Bowdoin Polar Bears (0-1-1; 0-1-1) at Colby Mules (1-1-1; 0-1-1) 7 PM
Alfond Rink Waterville, ME
Video The Lowdown: This one's personal
We won't go over the 91 year hockey rivalry between the Mules and Polar Bears here. Benet Pols' sibling rivlary piece and The Bowdoin Orient's interactive timeline already have that covered. In the most recent history, Bowdoin swept Colby last season, downing the Mules 3-1 at home and 5-2 in Waterville.
From a NESCAC standpoint, the pressure is on Bowdoin. After a disappointing weekend in Vermont and Western Mass, the Polar Bears look to fix defensive lapses and re-kindle the offensive firepower that lead the NESCAC in scoring last season. Coach Meagher's team didn't lose a conference game, or any game, until mid January last season. A loss this weekend would severely hurt their reputation. For Colby, they carry the momentum of beating USM on Tuesday and tying Williams last Saturday. The blowout by Middlebury on Sunday wasn't pretty, but it was just one game. If the Mules can pull off a win on rivalry weekend, it would go a long way in proving that last season's (4-1-1) regular season conference record down the stretch wasn't a fluke.
Both teams will need to sure up their defensive presence. Colby is giving up 42 shots per game on the young season, while Bowdoin is letting up 37.5 per game of their own. Even with good goaltending, you will eventually get burned with numbers like those.
Before tonight's game, Colby will honor former Mule Todd McGovern '97, who passed away at 38 from cancer earlier this year. McGovern and his wife, Amanda, started the Seas IT organization to raise money for cancer patients to stay active through recreation. A silent action will be held at tonight's game with all proceeds going to the Seas It Foundation.
Players to watch (not named Fenwick)
Ollie Koo (D/F, '14) Koo, who led the Polar Bears in points last season, was held pointless opening weekend. He never went went without a point in back-to-back games last year and hasn't been held pointless in three straight games since the middle of his sophomore year. Also, he has never actually played at Colby, going pointless in the three games he has played against the Mules in Brunswick.
Sam Parker (G, '15) Parker gave up 5 goals to Middlebury and he still has a .929 save% for the season, which should tell you something about how many shots he has faced. With the Polar Bears likely to increase their shot totals from last weekend, Parker will need to be strong in net for the Mules to win this sibling rivalry.
We're going with all Pixies songs for today's previews, just cause. In honor of this week's Maine event, we present "The Happening" from the Pixies.
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