Williamstown, MA -- In search of his 300th career win, head coach Bill Kangas led his Williams College men's ice hockey team (9-1-4) onto the ice this afternoon against the Wentworth Leopards (10-5-1). The 8-2 victory over the Leopards today makes Kangas only the second Williams College men's ice hockey coach to reach 300 wins.
Ephs freshman forward Craig Kitto scored two of the Ephs three unanswered goals in the 1st period including the games first goal just 2 minutes and thirty seconds into the game. The Ephs would tack on a fourth goal to close the opening period and never looked back as they cruised to the big win over the Leopards.
The winningest coach in Williams College men's ice hockey history, Bill McCormick, preceded Kangas and coached the Ephs for 35 years (1955-89). Coach McCormick recorded 336 wins.
This is Kangas's 23rd season as the head coach of the Ephs. He already holds the record for most wins in a season: 18 and longest the unbeaten streak: 10.
The Ephs came into today's game against the Leopards with some momentum after a strong, three goal third period in their last outing to tie 3rd ranked SUNY Plattsburgh. Williams controlled possession for the majority of the first period tonight and found their offensive grove quickly, scoring four goals in the 1st period.
"I thought that the way we were able to take off from where we finished was a good sign," Kangas stated. "I really liked the way we started the game. We really played with pace and that's what we've been working on."
Kitto's first goal broke the 0-0 tie early in the first period as he found teammate Patrick Morrissey's rebound and put it past Wentworth's starting goalie freshman Alex Peck less than three minutes into the game.
Only a minute and a half later, Williams was able to increase their lead to two when freshman forward Peter Mistretta found the back of the net on a one timer from sophomore forward Nick Anderson's centering pass.
Kitto's second goal of the night came when he brought the puck down the right side and used his backhand to beat Peck. Kitto's second was the Ephs third unanswered and they never looked back.
The Ephs closed the first period by extending their lead once more as David Jarrett and Capt. Ryan Scott set up Nick Anderson by putting him in position to fire the puck past the outstretched right leg of Leopards goalie, Peck. Anderson's goal would give the Ephs a 4-1 lead at the first intermission.
In a very one sided second period the Ephs added four more and extended their lead to seven. Junior forward Mark Lyons added two of the Ephs four 2nd period goals. The first of which came only three and a half minutes into the period and the second came on a centering pass from senior Capt. Justin Troiani that Lyons was able to redirect over the right pad of the Leopards' second goaltender of the contest, Jeff Giordani.
Troiani and sophomore defenseman Paul Steinig also each scored a goal in the second period, giving the Ephs a commanding seven goal lead headed into the final period of play.
Wentworth came out of the locker room with some intensity to start the 3rd period and were able to cut the Ephs lead to six early in the period. Sean Jameson, junior defenseman for the Leopards fired a slap shot right off of the face off that was won by teammate Kevin Crow.
Despite their efforts, the Leopards found the Ephs lead to be insurmountable and time would expire leaving the final score at 8-2.
The Ephs have a few days off before the upcoming road trip, during which they will travel to Bowdoin (6-5-2) on friday night and Colby (3-11-0) on Saturday.
Some additional facts about Coach Kangas:
Bill Kangas
22 years, 291-205-45 (.579)
Little Three Championships: 11 outright and one tie
Won: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004 & 2005
Tie: 1990 & 2007
1991 – New England Div. 2/Div. 3 Coach of the Year
1994 – ECAC East Champions
1994 – National Shriner's All-Star Game Coach
2006 – Co-NESCAC Coach of the Year
2006 – Finalist for Div. 3 National Coach of the Year
7 – All-Americans
