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Wilkes University Athletics

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS
THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS
Easton Stafford
JAMES FINKERNAGEL
5
Winner Wilkes WIL 1-0-0
2
Manhattanville MVL 0-1-0
Winner
Wilkes WIL
1-0-0
5
Final
2
Manhattanville MVL
0-1-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Wilkes WIL 3 0 2 5
Manhattanville MVL 0 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Stafford Scores Hat Trick as Men’s Ice Hockey Downs Manhattanville 5–2

Stafford Scores Hat Trick as Men's Ice Hockey Downs Manhattanville 5–2

RYE, N.Y. – Easton Stafford (Broomfield, CO/Colorado Connections Academy) scored a hat trick, and Daniel Nau (Wake Forest, NC/) buried a pair of goals to lift the Wilkes University men's ice hockey team to a 5–2 victory over Manhattanville in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.

The Colonels opened their 2026-27 scoring campaign quickly, as Nau tapped the puck past the Valiants' goaltender just 80 seconds into the contest. Stafford scored his first goal of the night at 7:26 into the first period, flying down the ice before outstanding puck movement by Caiden Mech (San Clemente, CA/) and Nate Terski (North Grafton, MA/) found Stafford in front of the goal to double Wilkes' lead.

Two and a half minutes later, it was Stafford again, who scored off a pass from Tyler Boudreau (Raleigh, NC) from behind the goal. The Colonels commanded the opening period, outshooting Manhattanville 12–4 to take a 3–0 lead into the first intermission.

Manhattanville got on the board halfway through the second period at 9:57 to trim the Colonels' lead to 3–1, in what was the lone goal of the period.

The third period saw Stafford complete the hat trick at 1:22 when the junior fired one in to take a 4–1 lead. Manhattanville scored at 4:32 to cut Wilkes' lead to 4–2, before Nau scored his second on the night 17 seconds into a power play at 12:28 with the help of Terski and the Colonels secured the 5–2 victory.

Wilkes dominated the Valiants, taking 51 shots to just 26 for Manhattanville. Nau led Wilkes with six shots, followed by a quartet of Colonels with five, highlighted by Stafford. The Colonels also won 34 of 64 faceoffs, led by Nau's 13-for-26. Duncan Rolleman (New Hamburg, ON/) made the start in goal, stopping 23 of 25 Valiant shots.

Caden Eaton led Manhattanville with five shots, followed by Ryan McKenna with four. Goaltender Nicholas Mele stopped 46 shots for the Valiants.

Wilkes returns to the ice tomorrow night at 7:10 p.m. for its home opener at the Toyota SportsPlex.
 
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