With its most productive offensive showing in over 11 years, the Clarkson University Hockey team enters a lengthy break full of confidence after defeating Sacred Heart University 9-2 on Sunday evening at the Milford Ice Pavilion in Milford, CT. The Golden Knights, who have won four straight and six of their last seven, have now recorded more victories than they did last year, closing out the 2010 portion of the schedule with a 10-5-2 overall mark.

Clarkson scored twice in the first period, added two more in the middle frame and closed out its most explosive outing since defeating Brown 9-3 on February 26, 1999 with five more goals in the third.

Brandon DeFazio (Oakville, ONT) highlighted the offensive outburst with his second consecutive hat trick. The senior assistant captain, who netted three third-period goals in last Saturday’s win at Quinnipiac, opened the scoring against Sacred Heart just 52 seconds in, finishing off assists from linemates, senior Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) and Louke Oakley (Whitby, ONT).

Freeman made it 2-0 with Clarkson’s fifth shorthanded goal of the season, an unassisted tally on an end-to-end rush at 10:15 of the first.

Just 83 seconds into the middle frame, DeFazio made it 3-0 when his shot down low deflected in off a Sacred Heart defenseman.

Sophomore Nik Pokulok (Vaudreuil-Dorion, QUE) connected on a shot from the top of the slot at 5:53 of the middle frame for his third goal of the season, putting the Knights on top 4-0.

Clarkson continued to roll in the final stanza with five more goals. DeFazio completed his hat trick, scoring just six seconds into a power play for his ninth goal of the season at 3:57 of the third.