The URI GSO hockey team, the Bay Blades, retained possession of the coveted Niskin Cup trophy by winning both games of the 31st annual Niskin Cup Tournament.
The first game was played on home ice. The GSO Bay Blades laced up the skates to take on the Woods Hole High Stickers at the Boss Ice Arena. Bay Blades goalie Jason Krumholz describes the action: “GSO jumped to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a goal by Jeff Domingoes. After Woods Hole tied the game 1-1 on a breakaway goal, Rich Pruell put the Blades back in front on a beautiful assist from Tom Barron. The Bay Blades came out flat for the second period, but managed to preserve a 3-2 lead thanks to a goal by Blue MBA student Tony Leone. Conor McManus opened the game up, stealing a pass at center ice and walking in all alone to put the Bay Blades up 4-2, and Rich Kaiser added another quick goal to extend the lead, but the High Stickers would not go down without a fight. WHOI brought the game to within 5-3 on a rebound goal after a scramble in front of the GSO net, and put heavy pressure on GSO goaltender Jason Krumholz, who came up with a few key saves to hold off the High Sticker’s final press and lock down the 5-3 win.”
The Bay Blades then traveled to Falmouth for the second game of the ‘Home and Home’ series at the Falmouth Ice Arena.
Krumholz continues: “The Blades were trailing 3-2 after 2 periods, then 5-3 with only 4:30 left in the game, but stayed disciplined and pulled together to engineer a stunning come from behind victory in the closing minute of the game, winning 7-5.”
As the competition is between oceanographers, the trophy, which is proudly hanging in the Trident room in the Watkins Laboratory on the Bay Campus, is an actual Niskin bottle, a seawater sampling device.
Bay Blades team photo:
Front Row, left to right: Rich Pruell, Jeff Mercer, Tony Leone. Chris Deacutis, Jason Krumholz
Second Row, left to right: Rich Kaiser, Andy Hudson, Jeff Domingoes, Tom Barron, Connor McManus, Greg Tracey, Scott Rutherford, Dave Ullman, Conn Kelly.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Killea