Tetons top Tribunes for hockey title

TROY, New York - MCC's bid for a story-book finish to its hockey program came up just short, as the Tribunes fell 2-0 to Williston State College in the finals of the 2014 NJCAA ice hockey championship tournament Sunday.

The Tetons scored single goals in the first and second period to take the lead. The Williston defense, led by goalie and tournament Most Valuable Player Tyler Ampe, stifled every Monroe attack the entire game as the Tetons finished off their second straight shutout at the tournament.

The Tribunes were looking to close out their final season with their second national title. But a determined and talented Williston squad handed Monroe just its second loss of the year. MCC finished 2014 with a record of 22-2-1.

The Tetons got on the board 6:34 into the first period, as Tyler Cavan was able to get one past Monroe goalie Jesse Little. The score remained 1-0 heading into the first intermission.

The Tribunes went on the power play at the 4:47 mark of the second period, but Williston was able to kill off Monroe's man advantage.  Less then a minute later, Trevor Hunt found the back of the net to stake the Tetons to a 2-0 lead.

The goals were the only blemishes in an otherwise sterling effort from Little, who faced consistent pressure from the Williston attack. Little was up to the task, stopping 23 shots to keep Monroe in the game.

Scoring opportunities were few and far between for the Tribunes. When they arose, Ampe was there to smother any chance. Monroe almost cut the lead in half late in the third, but Dominik Gabaj's shot hit the post and deflected away.

Little was pulled with about two minutes remaining for the extra attacker, but the Tetons were able to run out the clock for their second national title in as many years.

Gabaj and defenseman Taylor Weilert were named to the All-Tournament team for MCC.