ANNAPOLIS, MD (Friday, February 29, 2008)  Navy's ice hockey team got goals from nine skaters and Goaltenders Jeremey Estevez and Alex Tidei combined for a shutout to lead the Midshipmen to a 11-0 victory over The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets during the first game of Navy Hockey's Inaugural Military Club Hockey Tournament.
 
Freshman Forward Justin Jackson scored the first two goals of his Naval Academy Career and assisted on two others while dressing in his first game.  Sophomore Calen Mims added two goals while Charlie Daniel, Charlie Hyman, Eric Bowen, Jonathon Westerman, Matt Keller, Matt Swezey, and Patrick Heitman all contributed one goal to the team effort.
 
Sophomores Jeremey Estevez and Alex Tidei split the goaltending chores to anchor the Navy defense.  Estevez played the game's first 27:21, at which time he was relieved by Tidei, who played the final 32:39.
 
Estevez stopped all six shots he faced, and Tidei recorded three saves, as the Mids outshot the Keydets, 78-9.
 
Referee Sal Mazzola whistled a total of seven penalties, two against Navy and five against VMI.  Patrick Heitman scored the game winning goal on the power play.
 
The Midshipmen (now 18-18-1 overall) will play their final two games of the season on Saturday and Sunday as the Military Club Hockey Tournament continues at the McMullen Hockey Arena.  Navy will face the Citadel Saturday (3/1) at 3 p.m. and the University of Virginia Sunday (3/2) at 2 p.m.
 
The annual 'Skate With Navy Hockey' event will be held immediately following Saturday's 3 o'clock game.  Persons wishing to skate with Navy players after the game MUST BRING THEIR OWN SKATES, since there is no skate rental at the McMullen Hockey Arena.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
 
NAVY             3          5          3          -           11
VMI                 0          0          0          -           0 
 
First Period
N  Heitman 5 (Mims, Carlson) 7:03 (pp)
N  Bowen 4 (Dubinsky) 17:55
N  Jackson 1 (Daniel, Rice) 18:35
 
Second Period0
N  Swezey 28 (Daniel) 2:23
N  Westerman 6 (unassisted) 4:48
N  Keller 5 (Hymen, Kinkade) 10:50
N  Hymen 2 (Horner) 11:00
N  Mims 2 (Jackson, Carlson) 17:24
 
Third Period
N  Daniel 8 (unassisted) 4:56
N  Mims 3 (Jackson, Carlson) 7:46
N  Jackson 2 (Carlson) 12:48
 
SAVES
Estevez (NAVY)           5     1        x   -     6   
Tidei (NAVY)               x     1        2   -     3
Fields (VMI)                20    23      x    -   43
Geher (VMI)                 x      x     24   -    24
 
SHOTS
NAVY                         23    28    27  -  78
VMI                               5     2      2   -    9
 
 
In the night cap, The Citadel showed a lot of grit by playing iron-man-like hockey while dressing only eight skaters and one goalie.  The Olympic size ice at McMullen was just more than eight skaters can take and they allowed two goals each period.  In the end, University of Virginia Goalie Sean Rada's shutout was ended by a power play goal with 0:58 showing on the McMullen scoreboard in the third period.  Final score UVA 6 and The Citadel 1.
 
STANDINGS
NAVY             2 Points            11 Goal Margin
UVA                2 Points              5 Goal Margin
The Citadel       0 Points              -5 Goal Margin
VMI                 0 Points            -11 Goal Margin