The William Smith College ice hockey returns to the ice this weekend, Nov. 18-19, when it hosts Johnson & Wales and UMass Boston at The Cooler for a pair of New England Hockey Conference games. On Friday, Nov. 18 the Herons face the Wildcats at 7 p.m. The following day William Smith hosts the Beacons at 4 p.m.
 
The first 50 students at Friday's game will get a free foam finger and popcorn.
 
The Herons are 3-2-1 overall with a 2-2-0 record in conference play. They are looking to bounce back after being swept by No. 4 Elmira this past weekend. Johnson & Wales is 0-1-2 overall and in the NEHC. The Wildcats tied New England College on Tuesday.  The Beacons are 3-2-0 overall and 2-2-0 in conference play. UMass Boston is looking to bounce back from a 4-0 loss to Southern Maine on Saturday. 
 
Fans unable to make it to The Cooler can follow the action with HWS All-Access and Live Stats. The games will also be broadcast on WHWS-FM (105.7 in Geneva).
 
ABOUT THE HERONS

• Kayla Ketchabaw leads the Herons with three goals and five points.
• Mia LaPlante is right behind her with four points on a goal and three assists. She shares the team lead in assists with Emily Cataldo.
• Erin Murray and Annie Hauser have split time in goal. Murray is 2-1-0 with a 2.02 GAA and a .949 save percentage. Hauser is 1-1-1 with  a 2.90 GAA and a .898 save percentage.

 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS

• Skylar Robert (1g, 2a) and Kylie O'Keefe (2g, 1a) lead Johnson and Wales with three points each.
• Jianna Truppi also has two goals this season.
• Sofia Tamayo has played a majority of the minutes in goal. She is 0-1-1 with a 2.34 GAA and a .919 save percentage.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Friday will be the third game between William Smith and Johnson & Wales.
• Both teams won once last year on their home ice.
• William Smith won the last meeting 4-0 at The Cooler. Julianna Gong led all players with three points on a goal and two assists. Mia LaPlante and Laura Hill also had a goal and an assist. Hauser stopped all 32 shots she faced.

 
ABOUT THE BEACONS

• Cailey Kozich leads the team with four points on two goals and two assists.
• Margeaux Butters leads a group of four players with three points. She has two goals and an assist.
• Victoria Kennedy has played most of the minutes in goal for the Beacons. She is 2-2-0 with a 3.00 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will be the 10th meeting between the Herons and the Beacons.
• UMass Boston has a 5-3-1, but William Smith is 3-1-1 in Geneva.
• The Beacons won both meetings last year, including a 2-1 result at The Cooler on Jan. 29.