the North Country Tournament championship with a 3-1 victory over Rivier University on Sunday afternoon.

The Jumbos (4-2-1) built a 3-0 lead with a goal by Harrison Bazianos in the first period and then Norwell's two in the second frame. After Rivier (3-4-1) scored with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation, the Jumbos held the lead by killing a power-play and then a nullifying a six-on-four advantage for Rivier over the final five minutes.

This is the second straight regular-season tournament won by the Jumbos. They captured the Boston Landing Tournament last January at Warrior Ice Arena with a 5-0 victory over Nichols College.

Tufts took the lead today eight minutes in. After Rivier won a face-off outside the Tufts zone, Bazianos intercepted pass from the defense and broke in down the left side. He snapped one past Raider goalie Luke Newell for a 1-0 advantage.

The Jumbo line of Norwell, Brennan Horn and Jon Horn (no relation) continued its fine play this season with two more goals today, both scored by Norwell. The trio has now combined for 10 goals in Tufts' seven games.

Eight minutes into the second period, the line clawed to keep possession in the Rivier end after a face-off. Jon Horn would eventually get the puck outside the top of the left circle and found Brennan Horn open near the net. Brennan directed the puck to Norwell open in the slot and he put it home for a 2-0 advantage.

For the Jumbos' third goal, Brennan Horn won a face-off outside the Rivier end back to defenseman Sylas Oberting. He got it to Jon Horn, who passed it left to Brennan Horn breaking into the zone. From the left circle Brennan saw Norwell crashing the net on the right side and found him for a 3-0 Tufts lead.

Norwell and Brennan Horn were both named to the All-Tournament team.

The Rivier goal 12:41 into the third period came after a penalty release gave the Raiders a three-on-one break. Applying serious pressure in the Jumbo zone, Damon Kiyawasew took the puck behind the net. He sent it out to Carter Poulin high in the right circle, and he zipped it over to Jon Tavella at the left post for the goal.

The Raiders would then go on a power play with 5:12 left in regulation, but Bylin made five saves during the man-advantage. Rivier pulled Newell right as the penalty was releasing and Bylin made two more stops. With two minutes left, a Tufts penalty gave the Raiders a six-on-four advantage for the remainder of the game. However, Bylin stopped two more shots and the Jumbo defense held the Raiders at bay until the final buzzer.

With 24 saves on 25 Rivier shots tonight, Bylin finished the weekend with a .941 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average to win Tournament MVP honors. The Jumbos picked up points for the third game in a row (2-0-1).

Newell stopped 28 shots for the Raiders tonight. Rivier's Nicolas Paolucci and Devon Jolley made the All-Tournament team.

Tufts returns to conference play with NESCAC games at Colby College and Bowdoin College this weekend.