NORTHFIELD, VT. – A stunning New Year's Eve performance by the Wesleyan men's ice hockey team put an end to a six-game run of losses as five separate skaters found the back of the net in a 5-2 victory over Aurora University in the consolation game of the Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament. The tournament was hosted by Norwich University at Kreitzberg Arena.

Prior to entering this afternoon's game, the Spartans (7-6-1 overall) were set back by No. 11 Norwich University in a 3-2 overtime loss the night before.

With Marc Smith '24 in goal, the Cardinals (3-6-0) dominated through the first period, but it was Zach Stimeling '27 that ignited the Cardinals offense, striking with 1:51 remaining as Tanner Kontir '27 took the draw on the right side. Kontir won the draw, sending the puck back to Vaclav Hes '24 just outside the top of the circle before snapping the puck into the crowd in front of the goal where Stimeling was able to deflect the puck over Jacob Mucitelli's shoulder for his first goal of the season.

Less than a minute later at 1:19, Owen Sweet '25 scored the Cardinals' first short-handed goal of the season. The puck was dumped into the Spartans' zone as Sweet won the draw and chased Tyler Pang down to the goal line where it was directed back into the neutral zone. DJ Dixon '24 picked the puck on a turnover, handing the puck over to Patrick Morrissey '25 who made the final tic-tac-toe pass with Sweet at the goal line. Mucitelli was too far out to make the save and the Cardinals entered the second period with a 2-0 lead.

Just under five minutes of action to open the second period, Henry Carlson '25 scored his first of the season at 15:55. Able to gain the zone after the puck is dug out from the wall by Daniel Lurie '26, Hayden Hanes '27 was able to make the pass to Carlson from the left wall. Carlson sent the puck out to Nolan Roche '27 at the blueline and took the shot for the top-shelf goal on the return pass.

At 10:31, after several seconds of jostling around the Spartans goal, Joe Calo '26 snagged his first of the season unassisted after making an initial shot attempt down low in front of Mucitelli. The puck bounced off the right pad where the puck rebounds off a skate and back to Calo, stuffing the puck in behind Mucitelli's right skate. Chase Broda crashed Cardinals' attempt at a shutout, scoring unassisted with a minute remaining in the period.

As a result of a late penalty in the second period, the Spartans began the third period on a power play but were thwarted by Parker Sondag '26 at 19:39 scoring his second goal of the tournament short-handed. The opening draw sent the puck into the Cardinals own end but Sweet wrangled the puck and rushed the ice, sending the puck to Sondag in the right circle. Sondag snapped the puck on one knee into the top right corner of the goal. Matt Weber would score a second goal for the Spartans to end the game.

From the face-off circle the Cardinals were led by Dixon and Kontir with seven draw wins apiece, Sweet was good for six. Stimeling led all Cardinals with six total shots and five on goal.

Smith made 21 saves in net, earning his second win of the season. Mucitelli and Matt O'Donnell combined for 31 saves for the Spartans.

Ending 2023 on a high note, the Cardinals will return to action in 2024 on Friday, Jan. 5, when they host Middlebury in NESCAC action beginning at 7 p.m.