Senior Rich Miller scored two goals and classmate Chuck Croteau added three assists to lead New Hampshire College to a 5-2 victory over Stonehill in the semifinals of the ECAC Division II Tournament Thursday at Tri-Town Arena.
NHC improved to 17-7-1 and will face St. Anselm in the championship Saturday.
Stonehill closed out its year at 10-11-1. St. Anselm, the defending tournament champion, advanced with a 5-4 victory over St. Michael’s.
Freshman goaltender Brian Holland made 29 saves for NHC and kept the Chieftains off the scoreboard for 46:58. Senior Dan Roy helped the NHC cause with a goal and an assist. Senior Jeff Rowe totaled a goal and an assist for Stonehill and closed out the year with a team-high 20 goals and 42 points.
Miller gave the Penmen a 1-0 lead just 5:03 into the game and Croteau doubled NHC’s lead with 3:14 left in the first period. NHC maintained a 2-0 lead until Miller scored his team-leading 18th goal of the year with 3:36 left in the second period. Senior Scott Proulx gave NHC a 4-0 lead just 1:53 into the final period.
Sophomore Brendan Flemming denied Holland his first career shutout when he scored a power-play goal at 6:58 of the third period. NHC secured the win with an empty net goal by freshman Michael Flynn with 3:32 left to play.
Sophomore Phil Graves went the distance in net for Stonehill and made 26 saves.
Saint Anselm defeated NHC in the inaugural ECAC Division II tournament championship last year, 7-1.
