The Hamilton College men's hockey team improved to 2-0-1 on the season Tuesday, beating the visiting SUNY Canton Kangaroos 5-2 in a non-league game at Russell Sage Rink. 

The Continentals are off to the program's best start since the 2006-07 edition opened 3-0-1.

A total of 10 Hamilton skaters picked up a goal or an assist, with a pair of Continentals registering their first collegiate point.

Nick Ursitti '20 and Robbie Murden '17 each had a goal and an assist during Hamilton's four-goal outburst in the last 10 minutes of the second period.

After 30 scoreless minutes, Jon Stickel '19 opened the scoring with his first goal of the year, rushing the net and taking a pass from Ursitti that he deposited to the stick side of Kangaroo goaltender Austin Washkurak.

A 5-on-3 power play goal by Murden put the hosts up 2-0 and started a run of four combined goals by the two teams in the final 5:38 of the second.

Murden's goal, the 44th of his career, was assisted by Neil Conway '18 and Bennett Morrison '20 (the first point of his career).

After the Kangaroos pulled to within a goal on a breakaway 2:18 later, the Continentals responded with two goals in the final minute before intermission. Brandon Willett '18 scored his second goal of the year at the 19:00 mark, with his linemates Murden and Conway picking up the assists and with 12 seconds left, Ursitti notched the first goal of his career.

Charlie Fennell '17 made his first start in goal and stopped 18 shots.

Hamilton's final goal came 6:49 into the third when Rory Gagnon '19 capitalized on a Continental power play for his first goal of the year. Jason Brochu '19 and Jon Carkeek '17 – who's tied with Conway for the team scoring lead with four points – assisted on the goal.

Kasey Kulczycki scored the first Kangaroo goal, skating in alone from just inside center ice to collect his first goal. A power play goal by Joey Vocino with 3:12 left in the third period closed out the scoring for the Kangaroos, who fell to 1-6-1. Canton has played its last six games against teams who've been ranked or received votes in the two national polls at some point this season.

The two teams resume their home-and-home series Saturday with a 7 p.m. game in Canton.