PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Junior Connor Nelson picked up his first collegiate hat trick in a season-opening 5-2 win for the JWU (Providence) men's ice hockey team over Rivier University Friday night in non-conference action at Lynch Arena.

Senior Davis Bone and junior Harout Torosian each dished out a pair of assists as the Wildcats won their season-opener for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. Sophomore Joseph Sciabarra registered a goal and an assist, and freshman Roman Wainwright potted his first collegiate goal.

Nelson opened the scoring 12:35 into the first when he chipped in a loose puck in the crease. Sciabarra's unassisted marked on the PP 62 seconds into the second period gave JWU a 2-1 lead before Nelson struck for two goals in a span of 4:24 to make it 4-2 after two periods. Wainwright capped the scoring with the Wildcats fifth goal at 7:17 of the third.

Junior Jake Inzirillo made 27 saves between the pipes for head coach Eric Graham, who also saw senior Cam Martin and junior Ryan Walsh notch their first points of the season. JWU outshot the Raiders 30-29 and killed off six of Rivier's seven extra-man opportunities.