NORTHFIELD, VT. – Senior goalie Nick Modica (Suffern/New Jersey Hitmen) registered 39 saves during regulation and overtime and stopped the final three shots he faced in a shootout as the Cortland men's hockey team claimed the championship at the Norwich University Northfield Savings Bank Holiday Tournament Saturday night. The Red Dragons (5-7-1) and nationally fourth-ranked Norwich (9-2-1) skated to a 2-2 tie before going to the shootout to determine the tournament champion.

Modica earned MVP honors and was joined on the all-tournament team by juniors Logan Blaser (Aurora, ON/Brockville Braves) and Louis DiMatteo (Nobleton, ON/Trenton Golden Hawks) and sophomore Ethan Homitz (Allison Park, PA/New Hampshire Monarchs). The in-season championship is now Cortland's fifth in a row dating back to the 2014-15 season.

Freshman Matt Jahn (Richmond, VA/Charlotte Rush) and Blaser scored for the Red Dragons. Homitz and freshman Luca Esposito (Bolton, ON/Markham Royals) each recorded an assist.

Brett Ouderkirk and Felix Brassard each netted a goal for Norwich with John Banovetz, Connor Swystun and Phil Elgstam each collecting an assist. Goalie Tom Aubrun made 20 saves.

Jahn gave Cortland a 1-0 lead at 7:02 of the first period with his second goal of the season. Ouderkirk tied the game just past the midway point of the period. Blaser put the Red Dragons ahead 2-1 with his seventh goal of the season just 49 seconds into the second period. The lead held until Brassard tied the game at 10:26 of the third period, which sent the contest into overtime where the Cadets outshot Cortland, 3-0. With the game remained tied, the decision for the title went to a shootout.

Homitz opened the shootout for Cortland but was denied. Norwich's first attempt went wide, and senior Douglas Elgstam (Stockholm, Sweden/New Jersey Rockets) had his chance saved. The Cadets scored on their next chance to go up 1-0 with three attempts left for each team. Senior Sean Perichak (Oakville, ON/Markham Royals) evened the shootout with a shot through Aubrun's pads, and Modica stopped Norwich's next chance. DiMatteo then gave Cortland a 2-1 advantage when he deked Aubrun and scored before Modica made another save on the Cadets' fourth attempt. After Blaser had his chance to clinch the shootout denied, Modica made one final save to seal the title for Cortland.

Cortland 2, Norwich 2 (OT)

Score by periods:
Cortland                    1-1-0-0      2
Norwich                     1-0-1-0      2

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Cortland: Matt Jahn 1-0, Logan Blaser 1-0, Ethan Homitz 0-1, Luca Esposito 0-1
Norwich: Brett Ouderkirk 1-0, Felix Brassard 1-0, John Banovetz 0-1, Connor Swystun 0-1, Phil Elgstam 0-1

Saves: Nick Modica (Cortland) 39 saves (2 GA in 65:00); Tom Aubrun (Norwich) 20 saves (2 GA in 65:00)
Shots on Goal: Norwich 41 (9-19-10-3), Cortland 22 (7-9-6-0)
Penalties: Cortland 0-0:00, Norwich 0-0:00
Power Play: Cortland 0-0, Norwich 0-0

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 5-7-1; Norwich (Cadets) 9-2-1 (ranked 4th nationally in USCHO Div. III poll)