The Utica University men’s hockey team continues to dominate the conference.

With a pair of lopsided victories over visiting King’s College, Utica claimed a conference regular-season title for a seventh consecutive season and a 10th time overall.

The Pioneers — which continue to be ranked No. 1 in the US College Hockey Online Division III poll, maintained their stranglehold on the United Collegiate Hockey Conference regular season title. It was the sixth consecutive season they’ve won the UCHC’s title.

Utica, led by longtime coach Gary Heenan, is undefeated in 19 consecutive games and has won its last 11 games. The team is 18-2-1 overall with four games remaining in the regular season.

Earning the regular-season title means Utica has earned the right to host in every round of the UCHC tournament, provided it advances. They will play their final four regular season games on the road, beginning with a pair of games at Alvernia next weekend. 

In Utica’s final home games of the regular-season, the team outscored King’s College (nine total wins over the last two seasons) 17-3.

The team totaled an astronomical 176 shots — including program-record 96 in Saturday afternoon’s 6-2 result — over six periods

Defenseman Justin Allen appeared his 111th career game to set a record for games played for Utica.

Utica was among four teams to receive first-place votes in the USCHO Top-15 poll. Pioneers got 13 votes while Hobart got three and Adrian and Endicott each received two.

Utica has two road games at UCHC opponent, Alvernia University. The teams are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

Hamilton, Utica women’s teams remain in poll

The Hamilton College and Utica women’s program remain among the top-15 of the USCHO’s Division III poll.

Hamilton checked in at No. 6 — down a spot from last week — following a win and a scoreless tie over the weekend at Bowdoin. Hamilton is one of five New England Small College Athletic Conference teams to be ranked.

Meanwhile, Utica remains at No. 12 in the poll after outscoring visiting Lebanon Valley 11-3 in two games at the Nexus Center.

No. 6 Hamilton, coached by Emily McNamara, is 15-3-2 overall. The team is in second place in the NESCAC with a 9-2-1 record.

The team is set to play No. 15 Connecticut College at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday in New London, Connecticut. It is the penultimate regular-season series for Hamilton.
Utica, coached by Dave Clausen, is 18-1-2 overall.

The team is undefeated in 20 consecutive games (18-0-2) this season. The team has already clinched a spot in the UCHC playoffs.

Utica has finished the regular-season with a 11-0-2 record at home.

The Pioneers are set to play Saturday and Sunday at Wilkes in Pennsylvania. The games are each set for 3 p.m. starts.

Colgate stays among top teams

The Colgate women’s hockey team is ranked No. 4 in the USCHO NCAA Division I poll.

The Raiders, which includes senior standout defenseman and New Hartford native Sydney Bard, are 24-4-2 overall after wins over St. Lawrence and No. 9 Clarkson last weekend.

Bard’s 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) led all Colgate defenders. Her points are tied for 54th in NCAA Division I.

Colgate, led by coach Greg Fargo, are slated to play its final regular-season home games Friday against Yale and Brown. Both games are set for 3 p.m. at the Class of 1965 Arena in Hamilton.