A big second period proved to be the difference for the Hamilton ice hockey team as it fought past Utica Proctor 4-1 last Tuesday night at Colgate University’s Starr Rink. The two sides were tied, 1-1, going into that second period. The Emerald Knights hit first as Derrick Rogers, taking an outlet pass from Blaine Holcomb, fed Kinnon Nolan-Finkel on a fast break three minutes into the game. The Raiders answered less than three minutes later as Frank Lidan scored. With Rogers at the offensive realm, the Emerald Knights burned the Raiders for three unanswered goals in the second period and took charge. Rogers tipped in a pass from James Smith for the go-ahead goal, and at the 10:06 mark it went to 3-1 when Dylan May charged the net and put home a rebound. Rogers returned to get his second goal with 51 seconds left in the period, finishing off a two-on-one break as Nick Heintz got the assist. As a whole, Hamilton’s defense did a fine job containing Proctor over the last two periods, with Brady Carroll stopping 18 of the 19 shots he faced on the night. Not resting during the holiday break, Hamilton would play Monday and Tuesday at the King of the Coliseum Tournament at State Fair Coliseum in Geddes before hosting a non-league game against Baldwinsville on Saturday, the first game of 2010.