Conference Roundup 11/20/15

Hamilton (0-1-0; 0-1-0 NESCAC)      1
Amherst (1-0-0; 1-0-0 NESCAC)     3
Box score   Amherst Recap 

Air Force transfer Will Vosejpka (F, '18) scored his first collegiate goal to make it 2-0 for what proved to be the game winner 5:39 into the final frame. The Purple&White (Amherst athletics preferred designation) jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the 2nd when they turned a neutral zone turnover into a two-on-one rush and a short handed goal from 2014-15 Amherst leading scorer, David White (F,'18) on a feed from classmate Thomas Lindstrom (F, '18).

The Continentals scored their lone tally on a rip from the blue line by blueliner Connor Lamberti (D, '17) a few minutes after Vosejpka's poke in. The Purple&White sealed it later in the third with a power play tally, flipping the Lindstrom/White connection from the first goal, this time with a G for Lindstrom and an A for White.

Both teams returned their starting goalies from season ending injuries last January. Dave Cunningham (G, '16) , who could be seen on crutches celebrating his team's 2014-15 NESCAC men's ice hockey title, made 26 saves in his triumphant return from the quill to the pipes. Evan Buitenhuis (G, '18) turned aside 31 saves in the Continentals third straight 3-1 defeat to Amherst and tenth straight loss to the Purple&White.

Speaking of the Purple&White, I am not sure how long the athletic website has used this designation and whether or not it has anything to do with the recent protests on campus. The Lord Jeff mascot has long been a contentious issue on campus due to Lord Jeffrey Amherst's controversial history, so it is possible it has  been in the works.

On a lighter note, it was nice to hear Hugh Campbell back behind the mic for Amherst:

"How Did I know that? I looked it up." Hugh Campbell in midseason wry tone form.

— Hockey in the 'Cac (@hockeyinthecac) November 21, 2015

Tufts (0-1-0;0-1-0 NESCAC)         2
Trinity (1-0-0; 1-0-0 NESCAC)     3
Box Score   Trinity Recap     Tufts Recap 

Sam Johnson (D, '17) netted his second career goal 5:21 into the third to break a 2-2 tie and earn a win for the defending national champs on banner night. The pesky Jumbos, who shocked Trinity 2-1 last February in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, stuck around despite being outshot 39-19. Tufts, led by rookie coach Pat Norton, answered back to each of the first two Bantam goals by Ethan Holdaway (F, '17) and Tyler Whitney (F, '18) with Whitney's goal coming on a penalty shot. For the Jumbos, junior Matt Pugh (F, '17) and rookie David Lackner (F, '19) provided the firepower. The goal from Lackner came short handed nearly four minutes into a five minute major penalty kill thanks to a game misconduct to fellow Tufts rookie Ryan Wolter (D, '19).

Not sure if the box score will be fixed, as there appeared to be another game misconduct (or was it DQ?) in the second period for Tufts'  aspiring astronaut Sean Kavanagh (D, '17), but it only shows up as a boarding call after a dirty hit from behind on Ryan Cole. Regardless, it was a penalty laden opening night with the Jumbos going 1/8 on the man advantage and Trinity going 1/7.
Daw

There are now three NCAA Championship banners at Trinity (2008 Baseball, 2012 Womens Lacrosse, and… https://t.co/z7SdI2Sv1X

— Jake Donnelly (@JacobDonnelly31) November 21, 2015

Conn College  (0-0-1;0-0-1 NESCAC)     1
Wesleyan (0-0-1; 0-0-1 NESCAC)           1
Box Score

2015 Second Team All-NESCAC goalie Tom Conlin (G,'16) made 41 saves to earn the visiting Camels a point on the road against in state rival Wesleyan, who is looking to turn the program around after a 3-21 mark last season. Dawson Sprigings (G, '17) only had to turn aside 17 shots to earn the tie for the host Cardinals. Last season's Camels leading scorer, Tim DiPretoro (F, '16) provided the scoring for the Camels while Jay Matthews (F, '16) had the goal for the host.