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| The Fenwick Brothers: Chris (38), Scott (28), Andrew (15) will play each other this weekend. |
Wesleyan Cardinals 7-2-1 (2-2-0 NESCAC) at Williams Ephs 7-1-2 (5-0-2 NESCAC)
Chapman Rink Williamstown, MA
7:00 PM Video
The first place Ephs come back indoors after preserving their unbeaten NESCAC record with a come from behind win against Trinity at Frozen Fenway on Tuesday. The Cardinals come into the game on a six game unbeaten streak (5-0-1), all in non-conference games. Wesleyan actually has a two game losing streak in conference with road losses to Hamilton and Amherst when they last played in-conference in late November.
The matchup features the best statistical offense in the NESCAC in Wesleyan (4.30 goals per game) vs the best statistical defense(tied with Amherst) in the NESCAC in Williams (1.70 goals per game). The Cards are powered in large part by freshman phenom Elliot Vorel (F, '17), who has 22 points (11-11-22) and a ten game points streak to open his college career. The Ephs are led by junior netminder Sean Dougherty (G, '15), who has a .946 Save%, 1.53 Goals Against Average (GAA) and 6-1-2 record in nine games.
The teams last met in February of 2012 at Chapman Rink and skated to a 0-0 tie. Dougherty had 26 saves and then freshman netminder Nolan Daley (G, '16) stood on his head for 46 saves to earn the tie.
Hamilton Continentals 3-5-1 (2-3-1) at Bowdoin Polar Bears -3-2 (2-3-1)
Sidney Watson Arena Brunswick, ME
7:00 PM Video Live Stats
Hamilton travels to Maine having lost both of their games in the Buck Supply Classic hosted by Plattsburgh last weekend. The Continentals dropped the opening round game against then top ranked Plattsburgh before falling to Williams in OT of the consolation game, a contest that Hamilton led with just twelve seconds to go. The Conts played last weekend and will play this weekend without two of their top defenseman: Bennett Schneider (D, '13.5), whom they lost to graduation, and Marko Brelih (D, '16), whom they lost to injury.
The Polar Bears, who come into the game off a 4-3 win over in-state University of New England, are no strangers to injuries to their top players. Kyle Lockwood (D/F, '15) played on Tuesday for the first time since the rivalry series against Colby in November and last year's leading scorer, Ollie Koo (D/F. '14) has been out since the Colby series as well. According to NSN Sports Bowdoin announcer Rob Kennedy, Koo has been skating, so we'll see if that means he is back tonight.
In the absence of Koo, fellow senior Colin Downey (F/D, '14) has assumed the role as top scorer with 17 points (7-10-17). The East Sandwich, MA native sits just three points (33-64-97) from joining the hollowed 100 point club.
The teams last met in the 2013 NESCAC Quarterfinals at the Sid. Lockwood had a hat-trick and Bowdoin scored three unanswered third period goals to win 5-3 in a game in which Hamilton had a surprising 3-1 lead after two periods. The Conts were without their top player, Mike Dimare (F. '14), in that game, who had only six points (2-4-6) in 14 injury plagued games last season. The senior from Medford, MA has returned with a vengeance this year and lead the team with 18 points (7-11-18).
Amherst Lord Jeffs 7-3-0 (5-1-0) at Colby Mules 5-4-3 (2-3-1)
Alfond Rink Waterville, ME
7:00 PM Video
The Lord Jeffs enter the game after a 5-1 loss to Norwich in the finals of the Cadets' Northfield Savings Bank Tournament last weekend. Colby tied University of Southern Maine -- Bowdoin also tied the Huskies in Gorham - on Tuesday after blowing a 2-0 first period lead last saturday to lose to Babson in the finals of the Salem State/Babson tournament.
Amherst has the stingiest defense in the 'Cac statistically in conference games (1.17 goals allowed per game) and the Jeffs are tied with Williams for the best defense overall (1.70 goals allowed per game).Last weekend's 4-3 win over Plymouth State in the first round and 5-1 loss to Norwich in the finals were the first two games that Coach Jack Arena's squad gave up more than two goals in a game all season. Colby is in the middle of the pack in scoring overall, but has a conference worst 2.17 goals scored per game in conference affairs.
It will be interesting to see how Amherst goalie Dave Cunningham (G, '16) responds after giving up five goals to Norwich last weekend. His 1.76 GAA still ranks 12th in the nation and his .932 Save% is good enough for 11th in all of D-III as well.
The teams last met in February 2013 at Alfond. The Mules scored three unanswered goals in the third to erase a 3-0 deficit to earn a tie. Ben Chwick (F, '14) had a goal in that game and is currently tied for the Mules lead in points with 15 (7-8-15). Chwick's next goal will set a career record for tallies in a season.
Tonight marks the first time Colby freshman Scott Fenwick (F, '17) will play against his brother, Amherst junior Andrew Fenwick (F, '15). Andrew will travel with the Jeffs tomorrow to faceoff against their third brother, Bowdoin sophomore Chris Fenwick (F, '16).
Trinity Bantams 7-3-0 (3-2-0 NESCAC) at Middlebury Panthers 5-3-2 (3-2-1)
Kenyon Arena Middlebury, VT
7:00 PM Video Audio
The Bantams head north to the Green Mountains looking for redemption after blowing a 2-0 third period lead at Frozen Fenway against Williams on Tuesday. Middlebury stays at home after winning their own New Year's tournament with wins over St.Michael's in the first round and Neumann in the finals. The finals win also marked Bill Beaney's 500th win as Panthers men's hockey coach. When you add his 86 wins at New England College in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Beaney is the winningest coach in D-III hockey history.
The Panthers are a different team when they play in the friendly confines of Kenyon Arena. While it's a small sample, Middlebury is 3-0-1 at home, where they have outscored opponents 18-5. On the road or at neutral locations, Beaney's boys are 2-3-1 and have been outscored 16-11. Trinity also prefers to be at home in Hartford, where they are 5-1-0, as opposed to the road/neutral sites, where the Bantams are 2-2-0.
It will be interesting to see who Beaney pencils in at goaltender tonight. After starting the first six games of the year, Mike Peters (G, '15) hasn't spent a minute in net since he was pulled in the first period of the loss to Plattsburgh in November. Three other goalies have spent time in net in the four games since with senior Nick BonDurant (G, '14) getting the bulk of the action. On the other side of the ice, the Bantams feature Ben Coulthard (G, '14), who took the 3-2 loss the last time these teams met in February of 2013 at Kenyon despite making 35 saves.
In honor of the Fenwick side are you on brotherly battles this weekend in New England, we present Boston based Dropkick Murphy's "Which Side are You on?" .
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