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| Hamilton hockey practices at the Aud on Thanksgiving |
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and a respite from the vicissitudes of work . For those players and coaches in the NESCAC, however, it is also a time for preparation, practice and out-of-conference games. Some players get to go home for the day, others have to practice before passing the stuffing, but with all ten teams in action this weekend, no one got a full break from the grind.
The action kicks off on Friday, when Hamilton takes on regional rival Utica College at the historic Utica Memorial Auditorium, colloquially known as The Aud. The game is at 2PM, as the AHL's Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks affiliate) have a home game against the Adirondack Flames (Calgary Flames affiliate) at 7 PM. Hamilton practiced at the Aud today before taking in a team meal at the Colgate Inn in Hamilton, NY.
Hamilton, NY is not actually where Hamilton is located - that would be too easy. Hamilton is located in Clinton, NY but Colgate University is located in Hamilton. The Continentals ran into the Division-I Raiders, who were also having Thanksgiving meal at the Colage Inn as they prepare to take on top ranked Boston University in New England this weekend. Bowdoin goalie Max Fenkell (G, '15) spent his first year of collegiate hockey on the Colgate roster in 2010-11.
The rest of NESCAC action on Friday occurs in Vermont. Tufts makes their annual pilgrimage to Rutland, VT to take on SUNY Brockport in the opening round of Castleton State's holiday tournament. Middlebury hosts the 17th edition of the premier D-III Thanksgiving Tournament: the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout. Bill Beaney's squad takes on the western invitee, the Concordia Cobbers from Minnesota, while #2 Norwich takes on #3 Plattsburgh in the other opening round game.
Saturday sees all ten NESAC team in either non-conference or tournament games. Tufts and Middlebury play in either the finals or consolation of their tournaments while Hamilton travels to upper upstate New York to take on the 'Roos of SUNY Canton. The Aud isn't done with the NESCAC as Conn College heads to Utica for a Saturday night tilt with the Pioneers. With the game being on Saturday night, Camel coach Jim Ward was able to allow his players to go home for Thanksgiving.
Next weekend, nationally ranked Trinity will be the third straight team to head into the Aud, as coach Matt Greason and co. take on Utica in the annual Teddy Bear Toss. After Utica scores their first goal, fans throw hundreds of teddy bears on the ice to be donated to charity. Before then, the Bantams will take on UMass-Dartmouth and nationally ranked UMass-Boston in Hartford this weekend.
After practicing early on Wednesday, Greason gave his boys off until Friday night in order that they could spend the holiday with family. Greason headed up to Maine to his parents parents' house for Turkey Day. The current Trinity coach and former player grew up in the Pine Tree state, where his late grandfather, A. Leroy Greason, was a professor and president of Bowdoin. There wasn't a moratorium on hockey talk at the dinner table in the Greason household, as Greason said it was nice to come home where his father can "critique the Bantam power play and breakout."
Trinity's travel partner, Wesleyan, will swap OOC opponents with the Bantams. The Cardinals take on UMass-Boston on Saturday and then UMAss-Dartmouth on Sunday, both in Middletown. The other swap this weekend occurs in the annual Colby/Bowdoin Face-off Classic. On Saturday, Bowdoin takes on Wentworth and Colby takes on Salve Regina in Brunswick. On Sunday, they swap teams and travel north to play in Waterville.
Not to forget the bitterest of 'Cac rivals, Amherst plays home games against Elmira and Nazareth this weekend, while Williams heads to Sartago Springs, NY for the Skidmore Invitational. In the opening round, coach Bill Kangas and the Ephs take on Johnson &Wales, who inlcude Kangas' son Brett on the roster, though the junior defenseman hasn't played any games yet this season.
There are no college hockey games on Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean former NESCAC players weren't in action. The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL)'s Huntsville Havoc hosted the Knockville Ice Bears in a game that the Ice Bears took 3-2 in a shootout. Middlebury alum Robbie Donahoe (D, '14) plays for Knoxville while Colby blueliner Scott Harff (D, '13) is in his second year as a member of the Havoc. Minor league sports are known for their promotions and gimmicks, and last night the Havoc wore special Thanskgiving themed jerseys.
Havoc are awesome!! @HavocHockey pic.twitter.com/q3KvOnPiLo
— Bama Hockey Dew (@gdturney1) November 28, 2014
Whether they play in tournaments or regular non league games this weekend, NESCAC players (and coaches) certainly had to sacrifice more than the average college student this week. From extensive travel schedules in youth hockey to extra years of prep school/juniors, hockey players have to go the extra mile to make it to NCAA competition, especially as compared to other D-III sports. For this dedication, we are thankful.
Hopefully the players took some time to pause and be grateful as well. From families that paid for and made those extensive travel schedules possible, to a world class liberal arts education, and the chance to play some of the most competitive collegiate hockey available, NESCAC players are truly blessed.
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