1. Amherst (5-0-0; 4-0-0)
The week that was: The Lord Jeffs took sole possession of first place in the NESCAC with a weekend sweep of Trinity and Wesleyan, the two teams that entered the week tied with them for first in the 'Cac. The Lord Jeffs broke a 1-1 tie on Saturday against the Bantams with a rare 5-3 short-handed goal and added an empty netter to prevail 3-1. On Sunday, they broke a 1-1 lead late in the first and cruised to a 4-1 victory over Wesleyan. Even first place teams have things to work on, as the Lord Jeffs will eventually pay if they continue to give up the eighteen power plays they gave up to opponents over the weekend.
Amherst then began their OOC schedule yesterday against St. Michael's, blanking the Purple Knights 4-0 at Orr Rink. Senior Johnny Russell (G, '14) earned a 24 save shutout in his first collegiate decision. Before yesterday, the Champlin, MN native had played eighteen minutes and faced six shots in three years as a Lord Jeff.
The week ahead: Amherst has just one non-conference game over Thanksgiving weekend, but it's a big one. The undefeated, nationally ranked Lord Jeffs (10th USCHO, 11th D3H) travel cross-state on Saturday to Wellesley, MA to play the undefeated, nationally ranked Beavers of Babson, currently seventh in both polls. It's an All-NESCAC weekend for the Beavers as they play Williams the next day.
Player of the week: Dave Cunningham (G, '16) One of the questions entering the season for coach Jack Arena was how a relatively unproven but well regarded prep school goalie would fare stepping in to the starting role in his sophomore season. Williams had the same question last year with Sean Dougherty (G, '15), who earned Second Team All-NESCAC honrs and helped the Ephs make it to the conference title game.
2nd in NESCAC - 7 points
This week's record: (2-0-0; 2-0-0)
This week's record: (2-0-0; 2-0-0)
The week that was: Middlebury didn't have the prettiest weekend on the road, only defeating Tufts by one and needing overtime to beat Conn College. The Panthers still won both games, though, and they can still out-skate pretty much anyone they face. Beaney's boys get the most shots per game in the 'Cac with 39.5 and let up the least at 19.5, a huge +20 differential that is nearly 13 more than the next best shot differential, Trinity's +7.6.
The question going forward for the Panthers will be defense and goaltending. Mike Peters (G, '15) has taken over the starting job, but we know Beaney is not afraid to change goaltenders. Last season, current senior Nick BonDurant (G, '14) started the first seven games for the Panthers before yielding the starting duties to three other goalies, including Peters.
The week ahead: It's Thanksgiving weekend so that means it's time for the Primelink Great Northern Shootout, an annual turkey weekend tournament that includes a core of Norwich, Middlebury, SUNY Plattsburgh and a fourth invitational team. This year's Primelink, hosted by Plattsburgh, features three nationally ranked teams in the host Cardinals (3rd USCHO, 2nd D3H), the Norwich Cadets (2nd USCHO, 6th D3H) and Middlebury (15th USCHO; 10th D3H). University of Wisconsin-Superior rounds out the field.
The Panthers face rival Norwich for the 146th time in the opening round on Friday. They then play either Plattsburgh or UW-S on Saturday. The Panthers can't leave the weekend in first place in the NESCAC, but they could end up with an undefeated record with wins against two of the top teams in the country.
2. Williams (3-0-1; 3-0-1) 2nd in NESCAC - 7 points
This week's record: (2-0-0; 2-0-0)
The week that was: The Ephs took care of business on the road against cellar dwellers Conn College and Tufts over the weekend to keep pace with travel partner Middlebury for second place. Williams played smart, effective hockey so far this year, including: taking leads into the first intermission in three of the four games, staying out of the box for only 8.5 PIM/G (lowest in the NESCAC) and balancing the scoring attack with ten different Ephs having scored so far. The highly touted freshman class has delivered early on with four different freshman scoring six of the fifteen Williams goals. Six goals is more than the junior (5), sophomore (1) or senior (3) classes have contributed. Dougherty has been solid once again with a .947 Save % good enough for eighth in the country.
The week ahead: Like Amherst, Williams only plays one game this week and its against Babson. The Ephs look to continue their eight game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) against Babson when they welcome the Beavers to Chapman Rink on Sunday afternoon.
Player of the week: Craig Kitto (F, '16) Kitto leads the Ephs with eight points (3-5-8) including a balanced four point weekend (2-2-4) with two assists against Conn College and two goals against Tufts.
The week that was: The Bantams lost a disappointing game to Amherst on Saturday in which they went 0/10 on the power play and gave up the game winning goal while they had a five-on-three advantage. They then entered the third period of the Hamilton game down 2-1 but rallied to earn a 4-2 victory. Four of the five goals this past weekend were scored by freshman including three by Sean Orlando (F, '17). Orlando and fellow freshman Ryan Cole (F, '17) are tied for the team lead with three goals a piece.
Junior transfer Liam McKillop (F, '15) has yet to score a goal in a Bantams uniform. The transfer from St. Anselm's, who had 56 points (27-29-56) in 49 collegiate games entering the season, hadn't gone more than three games without a goal since an eight game drought early in his freshman season of 2011-12.
The week ahead: Trinity hosts a pair of ECAC-Northeast opponents in Salve Regina on Saturday and Wentworth on Sunday. The Seahwaks enter the game at (6-1-0) and like Trinity received votes for the national polls this past week. The Leoparads are only (3-5-0) but they are the only team to beat Salve Regina so far.
Player of the week: Sean Orlando (F, '17) The Westminster product scored three goals to end the weekend tied for the team lead.
5. Wesleyan (3-2-0; 2-2-0)
5th in the NESCAC - 4 points
This week's record: (1-2-0; 0-2-0)
The week that was: The Cardinals swept the opening weekend series against Conn College and Tufts and avoided paying for a lack of discipline that lead to back-to-back games with game misconducts. The same could not be said for the second weekend. The Cardinals gave up eight goals in a loss to Hamilton, including allowing the normally weak Continental power play to go 5/9. Through 4 league games, the Cardinals average 20.5 PIM/G, four more than second place Amherst at 16.5. The Redbirds then followed up the Hamilton game with a 4-1 loss at Amherst. The Cards rebounded with a 5-3 non conference win yesterday over Stonehill, a team they have never lost to in the three meetings between the schools.
The week ahead: Wesleyan hosts the same OOC opponents as travel partner Trinity, only in reverse order, playing Wenworth on Saturday and Salve Regina on Sunday.
Player of the week: Elliott Vorel (F, '17) The freshman phenom continues his torrid pace racking up six more points (2-4-6) in the three games since the opening weekend seven point (4-3-7) performance that earned him NESCAC Player of the Week honors. He easily leads the Cardinals in points (6-7-13) and leads the nation in points per game at 2.6. His impressive numbers might be all for naught if the Cards don't play more disciplined and get more consistent goaltending play. Nick Craven (F, '13) and Keith Buehler (F, '14) lit it up on the scoreboard last year but the Cards still only finished sixth in the NESCAC and exited the playoffs in the Quarterfinals.
6. Bowdoin (2-2-1; 1-2-1)
6th in NESCAC - 3 pointsThis week's record: (2-1-0;1-1-0
The week that was: Bowdoin faced off against Colby in the 201st and 202nd installments of the rivalry after the Polar Bears had a disppointing 0-1-1 start to the season at Middlebury and Williams. Coach Meagher switched up the lines on Friday and the Polar Bears prevailed 3-1 in Waterville on Friday. They then sought to get coach Meagher his 500th career coaching win in a rivalry game home opener on Saturday, but the Mules dashed their hopes with a 4-2 upset victory. Bowdoin didn't lose their second game of the 2012-13 season until February.
The Polar Bears finally got Meagher his 500th win in last night's crazy 9-3 victory over OOC opponent University of New England. Bowdoin expanded a 4-3 lead after two periods with five power play goals in the third. Max Fenkell (G, '15) left the game after the second period and was replaced by Steve Messina (G, '14). It will be interesting to see if Fenkell is back in action soon. Meagher goes with a strict rotation of the two goalies and while Messina is well regarded, the stats over the past two years favor Fenkell. This season Fenkell is 2-0-1 with a .932 Save% and 2.18 GAA. Messina is 0-2-0 with an .870 Save% and a 3.89 GAA.
The week ahead: It's the Bowdoin/Colby Faceoff Classic. Bowdoin will play Suffolk at Colby on Saturday and UMass-Dartmouth - a rematch of Bowdoin's opening round victory in last year's NCAA tournament - at home in Brunswick on Sunday.
Player of the week: Colin Downey (F/D, '14) Downey had seven points (1-6-7) in the past three games, with all seven coming in the Polar Bears two victories. Downey now has 88 points (27-61-88) and is poised to make a push for the 100 point club before his time in Brunswick is up.
6. Colby (2-2-1; 0-1-1) 6th in NESCAC - 3 points
This week's record: (1-1-0; 1-1-0)
The week that was : Colby lost at home on Friday but won in Brunswick on Saturday on the strength of 2012-13 Mules leading goal scorer Nick Lanza's first three goals of the season. A huge victory for coach Blaise MacDonald's young team in a big rivalry game.
The Mules need to work on their defense. They currently give up the most shots per game in the conference at 39.2 and have been outshot in every game leading to a -13.8 shots per game differential. Even with the five goals he gave up in two periods to Middlebury the other weekend, Sam Parker (G, '15) still has the fourth best overall Save% in the conference at .921 (.929 in all games) in conference games. Parker earned NESCAC Player of the Week honors on Monday thanks to how frequently he is tested in net.
The week ahead: Bowdoin/Colby Faceoff Classic. Colby plays UMass-Darmouth at home on Saturday then Suffolk at Bowdoin on Sunday.
Player of the week: Nick Lanza (F, '14) If we included the USM game like the league did it would probably be Parker. But since we are going with just the Bowdoin games, Lanza's hat trick on Saturday night in Brunswick makes the senior from Rocky Hill, CT the easy choice. Lanza prefers playing the Polar Bears in Brunswick instead of Waterville. In five career games against Bowdoin at Alfond Rink, Lanza only has 1 point (0-1-1). But in three games at Sid Watson Arena, Lanza has five goals (5-0-0).
8. Hamilton (1-3-0; 1-3-0)
8th in NESCAC - 2 points
This week's record: (1-1-0; 1-1-0)
The week that was: Hamilton avenged the 11-3 loss at home to Wesleyan in January of this year with an 8-5 outburst against the Cardinals on Saturday. The Hamilton power play, which scored 13 goals all of last year, had five against Wesleyan on Saturday. They then blew a 2-1 lead heading into the third against Trinity and lost 4-2. The game winning goal came on sloppy Hamilton power play execution leading to a short-handed breakway goal. The Conts workhorse goalie Joe Quattrocchi (G, '14) only made fifteen saves in the loss.
The week ahead: The Conts travel up near Canada to play the SUNY Canton Kangaroos on Sunday. Hamilton scrimmaged the 'Roos at Sage before the season started and defeated them 4-2. The Conts better enjoy the weak competition, as they face home games against Williams and Middlebury the next weekend.
Player of the week: Mike DiMare (F, '14) DiMare had a career high six points (2-4-6) against Wesleyan in his first multi-goal game since 2011-12. He followed it up with a goal against Trinity to the end the weekend in the Conts lead for points (4-4-8). The 2011 NESCAC Rookie of the Year and 2012 First Team All-NESAC selection has worked his way back from an injury plagued 2012-13 campaign. DiMare has shown some very good chemistry with his younger linemates, freshman Robbie Murden (F, '17) and sophomore Kenny Matheson (F, '16).
9. Conn College (0-4-0; 0-4-0)
9th in NESCAC - 0 points
This week's record - (0-2-0; 0-2-0)
The week that was: Conn College played surprisingly well against Williams on Friday, but gave up seven power plays of which the Ephs scored on three and the Camels lost 5-2. On Saturday they were thuroughly outshot 38-15 by Middlebury but ended up forcing OT on a goal with 50 seconds remaining. They then lost in OT. The defense is last in the 'Cac giving up five goals a game, but the eight place offense is of equal or greater concern. JC Cangelosi (F, '15) has half of their ten goals and the only other player to score more than one goal, Tim DiPretoro, had one of his two tallies come on a penalty shot.
Player of the week: JC Cangelosi (F, '15) Had three goals over the weekend, including the tally that forced the Middlebury game into OT.
9. Tufts (0-5-0; 0-4-0)9th in NESCAC - 0 points
This week's record - (0-3-0; 0-2-0)
The week that was: The Jumbos were outplayed by Middlebury on Friday but showed a knack for opportunistic scoring that lead to their third one goal loss in their first three games. They followed it up with a 4-1 loss to Williams. Last night they had a great opportunity to get a win against fellow a fellow winless team, Becker College. The Jumbos blew a 2-1 lead in the second, then fought back to make it 5-4 before giving up an empty net goal to lose 6-4.
The week ahead: The Jumbos head to Vermont for the Rutland Herald Invitational. They play Castleton State on Saturday, and then either Manhattanvile or SUNY Brockport on Sunday.
Player of the week: Kyle Gallegos (F, '14) The senior from Colorado had four points (3-1-4) in the three games.
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