Salem, Mass. - Junior forward Wendell Richards (Calumet, Mich.) scored the game-winning goal with 2;12 remaining in the game to lead the Salem State College Vikings to a 3-2 win over the visiting Trinity College Bantams in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East/New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men’s ice hockey season opener for both teams this evening. Trinity drops to 0-1 overall and in the NESCAC, while the Vikings, ranked No. 13 in the national pre-season poll, is 1-0 overall and in the ECAC East.

Trinity scored power play goals in the first and third period periods, stating the 2001-02 season with a goal by senior Brian Fenwick (Birmingham, Mich.) 3:39 into the game. Salem State senior defenseman Dan Haugh (South Boston, Mass.) tied the score in the second frame on the first of two assists by classmate Adam Hackett (Haverhill, Mass.).

In the third period, Trinity went ahead on a goal by sophomore forward Tim Joncas (Branford, Conn.), but the Vikings scored twice in the final four minutes to steal the victory. Joncas finished with a goal and an assist and senior co-captain forward Matt Greason (North Bridgton, Maine) assisted on both Trinity scores. Junior goalie Kaleb Christenson (International Falls, Minn.) outdueled Bantam senior netminder Geoff Faulkner (Westerville, Ohio) with 35 saves to Faulkner’s 28.

TC- Brian Fenwick (Matt Greason, Tim Joncas) pp 3:39

SS- Dan Haugh (Adam Hackett) pp 8:06.

TC- Joncas (Greason, Martins Lans) pp 12:07, SS- Jay McCabe (B. J. Heckendorn) pp 16:40, SS- Wendell Richards (Hackett, Nick Stauder) 17:48

GOALIE SAVES:

TC- Geoff Faulkner 28

SS- Kaleb Christenson 35

TC- 9/21, SS- 13/26