< Back | Home

Megan Vendettoli | Cigar Freshman Kyle Kramich scores a goal during URI's second game against Buffalo Saturday. The Rams won both games during the weekend, 6-2 and 10-1.

Men's ice hockey sweeps Buffalo during weekend to begin season

By: Evan Crawley

Posted: 10/2/07

10/02/07 - The University of Rhode Island men's ice hockey team started its season with a pair of victories, winning 6-2 on Friday and 10-1 on Saturday.

The young Rams got a little bit of a scare in game one, falling behind 2-1 in the second period. However, Rhody junior Cory Manley tied the game with 5:34 to go in the second period on a power play goal, assisted by junior Jon Biliouris and junior Jon Pinheiro.

Just over one minute later, the Rams took the lead for good on a goal from sophomore Warren Byrne, assisted by sophomore David Berard and junior Rob Peterson.

After taking the lead the Rams cruised, tacking on two more goals en route to a 6-2 victory. The Rams were able to win despite having such an inexperienced team compared to years past.

"We have so many new guys, I mean, we ran the same 12 guys for at least four years," Rams coach Joe Augustine said. "We were sloppy at times, but guys are still trying to learn."

The Rams picked up exactly where they left off in game two, with senior Stephen Gaffney scoring in the first two minutes of the game.

Rhody added three more scores before the end of the period on goals from freshman Kyle Krannich, Byrne and Manley to go ahead 4-0 after the first period.

Byrne finished the weekend with four goals and an assist as the top points scorer for the Rams on the weekend tilts.

"I was happy with my performance," Byrne said. "My lines are just my lines though, I was just the guy who happened to be there putting the puck in the net."

The Rams did not stop putting the pressure on, scoring five more in the second period, including a goal 11 seconds into the period from junior Mike Bragger.

The Rams added another goal in the third period, before Buffalo finally got on the scoreboard in the final three minutes of the game ending sophomore Andrew Lisi's shutout bid.

Despite failing to record the shutout, Lisi was not terribly concerned about the goal.

"I mean obviously you want to try to get the shutout, but it happens. You can't have everyone," Lisi said.

Junior Ray Martin covered the goaltending responsibilities in game one, while Lisi played in game two. Both will try to replace Anthony Feyock, who had been a starter since his freshman year before graduating last spring.

"The only thing you thought about when Anthony was going was when to give him a rest,"Augustine said.

The goalies are not the only ones battling for a spot, with 12 core players graduating from the program last year.

"I like [the competition], because it gives everyone something to prove," Byrne said.

Only time will tell, but as of right now not one spot is set in stone for the Rams.

Rhody will look to continue to roll next weekend in a tough match up with the United States Naval Academy at the Boss Ice Arena.