Offensive Outburst Leads Men's Hockey to 6-2 Win Over Union

Friday, January 13

Providence, R.I.

7 p.m.

Brown University

6-10-2, 2-7-2

Union

8-13-1, 3-8-0

Union (NY)

Brown

Photo by: Emma C. Marion

Offensive Outburst Leads Men's Hockey to 6-2 Win Over Union

1/13/2023 11:02:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Photo Gallery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Brown Bears (6-10-2, 2-7-2 ECAC) erupted for six goals for the second straight game en route to a 6-2 win over the Union Dutchmen (8-13-1, 3-8-0 ECAC) in the first game at Meehan Auditorium in 49 days on Friday.

"We're definitely growing as a team, it was a big, big game and a big weekend; we're finally at home and we have to make strides in the league and we needed a good start and got a good start," said head coach Brendan Whittet '94. "I think we're playing with pace, with confidence, with assertiveness and aggressiveness and I like the way we're playing. We're getting contributions from everyone, some of the young guys, some of the guys that are new to the program have stepped up and played good hockey.

"Overall, it was a great night for Brown Hockey; a good crowd, the Narragansett Beer Garden looked like it was hopping. It was a great win and now we have to refocus on tomorrow night in another very important game with RPI right around us in the standings. We have to take advantage of our home games and make sure we're on top of it at home."

Lynden Grandberg gave the Bears the early lead with his third goal of the season just 2:35 into the opening frame. The sophomore found his own rebound and beat Union goaltender Connor Murphy (28 saves) on the second effort. Jonny Russell and Zackary Tonelli assisted on the goal.

Bradley Cocca doubled the Bruno lead six minutes later on the first power play of the night for either team. Cocca found Matt Sutton's rebound for the goal as Sutton picked up his seventh assist of the season. Jackson Munro also assisted on the marker.

With 2:13 remaining in the first, James Crossman danced through a pair of Union defensemen and wired a shot past Murphy to make it 3-0 with the highlight reel goal. Freshman Ryan Bottrill and sophomore Brett Bliss picked up the assists.

After a Brown challenge, it was determined that Russell's wraparound attempt at 2:29 of the second period crossed the goal line for the senior's first goal of the season. Tonelli and Grandberg both picked up assists on the senior's goal.

Union cut into the lead at 8:40 of the second as Caden Villegas beat Mathieu Caron (24 saves) in tight after a quick pass from Cal Mell from below the goal line.

Freshman Ryan Shostak made it 5-1 Bears with his third of the season off a Nathan Plessis rebound. Plessis cut to the net with speed and had his legs chopped out from under him as Murphy made the initial save. Shostak crashed the net and found the loose puck with Grandberg adding the secondary assist.

After prolonged pressure in the Union zone, Bliss rifled a slap shot from the blue line that rang the left post before finding the back of the net. It marked Bliss' fourth goal of the season with the assists going to Bottrill and Grandberg.

Union's Tyler Watkins added a goal with 41 seconds left in regulation to push the final to 6-2.

GAME NOTES

Five Bears finished the night with multiple points, led by Grandberg's three-assist and four-point effort. It marked the first multi-point game of his career.
Russell finished the night with a goal and an assist for his first career multi-point game. Bliss recorded a goal and an assist for his fourth career multi-point night.
Two Bears – Bottrill and Tonelli – finished the game with two assists. It marked Bottrill's third career multi-point game and Tonelli's first.
Brown finished the night with a 34-26 edge in shots on goal, marking Brown's fourth consecutive game with 30 or more shots on goal.
The Bears finished 2-for-5 on the power play while holding Union to a 0-for-5 night. Both teams won 35 faceoffs.
The six goals in consecutive games mark the first time since January 2019 the Bears have recorded six or more goals in consecutive games. The 2018-19 Bears took a 7-4 win over Robert Morris (Jan. 4) and a 6-3 win over Union (Jan. 5) to capture the 2019 Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh.

Brown closes the weekend tomorrow night against the Rensselaer Engineers (8-13-1, 3-8-0 ECAC) at Meehan Auditorium. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. with the game streaming on ESPN+ in the United States and on Stretch Internet internationally. Click here to purchase tickets.

Gallery: (1-13-2023) MHockey vs. Union (1/13/23)

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