D3: Captain Burmaster helps Utica right ship, sail to top seed

Utica senior captain Gregg Burmaster. (Utica Athletics)

For the first time in program history, the Utica College men’s ice hockey team took a trip to Wisconsin. After Thanksgiving, the team played in the Stevens Point Holiday Tournament. Awaiting the team in the championship game was top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

In the first meeting between the schools, Utica lost, 4-1, after a pair of late third period goals. It dropped the team to a 4-5 record.

Still, head coach Gary Heenan believed that game and that trip were turning points for a young Pioneers squad.