17-7-3 Overall12-4-2 NESCAC (2nd in NESCAC)
Overall (Conference Rank) Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 3.08 G/GM (6th) Offense: 3.00 G/GM (6th)
Defense: 2.04 G/GM (2nd) Defense: 1.94 G/GM (1st)
Power Play: 13/80-26.2% (9th) Power Play: 11/61 -18.0% (6th)
Penalty Kill: 71/83 - 85.5% (3rd) Penalty Kill: 56/64 - 87.5% (1st)
The Ephs, picked to finish seventh in the NESCAC, ended up riding breakout sophomore goaltender Sean Dougherty (G, '15) to the second best record in the regular season. In the playoffs, they beat a rising Colby team 2-1 in the quaterfinals, ended Trinity's season 4-2 in the semis and lost to Bowdoin 2-1 in the championship.
2013-14 Preview
Key losses (stats for 2012-13)
Evan Dugdale (F, '13) (27 GP: 6-15-21)
John Wickman (F, '13) (28 GP: 8-10-18)
Eric Rubino (F, '13) (26 GP: 7-9-16)
Mike Broft (D, '13) (27 GP: 4-8-12)
Key Returners (stats for 2012-13)
Peter Mistretta (F, '15) (20 GP: 14-6-20)
Nick Anderson (F, '14) (26 GP: 8-12-20); 2013-14 co-captain
Craig Kitto (F, '15) (10 GP: 3-4-7)
Paul Steinig (D/F, '13) (27 GP: 5-7-12); 2013-14 co-captain
Brian McNamara (D, '15.) (27 GP: 0-2-2)
Zander Masucci (D, '15) (27 GP: 3-8-11)
Dave Jarrett (D, '16) (27 GP: 4-8-12)
Sean Dougherty (G, '15) (25 GP: 1,512 min., .934 save%, 1.98 GAA, 15-7-2)
Key Recruits
George Hunkele (F, '17)
Alex Hagerty (F, '17)
Frankie Mork (D, '17)
Greg Zaffino (D, '17)
With a strong returning defensive corps and one of the best goaltenders in the conference in Sean Dougherty, the Ephs are poised to be near the top of the 'Cac in defensive categories. The obvious concern for coach Kangas' (who is just 10 wins away from being the all-time winningest coach in Ephs history)crew is on offense, losing two of their top three scorers and almost half of their offensive production in general.
But that doesn't mean the Ephs aren't capable of putting up enough offensive production to win the NESCAC. Peter Mistrettra led the team in goal scoring with 14 goals - six more than the next Eph - despite missing the last seven games of the season to a near career ending concussion. Another internal solution might come from Craig Kitto, who had a strong freshman season with 22 points (8-14-22) before injuries limited him to only ten games last year and hampered his development. The Ephs strong six man freshman recruiting class also has the potential to provide goals. They might need to, as a small 24 man roster makes Williams susceptible to depth depletion.
Predictions/Projections: In the NESCAC, the Ephs highest prediction is third (by D3Hockey.com and WordPress), while USCHO and our preseason poll has them at fifth. Williams extremely tough out-of-conference schedule propels them to a computer projection of 3rd out of 79 teams nationally in the final D3Hockey.com (D3H) computer rankings.
Out of Conference Schedule The Ephs begin that hard OOC schedule in two weeks against interstate rival Babson (11th D3H), who the Ephs have played 40 times and against whom the Ephs currently have an eight game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) dating back to 2008. They then start the new year off in upstate New York at the Cardinal classic, where they play Hobart (15th D3H) and then either 'Cac foe Hamilton or host Plattsburgh (2nd D3H) in the next round. Just three days later they play Trinity at the much anticipated Frozen Fenway game.
The Ephs return to non-conference play with home games against Manhattanvile (24th D3H) and Plattsburgh (potentially for the second time), before finishing up OOC play in Rhode Island at Johnson and Wales (64th D3H). Wildcats defender Brett Kangas grew up in Williamstown, where his dad coached the Williams College hockey team.
Song for the season The defense and goaltending will be there, but will the Ephs turn on the little red goal light enough to contend for the NESCAC title? Note: Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schelsinger is a Williams alum.
Fountains of Wayne "Little Red Light"
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