2012-13 Review 12-11-2 Overall
11-5-2 NESCAC (5th in NESCAC)
Overall (Conference Rank) Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 3.42 G/GM (3rd) Offense: 3.89 G/GM (2nd)
Defense: 3.12 G/GM (6th) Defense: 2.94 G/GM (6th)
Power Play: 29/108 -26.9% (2nd) Power Play: 25/85 -29.4% (1st)
Penalty Kill: 80/99 - 80.8% (5th) Penalty Kill: 62/76 - 81.6% (4th)
In a streaky regular season that resembled their 2011-12 regular season, the Middlebury Panthers ended up fifth overall in the NESCAC at the end of the regular season. They beat Amherst in the NESCAC Quarterfinals before losing to Bowdoin in the NESCAC semis.
2013-14 Preview
Key Losses (Stats are for 2012-13)
Chris Steele (D, '13) (25 GP: 3-4-7)
Mathieu Castonguay (D, '13) (18 GP: 1-2-3)
Chris Brown (F, '13) (25 GP: 2-8-10)
Key Returners (Stats are for 2012-13)
Matt Silcoff (F, '16) (25 GP: 11-12-24); 2013 NESCAC Rookie of the Year
Louis Belisle (F, '14) (26 GP: 13-10-23); 2013-14 co-captain
Derek Pimentel (F, '16) (24 GP: 6-15-21); 2013-14 assistant captain
Evan Neugold (F, '16) (25 GP: 8-10-18)
Robbie Donahoe (D, '14) (26 GP: 6-10-16); 2013-14 co-captain
Ben Wiggins (D, '14) (26 GP: 6-6-12)
Mike Peters (G, '15) (8 GP: 346 min., .902 save%, 2.77 GAA, 3-2-0)
Nick BonDurant (G, '14) (10 GP: 529 min., .872 save%, 3.41 GAA, 5-1-2)
Key Recruits
Mike Najar (F, '17)
Cameron Romoff (D, '17)
Andrew Neary (D, '17)
Drew Michals (G, '17)
Middlebury returns the best sophomore duo in the NESCAC in Rookie of the Year Silcoff and Neogold. Not only were they in the top four in Panthers' scoring last year, they led the second best power play in the conference with seven and five power play goals, respectively. Add the captains, Belisle and offensively gifted blueliner Donahoe, and the Panthers won't have putting the puck in the net this season.
The other end of the ice is another story. The defensive crew is led by Donahoe and fellow senior Wiggins, as well as some solid returners like Greenwald and Goguen, and even good defensive recruits. Of course, in Billy Beaney's hybrid style of play, traditional labels are not as applicable on other squads. He has said he plans on playing three groups of five skaters, two forwards and three backs, in his rotation.
But then there's the goalie issue. Last year, four netminders saw time, with seldom used Peters emerging as the frontrunner for the starting position at the end of the season. Senior BonDurant, who saw the lion's share of time last year, also returns. Rookie Michals is also in the running for playing time. In the Burlington Free Press Middlebury preview, Beaney admits to goaltending being an issue but does not say who the starter will be.
Predictions/Projections The Panthers enter the season at 13th in the D3Hockey.com (D3H) Poll. In the D3Hockey.com comptuer projections, D3H thinks they will end up with the eighth best computer ranking in the country.
In terms of the 'Cac, the Panthers are predicted to finish as high as second (D3H, our preseason poll), and as low as fourth (WordPress blog) with the USCHO prediction (third) falling right in between. In Beaney's own estimation, they are the third or fourth best team in the 'Cac, unless they can "catch lightning in a bottle" and get that special "it" that led the Panthers to eight national championships in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Out of Conference Schedule Middlebury starts out-of-conference play with the annual Thanksgiving PrimeLink Tournament. They play rival Norwich (7th D3H) in the first game then either Wisconsin-Superior (13th D3H) or Plattsburgh (2nd D3H) in the final/consolation round. They then start 2014 with their own Middlebury Classic facing off against St. Michael's (70th D3H) in the first round, and either Southern Maine (58th) or more likely Neumann (4th) in the next round. They then play Plattsburgh (potentially again) at home and Norwich (definitely again) on the road to complete their tough OOC schedule.
Song for the Season: The Panthers will look to catch lighting in a bottle and storm some hockey barns as they compete for a NESCAC title and a return to national prominence. State radio is fronted by former Dispatch member and Middlebury student Chad Urmston.
State Radio - "Barn Storming"
2013-14 Preview
Key Losses (Stats are for 2012-13)
Chris Steele (D, '13) (25 GP: 3-4-7)
Mathieu Castonguay (D, '13) (18 GP: 1-2-3)
Chris Brown (F, '13) (25 GP: 2-8-10)
Key Returners (Stats are for 2012-13)
Matt Silcoff (F, '16) (25 GP: 11-12-24); 2013 NESCAC Rookie of the Year
Louis Belisle (F, '14) (26 GP: 13-10-23); 2013-14 co-captain
Derek Pimentel (F, '16) (24 GP: 6-15-21); 2013-14 assistant captain
Evan Neugold (F, '16) (25 GP: 8-10-18)
Robbie Donahoe (D, '14) (26 GP: 6-10-16); 2013-14 co-captain
Ben Wiggins (D, '14) (26 GP: 6-6-12)
Mike Peters (G, '15) (8 GP: 346 min., .902 save%, 2.77 GAA, 3-2-0)
Nick BonDurant (G, '14) (10 GP: 529 min., .872 save%, 3.41 GAA, 5-1-2)
Key Recruits
Mike Najar (F, '17)
Cameron Romoff (D, '17)
Andrew Neary (D, '17)
Drew Michals (G, '17)
Middlebury returns the best sophomore duo in the NESCAC in Rookie of the Year Silcoff and Neogold. Not only were they in the top four in Panthers' scoring last year, they led the second best power play in the conference with seven and five power play goals, respectively. Add the captains, Belisle and offensively gifted blueliner Donahoe, and the Panthers won't have putting the puck in the net this season.
The other end of the ice is another story. The defensive crew is led by Donahoe and fellow senior Wiggins, as well as some solid returners like Greenwald and Goguen, and even good defensive recruits. Of course, in Billy Beaney's hybrid style of play, traditional labels are not as applicable on other squads. He has said he plans on playing three groups of five skaters, two forwards and three backs, in his rotation.
But then there's the goalie issue. Last year, four netminders saw time, with seldom used Peters emerging as the frontrunner for the starting position at the end of the season. Senior BonDurant, who saw the lion's share of time last year, also returns. Rookie Michals is also in the running for playing time. In the Burlington Free Press Middlebury preview, Beaney admits to goaltending being an issue but does not say who the starter will be.
Predictions/Projections The Panthers enter the season at 13th in the D3Hockey.com (D3H) Poll. In the D3Hockey.com comptuer projections, D3H thinks they will end up with the eighth best computer ranking in the country.
In terms of the 'Cac, the Panthers are predicted to finish as high as second (D3H, our preseason poll), and as low as fourth (WordPress blog) with the USCHO prediction (third) falling right in between. In Beaney's own estimation, they are the third or fourth best team in the 'Cac, unless they can "catch lightning in a bottle" and get that special "it" that led the Panthers to eight national championships in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Out of Conference Schedule Middlebury starts out-of-conference play with the annual Thanksgiving PrimeLink Tournament. They play rival Norwich (7th D3H) in the first game then either Wisconsin-Superior (13th D3H) or Plattsburgh (2nd D3H) in the final/consolation round. They then start 2014 with their own Middlebury Classic facing off against St. Michael's (70th D3H) in the first round, and either Southern Maine (58th) or more likely Neumann (4th) in the next round. They then play Plattsburgh (potentially again) at home and Norwich (definitely again) on the road to complete their tough OOC schedule.
Song for the Season: The Panthers will look to catch lighting in a bottle and storm some hockey barns as they compete for a NESCAC title and a return to national prominence. State radio is fronted by former Dispatch member and Middlebury student Chad Urmston.
State Radio - "Barn Storming"
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