Conference Preview 12/5/14

Bowdoin (6-0-1; 3-0-1 NESCAC)   at Conn College (1-5-0; 1-3-0) 
7 PM New London, CT Video Feed 

Bowdoin heads to the Nutmeg State for their first non-Maine game of the season as the only remaining unbeaten in NESCAC MIH. The Polar Bears have scored 5+ goals in five of their first seven games, but their early season success has been just as much about the other end of the ice. Early season stats don't tell us much - especially with three of the games coming in non-conference play - but Meagher's men venture past state lines with the fourth best Goals Against Average in D-III hockey at 1.43. Senior goalie Max Fenkell (G, '15), who had only one shutout in his first two seasons in Brunswick - has three shutouts in four games and currently sports a gaudy 0.75 Goals Against Average.  Special teams has been going the Brunswick boys way as well, with more short handed goals (3) than power play goals (2) allowed, not to mention being the least penalized team in the D-III world.

Conn College has been less fortunate, scoring more than three goals only once in six games. The Camels have lost four straight since defeating Wesleyan 5-2 in New London opening weekend. 364 days and 233 miles ago in Brunswick, an 0-7-0 Camels squad came back from a two goal deficit to beat Bowdoin 3-2 in OT. The Camels will likely need another 30+ save performance from Tom Conlin (G, '16) in order to pull off a similar result down the road in Connecticut on Friday.

The Camels look to get back on the road to victory, while Bowdoin hits the road for the first time this season. Here's Bob Dylan's  "On the Road Again" from the electric side of "Bringing It All Back Home". It's set to pictures from "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" because sure, why not?



Colby (2-3-1; 0-3-1 NESCAC)  at Tufts (2-4-1; 0-3-1 NESCAC) 
7 PM Malden, MA   Video Feed   Live Stats 

Like Bowdoin, Colby heads out for their first game outside of Maine state limits. Both the Mules and Jumbos are still looking for their first win in conference and both had successful starts to the OOC schedule last week with Colby going 2-0 and Tufts going 2-1. It will be interesting to see how the Mules line of Albert/Benicky/Rauseo, who had a breakout performance last weekend, does when it returns to conference play. The question of who will play in net for the Mules, freshman Emerson Verrier or senior Jordan Nathan (or perhaps previous starter Sam Parker?) is also a development to follow for Colby.

Two winless teams in conference meet. Something's gotta give, right? (please pretend ties do not exist. This one's for the more seasoned vets in the 'Cac loving community, Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Somethinng's Gotta Give" 


Hamilton (2-2-1; 1-1-1 NESCAC) at Williams (4-1-1; 3-0-1 NESCAC)
7 PM   Williamstown, MA   Video Feed  Live Stats

Williams lost in OT in the finals of the Skidmore Invitational to Morrisville, but the Ephs are still undefeated in league play heading into this one. Hamilton split their in-state OOC Thanksgiving weekend with a loss at Utica and win against lowly Canton, but the Continentals were making noise last we heard of them in conference with a 1-1 tie against Trinity. The Conts are the only team to hold the Bantams to less than three goals, thanks in large part (entirely?) to the 46 saves from freshman goalie Evan Buitenhuis (G, '18). Buitenhuis left the loss to Utica after two goals and just one plus period after a UC player roughed him up after the whistle. If "Boots" is cleared to play, it will be interesting to see how he rebounds in another big conference road game like the one at Trinity.  On the offensive side, Robbie Murden (F, '16) finally broke out against Canton for his first three goals of the season. How does he respond returning to league play?

For Williams, we know who will be in net, Sean Dougherty (G, '15), as he is the only netminder to see action for the Ephs this season. Williams has been paced offensively by their freshman forwards, CJ Shuggart (6-5-11) and David Italiano (4-3-7). Their two leading goal scorers from a year ago, Craig Kitto (F, '15) and George Hunkele (F, '7), have only one goal between the two of them, though Kitto has had seven helpers. Will they return to their light lamping ways against the Conts rookie netminder?

Hamilton hasn't beaten Williams since 2011. They'll need to bring the funk against the Ephs and Conts rookie Boots will probably to need to make some sprawling saves to pull off the upset. Here's funk legend Bootsy Collins with "Stretchin' Out" 





Amherst (5-1-0;2-1-0 NESCAC) at Middlebury (1-3-2; 1-1-2 NESCAC)
7 PM   Middlebury, VT    Video Feed   Live Stats 

The New England Hockey Journal will be in town this week filming scenes for a show about the historic D-III Middlebury hockey program to be aired on New England cable. Gone are the days, however, of eight national titles. The current version of the Panthers just fell to 1-3-2 after losing both games at the Primelink tournament for the first time since 2002. Coach Bill Beaney put Stephen Klein (G, '18) - his third goalie of the year - in the pipes against #3 Plattsburgh last time out. Klein let up four goals, but did make a solid 35 saves. Will Beaney turn to the frosh for an answer in net or will he return to Liam-Moorfield Yee (G, '16)?

The Panther goalie carousel over the last few years has been much discussed, but the Panthers offense hasn't done their netminders any favors early in the season. Middlebury has failed to score more than three goals in any of their first six games. They go up against an Amherst team that just won a nearly goal-less 1-0 game against non-conference foe Nazareth last weekend.

Did rookie Stephen Klein ask Beaney to put him in? Is he ready to play... today...on center ice? John Fogerty's "Centerfield"