Chandler Earns MVP as Owls Win WMI Tournament

WESTFIELD, Mass. -  Westfield State senior goaltender Kevin Chandler (Hanover, Mass./Hoosac School) earned tournament MVP honors as he led the Owls to a 6-2 win over Western New England University in the championship game of the four-team Western Mass Invitational tournament that kicked off the Owls season at Amelia Park Arena on Saturday.

Chandler finished with 33 saves to backstop the Owls win, as Westfield improves to 2-0 on the young season.

Westfield fell behind 2-0 early in the game, but a four-goal scoring outburst in the second period provided the boost the Owls needed.  Niklas Vasiljevs (Cheshire, Conn.) scored what proved to be the game winner at the 11:41 mark of the second period.

Christopher Miraldo (Montreal, Quebec) finished with a pair of late goals, and Julian Boisclair (Voorhees, NJ) and Emile Pichette (St. Eustache, Quebec)  each added a pair of assists for the Owls.

Westfield chased WNE (1-1) starting goaltender Anthony Aureliano early in the third period.  He made 21 saves before giving way to Andrew LoRusso, who made 11 saves in the final 18 minutes.

Chandler's work between the pipes let the big lead stand up, as Westfield skated off a pair of Golden Bears' power plays early in the third period, and Chandler made 11 of his 33 saves in the third frame.

Chandler had surprisingly entered Friday night's first round win over Post University less than five minutes into the game when starter Valtteri Valtonen left with an apparent injury.  Chandler thwarted the lone Post shot in overtime in a 3-2 Owls win, and made 36 saves in that game.

In Saturday's consolation final, Franklin Pierce University topped Post, 3-2.

Westfield will begin conference play on Thursday, when the Owls host Salem State at 7:35 p.m. at Amelia Park.