Catching up with the NESCACers in the Pros

The NESCAC hockey season ended on Saturday night with Williams' 2-1 loss to Geneseo in the NCAA Quarterfinals. But that doesn't mean former NESCAC players aren't still plying their trade at the pro ranks. So instead of staring at the abyss of 224 days until the start of 2016-17 team activities, let's catch up on our former brethren. With due respect to the likes of Bowdoin's Colin Downey in Courbevoie and others playing globally, we are going to focus on North American pros.

AHL (AAA) 

Like last season, Bowdoin alum Jon Landry ('06) is the only former NESCAC player to play at the highest level of minor league hockey. Despite leading the Hershey Bears in +/- last season, the 32 year old Quebecois defensemen did not get any offers headed into the season. By mid-November, Landry signed with the Utica Comets, affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks and co-tenant in the Aud with D-III's own Utica Pioneers. 

The former Polar Bear has had his best offensive season in per game numbers with 21 points (6-15-21) in 36 games for the Comets, who are currently third in the North Division of the AHL's Eastern Conference. Landry was out for about a month, but returned this past week and apparently he's healthy enough to lay out some people. 

Jon Landry with a HUGE hit!!! pic.twitter.com/XS4J0we3ov

— Utica Comets (@UticaComets) March 19, 2016

ECHL (AA)
The ECHL has been a bit more hospitable to the 'Cac, specifically to former Middlebury Panthers. After winning an SPHL title with the Knoxville Ice Bears last season, Robbie Donahoe ('14) caught on with the LA Kings' AA affiliate Manchester Monarchs this season. He has been with the club all season, only missing time due to injury in November and December. In 36 games, the former two-sport collegiate star (golf) has seven points (2-5-7) and +9 for the east division leading New Hampshire squad.

The ECHL road for Donahoe's former teammate, Louis Belisle ('14), has been a bit more circuitous. Belisle has spent the majority of the season with the SPHL's Columbus Cottonmouths, whom he earned 1st Team All-SPHL honors with as a rookie last season. He has had three stints in the ECHL this sesason: six games with the South Carolina Stingrays (Washington Capitals) in November/December , eight games with the Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins) last month, and he is currently six games into a stint with the Fort Wayne Komets. Belisle has three points  (1-2-3) in the 20 games.

Here's a gif of @MiddAthletics alum @flippinlou's first @ECHL goal last Friday for the @WheelingNailers pic.twitter.com/ZIenqf0I5O

— Hockey in the 'Cac (@hockeyinthecac) February 17, 2016 

Other NESCAC players that have seen action in the ECHL include  Trinity's Jackson Brewer ('15) and Conn College's Tim DiPretoro, who just finished up his college career last month. Brewer has spent most of his first pro season bouncing around the SPHL, but he did have a three game run with the injury depleted Evansville IceMen (Ottawa Senators). For DiPretoro, he recently signed with the only Canadian team in the ECHL,  Brampton Beast (Montreal Canadians). Normally seniors sign ATO's during SpringBreak but according to the ECHL transactions list, Dipretoro signed a standard player contract. He has a point in four games so far with another week left on his spring break.

Beast rookie Tim DiPretoro gives his thoughts on recording his first pro point last night. #BeastLive pic.twitter.com/JNSRG4OEpq

— Brampton Beast (@BramptonBeast) March 18, 2016

SPHL (A) 
As mentioned previously, Brewer has spent most of the season at the Southern Professional Hockey League level, mostly with the Huntsville Havoc. In 29 games for the Alabama squad, the 2014 NESCAC Player of the Year posted sixteen points (5-11-16), a winning shootout goal and a Mariah Carey Christmas karoake session. Brewer has also spent eight games with Donahoe's old club, Knoxville, posting four points in eight games (2-2-4), and is currently with the newest SPHL club, the Georgia based Macon Mayhem. Brewer has eight points (2-6-8) in nine games for the Mayhem.

Brewer was joined in Huntsville by former Cac foe and Bowdoin alum John McGinnis ('15). The Cocoa, FL native has spent the entire season with the Havoc and has 32 points (12-20-32) in 51 games McGinnis was briefly joined in Huntsville by another Polar Bear, Leland Fidler ('10), who scored a goal in his two game stint in January. Fidler has spent parts of the past three seasons with Huntsville and has bounced around 10 teams in four leagues (FHL,CHL, SPHL, ECHL) since leaving Brunswick.

As mentioned above, Belisle has had the Columbus Cottonmouth as home base when not in the ECHL. The former Panther has 27 points (12-15-27) in 30 games for the Cottonmouths, who currently sit in last place in the nine team SPHL. Like the NESCAC, eight teams make the playoffs and Columbus is five points behind Macon for the final postseason birth.

The Fayetteville FireAntz (yes, with a z) sit in fifth place in the SPHL, three points ahead of Huntsville (though with four extra games played).  Fayetteville employed Hamilton Alum Bennett Schneider ('13.5) as recently as yesterday before cutting him today. Schneider spent 32 games as a FireAnt enforcer, posting  five points (1-4-5) and sixty-eight penalty minutes. There's no fighting in NCAA hockey, but as you can see below, that restriction does not apply to pro hockey, especially south of the Mason-Dixon line. Schneider spent 28 games in the SPHL in early 2014 after leaving the Continentals midseason due to early graduation in December 2013, but was away from pro-hockey in 2014-15.



Did we miss anybody? Know someone who is on the verge of singing an ATO for Spring Break? Send us the info at hockeynescac@gmail.com 

NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal 3/19/16: Geneseo 2 Williams 1

Williams 1
Geneseo  2
Box Score   Williams Recap   Geneseo Recap 

Arthur Gordon scored twice in the first and Devin McDonald made 31 saves as Geneseo held on for a 2-1 win to end Williams' season. The only goal for Williams came midway through the third, just after the end of a power play, when Luke Stickel worked it from the corner to Colby Cretella our in front and Cretella subsequently buried it upstairs past McDonald's glove.

The Ephs outshot the Knights by six (thanks to an aggressive third period) and did a good job of staying out of the box for a potent Geneseo Power Play (0/1). Coach Bill Kangas' krew also did a good job of shutting down the 50+ goal line of Collins-Mara-Hill. In the end, it was the Knights freshman that did the Ephs in, from Gordon's two goals assisted by fellow first yera Broddie Tutton and the unphased performance by McDonald. The Ephs own freshman goalie Michael Pinios was also solid, allowing zero goals in the final two periods and making 24 saves overall.

Speaking of freshman, Ephs first liner Roberto Cellini, who was carted off after an injury by the boards in the 1st round win over Salem State, did not play. That was to be expected, but unless I am mistaken, it appears that Tyler Young was also out, unexpectedly, and seldom used Tyler Carmolla and Marcus Mollicia dressed.

Regardless of the lineup shuffle, the Ephs played a strong game and ended up losing a tight one to a good, hot team. The Knights outscored their last three opponents in the SUNY-AC semis/finals and NCAA 1st round by a combined score of 20-3 before the matchup with Williams.

The win sends the Knights to Lake Placid for the D-III Final Four, along with fellow 2014 Final Four participants U-Wisconsin Stevens Point and St. Norbert. NESCAC fans might remember the Pointers as the team that Trinity defeated in the finals last season. Pointers fans will remember St. Norbert's as the team that defeated them in the 2014 finals. The pair of Knights (St. Norbert and Geneseo) and Pointers will be joined by UMass-Boston - the team that blanked Trinity in this year's opening round - in Lake Placid. The Beacons are making their first appearance in both the NCAA D-III Tournament and thus the Final Four (or Phrozen Phour, not to be confused with the D-I Frozen Four). They blanked Hobart last night at The Cooler in Geneva, NY to punch a ticket to Herb Brooks Arena.

If there is a team with a narrative that would make the end of the NESCAC season a little more palatable, it is the Knights. In mid-January, the Geneseo community was shocked by a three person  murder-suicide that included senior hockey defenseman Matthew Hutchinson among its victims.

For the Ephs, they end their first trip to the NCAA Tournament with their heads held high and a school record 19 wins for the season. They'll lose key pieces like NESCAC Player of the Year Zander Massuci, but they'll also return their top four goal scorers and the reigning Second Team All-NESCAC goalie in now frosh Michael Pinios.

It was another exciting season of NESCAC men's ice hockey. 226 days until 2016-17 team activities begin! Congrats to the Geneseo Knights and the rest of the participants in next week's Final Four. We look forward to sending a NESCAC team to the Aud in Utica, home of Bowdoin alum Jon Landry's AHL team, the Utica Comets, and site of the 2017 NCAA D-III MIH Final Four.

Thank you to our 2000+ fans for your support! See you in Lake Placid, NY! pic.twitter.com/hSo9d6wRjo

— Geneseo Ice Knights (@GeneseoHockey) March 20, 2016

NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals: Williams at Geneseo 3/19/16

Williams College Ephs (19-5-2; 14-2-2 NESCAC)   at SUNY Geneseo (19-6-6; 9-2-5 SUNYAC) 
7 PM Live Stats 

Offense - 2.92 G/GM (38th)
Defense - 1.65 G/GM (2nd)
Power Play - 20.48% (21st)
Penalty Kill - 88.3% (7th)
Penalty Minutes - 7.85/Gm (72nd)

Offense - 4.10 (8th)
Defense - 2.62 (29th)
Power Play - 25% (6th)
Penalty Kill -  80% (47th)
Penalty Minutes - 12.93/Gm (35th)


Williams and Geneseo faceoff in the NCAA Quartefinals after respective 7-1 home blowouts in the 1st round last Saturday. The Ephs disposed of MASCAC champion Salem State while the ECAC-NE champion Salve Regina Seahawks knelt before the Knights. Geneseo is making their fifth trip to the tournament and second appearance in three years, which includes a trip to the D-III Phrozen Phour in 2014, hosted by Bowdoin at the Androscoggin Bank Colisse in Lewiston, Me. As you are probably well aware, this is the first trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Ephs, meaning they carry a 1.000 win percentage in NCAA tournie games headed into tonight's affair.

The Ephs got blanked 3-0 by Geneseo earlier this season in Williamstown. As Zander Massuci pointed out in the First Round press conference, that was only the third game of the season for the Ephs. At the same presser, Williams coach Bill Kangas, when asked if his team was different now from then, said that he was and pointed out that they have different lines, much more experience, etc.

NESCAC Player of the Year Massuci was named this week as one of nine finalist for the Sid Watson Award, given to the best player in D-III hockey. Geneseo's junior forward and SUNYAC player of the year Stephen Collins, who scored against the Ephs in November, was also named as a Watson finalist. The Knights scoring is top heavy, with Collins joined by linemate and classmate Trevor hills in scoring 22 goals this season apiece.

The Ephs have a much more scoring by committee approach. with the top-line of Tyler Young, David  Itialiano and Roberto Cellini combining for 22 goals this season. The intactness of that line will be in question as Cellini was carted off the ice in the second period of last weekend's blowout vs Salem State. Kangas was not tipping his hand as to whether Cellini would play this week, telling Howard Herman of The Berkshire Eagle that it was a "trainer's decision" earlier this week.

Besides shutting down the top line of Collins-Hill-Marra, staying out of the box will also be a top priority for Kangas krew. The Knights have gone 3-6 on the power play in their last two games, both 7-1 wins, in the SUNYAC title game and the first round.

Last week was the start of Spring Break for Geneseo, but the Knights fans might come back tonight to pack their 2,500+ person rink as they try to get to their second NCAA semis in three years.  The Ephs, of course, are bidding for their first ever trip to the coveted final four, which will be held in Lake Placid, NY next weekend.

Both teams lit the lamp on the regular last weekend against weaker opponents. Expect a closer contest this weekend with a trip to Lake Placid. Here's Fountains of Wayne, whose bassist is a Williams alum, with "Little Red Light" 

NCAA Tournament First Round

Salem State   1
Williams       7
Box Score

Williams scored late in the first period of their first ever NCAA D-III men' s hockey tournament game and never looked back.

Shortly after a faceoff in the Salem State zone, Colby Cretella got the puck to George Hunkele, who fended off a defender to Zelzer's left and shot it at the goalie. Zelzer deflected it but it still carried into the Vikings net for a momentum killing goal with less than four seconds to play in the opening frame.

Things went off the rails for Salem State in the 2nd. After a 2nd Ephs goal on a wrap around by Joe Welch on a feed from Colby Cretella, the Vikings' Derek Makimaa took down Ephs freshman Roberto Cellini in the corner. Cellini was motionless for several minutes during which the rink was completely silent, before he had to be carted off on a stretcher. There was no let down for his teammates, as they responded on the ensuing five minute major with a tally. A beautiful cross ice feed from Frankie Mork led to a Cretella shot beating Zelzer. The Ephs would add two more goals in the period from Matt Werner and Hunkele (his 2nd) to end the period up 5-0. The Vikings had a few chances, including a a Mike Casale at the goal mouth which beat Pinios but hit the post, but in general it was all Ephs. Williams tripled Salem's shots, 30-10, after the second frame. 

Salem State got in the board on the third with a Casale goal, but the Ephs scored twice more en route to a 7-1 victory and a 38-19 shots advantage. Casale - who was one of the loan bright spots for Vikings - said that the five minute major was not the turning point of the game. Coach Bill O'Neill confirmed this and gave credit to the Ephs throughout, saying that Williams' speed gave the Vikings fits and disrupted their gameplan, not the lack of effort. 

The Ephs travel to SUNY Geneseo for a Quartefinal matchup with the Knights on March 19th. 





UMass-Boston 4
Trinity              0
Box Score 

The title defense ends in Hartford with a blanking of the Bantams despite Trinity holding a seven shots-on-goal advantage for the evening. The Beacons scored on a bad angle shot rebound in the first after a bad Griff Martin turnover and bookended it with a goal awarded to Derek Colluci as he was tripped heading in for an empty net tally with Alex Morin pulled.

NCAA 1st Round: UMass-Boston at Trinity 3/12/2016

UMass-Boston Beacons (21-4-3; 17-2-2 NEHC) at Trinity Bantams (21-5-1; 14-4-0 NESCAC) 7 PM Video 

All ranks nationally in D-III
Offense - 4.32 G/GM (5th)
Defense - 2.18 G/GM (13th)
Power Play - 24.74 % (6th)
Penalty Kill - 87.9% (8th)
Penalty Minutes - 8.61/GM (68th)


 Offense - 3.59 G/GM (14th)
Defense - 2.19 G/GM (14th)
Power Play - 21.49 % (19th)
Penalty Kill - 79.1 % (54th)
Penalty Minutes - 10.48 (49th) 



How they got here
UMass-Boston defeated Babson in OT to claim the first ever NEHC title (formerly the ECAC-East) to earn an automatic bid to the tournament. Trinity easily handled Amherst in the NESCAC title to earn their first NESCAC title since 2008 and earn a spot in the 11 team field to defend their national title.

Tournament History
This is the first ever trip to the NCAA D-III men's ice hockey tournament for the Beacons, who made the NCAA tournament in 1982 prior to the creation of the D-III tournament in 1984. For the Bantams, this is obviously not their first rodeo, as they won last season's NCAA title over UW-Stevens Point out in Minnesota. It is the fifth trip to the D-III big skate for Trinity , who own a 6-3 record all-time in D-III tournament games.

How They Match Up
Trinity leads the alliterative all-time series between the Beacons and Bantams, 13-5-1, but the only recent matchup came last season in November of 2014 when UMB defeated Trinity Hartford. The Beacons were the last non-CAC team to defeat Trinity that season. This season, the Bantams have only lost one non-conference game to Salve Regina, who also happens to be in the tournament and will be playing today at Geneseo. The Bantams are 0-3-1 against this year's tournament field with a pair of losses to Williams to go along with the loss to the Seahawks anda  tie against Hobart, the team the Bantams would travel to if they start their title defense on the right foot tonight. UMB has not played any tournament teams this season.

On the ice, both squads feature plenty of firepower, including 1st team conference conference selections up front for the Beacons (Lemire and Larkin) and Trinity (Orlando). The Bantams also have reigning NESCAC Player of the Week in senior Mike Hawkrigg, who despite not making the All-Conference team thsi season is as dangerous as ever since returning from an ACL tear in February.  Expect to see sophomore Alex Morin in net for Trinity, who has usurped reigning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Nate Heilbron recently, while senior Billy Faust should be in between the pipes for the Beacons.

One stat to keep in mind is 40, which is the number of penalty minutes Trinity racked up in their only non-conference loss this season to Salve Regina. If the Bantams have a mental lapse like this against a dangerous PP unit like UMB, the title defense could end in Hartford tonight.

What's Next
The winner of this game heads to upstate New York to The Cooler to face the east;s top seed in the Hobart Statesmen.

Players to Watch (other than the goalies)
Matt Lemire - The senior transfer from Quinnipiac has adjusted well to the jump down to D-III and leads the Beacons in points (14-29-43) after notching 0 at the D-I level in his first three seasons.

Mike Hawkrigg - Just read the Hatford Courant piece from this week on Riggy.

Preview Videos
UMB

Trinity

NCAA 1st Round Preview: Salem State at Williams 3/12/2016

Salem State Vikings (22-5-0; 16-2-0 MASCAC) at Williams College Ephs (18-5-2; 14-2-2 NESCAC)   7 PM Video

Ranks are nationally for D-III
Offense - 4.33 G/GM (4th)
Defense - 1.96 G/GM (8th) 
Power Play - 23.93 % (8th)
Penalty Kill - 81.8% (40th)
Penalty Minutes - 10.81/GM (47th)

Offense - 2.76 G/GM (46th)
Defense - 1.68 G/GM (2nd)
Power Play - 20.78 % (20th)
Penalty Kill - 88.3% (7th)
Penalty Minutes - 8.00/Gm (72nd)



How they got here
Salem State won their second Massachussets State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in three years to earn an automatic bid to the 11 team NCAA tournament. In contrast, Williams earned their first ever trip to the tournament in the most nerve wracking way possible. After clinching the Ephs first ever NESCAC regular season crown, Williams was upset by eight seed Tufts in the NESCAC Quarterfinals, meaning Bill Kangas squad had to wait until the selection show this past Monday to find out they got one of the three at-large or Pool C bids.

Tournament History
Since the NCAA started awarding a D-III tournament champion in 1984, the Vikings have been the to NCAA tournament seven previous times, six times as an ECAC East member, and once as a MASCAC member in 2014. In that trip, Salem State was blownout 8-2 by D-III powerhouse Norwich, who will be missing the tournament this season for the first time since 2009. All seven of the Vikings appearances have come under the stewardship of Bill O'Neil, who has been at the helm of the Viking ship since 1981. O'Neill played hockey at Boston University in the 1970s with recently retired Bowdoin coach and fellow member of the 500 win club Terry Meagher. O'Neill has lead Salem State to two Phrozen Phours (1992 and 1994) but never a title game.

As has been mentioned, this is Williams, and coach Bill Kangas, first trip to the NCAA tournament. Kangas has coached the Ephs since 1989 after four years of assistant coaching at his alma mater, the University of Vermont, home of the best barn in college hockey.

How They Match Up
Though this is the first rodeo for the Ephs, they are going up against a team from a conference that does not have much experience with the NCAA Tournament or any level of success in the tournament for that matter. The MASCAC has yet to win a tournament game since earning an automatic bid for the conference in 2012. So while Salem State's record and stats are impressive, they must be taken with a grain of salt.

That being said, the Vikes are riding a 13 game and feature a goalie that is not just number one in the program, but also in all MASCAC netminding categories. Marcus Zelzer, a Utica transfer, was not only first team All-MASCAC in goal but he also won Player of the Year in the conference. He was joined on the First Team by teammates Gabe Cromp on the blueline and Cam Moniz up front.

The Ephs are no stragers to All-Conference teams and Players of the Year. Zander Massuci took home Player of the Year honors, while freshman goaltender Mike Pinios and junior forward Tyler Young were named to the Second Team. As with all playoff hockey, how Pinios deals with the pressures of an NCAA tournament game will go a long way in determining if the Ephs will leave the weekend with a 1.000 winning percentage in NCAA tournament games.

As far as the historical matchup, Salem State leads the all-time series 20-14-1, but Williams has won teh last seven, including the last contest in 2008 at Salem State. The last meeting in Williamstown occured in 2007 with the excellently named Brandon Jackmuff netting the game winner for the Ephs in a 4-2 victory.

One thing to consider is the time between games. Salem played just last weekend in their conference tournament, while Williams will have had two weeks between games. Kangas should have his boys ready, but with the long delay, rust showing is always a possibility.

What's Next
The winner of this game takes on the winner of  Salve Regina at Geneseo. If the Seahawks could somehow upset the Knights, the winner in Williamstown would get a home game in the Quarterfinals with a trip to Lake Placid on the line. In the more likely event that Geneseo wins, the winner in Williamstown will be packing for upstate New York next weekend.

Players to Watch (other than the goalies)
Cam Moniz - The senior from Seekonk, MA has been a surprise boost to the Vikings offense this season. Limited to just three goals in 24 games over the past two seasons, Moniz has broken out for 29 points (19-10-29) so far this season, including the OT winner in the MASCAC semis.

Zander Massuci - Kangas said it himself about the Far Hills, NJ senior blueliner in the latest USCHO NESCAC piece, " You look at almost every category and Zander leads us...Blocked shots, ice time, his offensive numbers are among the leaders and he is just a great leader for us."


Previews
Salem State Athletics 
Williams Athletics 
Berkshire Eagle 

Pre-game Tweets

A moment of glory for @SalemState Men's Hockey! @SsuVikings won the @mascacsports championship 4-0! #VikingPride pic.twitter.com/YQqVvnNMqR

— LifeAtSSU (@LifeAtSSU) March 5, 2016

58 hours from the puck dropping in 'The Chap' in Ephs 1st Men's Ice Hockey NCAA tourney tilt. pic.twitter.com/HHyi2qgMgf

— Williams CollegeEphs (@EphSports) March 10, 2016

Williams was a foreigner to the NCAA tournament before this season, but there's always a first time. Foreigner "Feels Like The First Time"

Trinity and Willliams to host NCAA Tournament First Round games

Williams swept the regular season series against Trinity,
but the Bantams won the conference playoffs. In the end, they'll both
be dancing.

The NCAA held a selection show webcast this morning to announce the bracket for the 11 team NCAA men's ice hockey tournament. Defending NCAA Champion Trinity locked up an automatic bid yesterday by winning the NESCAC tournament, while regular season top finisher Williams waited to see if they would earn an at-large bid after being upset by Tufts in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.

When the bracket was announced, the Ephs got o
ne of the three Pool C bids and both NESCAC schools will be hosting a first round game this Saturday. Williams actually ends up being a higher seed than Trinity and will host the MASCAC champion Salem State Vikings. The Ephs have a chance to host a Quarterfinal game if the lowest seed in the east, ECAC-Northeast champs Salve Regina can upset SUNY Geneseo in the Quarterfinals. If the Knights win, though, the Ephs will be traveling to Geneseo should they defeat the Vikings in the first round. Geneseo and Williams have met already this season with the Knights coming away from Williamstown with a 3-0 victory.

Any animosity Williams has from this game should be softened by the fact that the Knights likely helped get Williams into the tournament. If Geneseo had lost to SUNY-Plattsburgh, the Knights would have likely taken the Ephs at-large bid. Instead, Geneseo gets the SUNYAC automatic bid and the Ephs faced off in the selection room against Platty, a team the Ephs beat this season. It's the first bid to the NCAA D-III MIH tournament for Williams as a program and for 27 year head coach Bill Kangas, who earned NESCAC Coach of The Year honors this season as well as coaching the Williams women's golf team to an NCAA title in the fall.

For Trinity, they will host the NEHC (formerly ECAC-East) champion UMass-Boston Beacons. The Beacons were actually the only non-NESCAC team to defeat Trinity in the 2014-15 campaign with a 5-3 win in Hartford in November 2014. If the Bantams can handle the Beacon, they will travel to "The Cooler" to take on the ECAC-West Champion, Hobart Statesmen, the top seed in the East Region. The Statesmen and Bantams met in Hartford in December and skated to a 1-1 tie. Anthony Sabitsky scored the lone Bants goal and senior Nate Heilbron made 41 saves in net.

If either of the NESCAC schools can make it to and win in the Quarters on March 19th, they'll earn a trip to Lake Placid, NY for the D-III "Phrozen Four" (you don't want to get sued) on March 25th. For the full 11 team bracket, click below:

NCAA D-III Men's Hockey Bracket 

NESCAC Finals Rapid Reaction

#6 Amherst   1

#2 Trinity     5

Box Score

Trinity jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead in the first period and never looked back. The goal scorers were usual suspects in Elie Vered, Mike Hawrigg and Tyler Whitney, but the Bantams depth showed with some contributions from less likely sources, including a beauty of an assist on the 2nd goal (scored by Vered) with a blue-line to blue-line pass from Bryce Eviston, who hadn't played in a game for Trinity since a February 14th loss to Bowdoin.

After a scoreless second period that saw Amherst get some chances of their own  to no avail, Trinity buried the Purple and White in third. Things started to come off the wheels after a game misconduct call against Amherst's Tyler Granara for a late hit on the Bantams Ryan Cole in the corner. Cole took some time to get up and gingerly skate off to the locker room and their was some debate whether it was in fact a malicious late hit, but in the end the Bantams got the five minute power play, which became a five-on-three after another Amherst infraction. Anthony Sabitsky scored his team leading twelfth tally on the two man advantage to give the Bantams a commanding 4-0 lead. A few minutes later, after Amherst's second elbowing call of the day, Mike Hawkrigg buried a one timer for yet another Trinity power play goal and Hawkrigg's fourth point of the day (2-2-4). 

Trinity goalie Alex Morin didn't get the shutout as Amherst finally got on the board with a Phil Johnannson tally with 55 seconds remaining. The 5 goal margin of victory would have been the largest in NESCAC finals history. As it stands the win ties Middlebury's 6-2 vanquishing of the same Bantams in the 2004 finals. 

Amherst coach Jack Arena, ever the class act, put out five of his eight seniors on the ice to play out the final ten seconds of their college careers together. 

Trinity coach Matt Greason now has a NESCAC title to go along with his national title last season and the Bantams earn their third ever NESCAC men's hockey title and first since 2008. They also earn an automatic bid to the 11 team NCAA tournament and will find out their seeding for their national title defense tomorrow morning during the selection show. Regular season champion Williams - who was upset by eight seed Tufts in the NESCAC quarterfinals - sit on pins and needles as they wait to find out if they will get one of the three at-large bids.  

NESCAC Finals Preview

#6 Amherst at #2 Trinity  2PM  Video 

Amherst (11-11-4; 7-8-3 NESCAC) (all Stats from regular season conference games)
Offense - 1.83 G/GM (9th in NESCAC)
Defense - 2.11 G/GM (2nd)
PIM - 9.3/GM (4th)
Power Play - 13.4% (9th)
Penalty Kill- 87.5% (2nd)
Special Teams Net - +2 (3rd)

Trinity (20-5-1; 14-4-0 NESCAC)
Offense - 3.44 G/GM (1st) 
Defense - 2.11 G/GM (2nd) 
PIM - 10.4/GM (2nd)
Power Play - 18.5 % (2nd)
Penalty Kill - 82.5% (7th)

Special Teams Net - +2 (3rd) 



So here we are: the NESCAC title game between the defending NESCAC champion Amherst Purple and White vs the defending NCAA national champion Trinity Bantams. This is the first time a sixth seed has made the finals since 2008 when sixth seeded...Trinity defeated second seed Middlebury in double OT in the 2008 finals. For all the success in the short Matt Greason era in Hartford, the Bantams have not been back to a NESCAC finals since that 2008 affair. They have been to four finals, losing to Middlebury in 2002 and 2004 and defeating the very same Panthers in 2003 and the aforementioned 2008 campaign. That first NESCAC title appearance in 2002 included a senior Bantam named Matthew Greason, you may have heard of him. 

For 33 year Amherst head coach Jack Arena - who was recently featured over at D3Hockey.com - this is the third straight NESCAC title for his charges and the sixth all-time. They have won titles over Middlebury in 2009 and 2012, as well as last season over Williams. They lost to the Panthers in 2001 and to fifth seed Bowdoin in 2014 in a double OT thriller at the site of today's game in Hartford. This Purple and White team has some similarity to that 2014 Bowdoin team, who won a NESCAC title they hosted, only to underperform in the subsequent regular season but regain momentum to make a run at a title as a lower seed. 

This is the fourth NESCAC playoff meeting between these two schools with Trinity winning Quarterfinal matchups in 2004 and 2010 and Amherst winning in the 2009 semis. They split the regular season series this season with Amherst winning at home 4-2 in December and the Bantams winning 4-1 in Hartford in January.

One thing to watch for in today's matchup is who gets the start in net for both squads. Both have senior goalies with All-NESCAC credentials in their resume, neither of whom got starts in the NESCAC semis. Dave Cunningham did get the start in the 8-5 Quarterfinal win over Bowdoin, but transfer Conor Girard started in yesterdays 4-2 win over Middlebury. For the Bantams, sophomore Alex Morin has gotten both playoff starts over Nate Heilbron.

Trinity does have a chance for a Pool C bid with a loss today, though a loss today probably means the end of their season as it certainly does for Amherst. The winner gets an automatic bid to the 11 team NCAA Tournament. In honor of what's at stake, here's short lived but influential Boston band The Suicide File with "Some Mistakes You Never Stop Paying For." It may be aprocraphyl, but the internet claims that lead singer Dave Weinberg went to Amherst and the internet never lies. 

NESCAC Semifinals

#6 Amherst      4
#2 Middlebury  2

Conor Brown and
Amherst had plenty to
celebrate on Sat.

Box Score   Recap 

In 23 games to start his collegiate career, Amherst freshman John Festa had scored a grand total of zero goals. He picked a helluva time to not only score his first college tally, but to notch his first career multi-goal game. The first year from Lynnfield, MA bookended the scoring for the Purple and White, including an empty netter to seal Amherst's third straight trip to the NESCAC title game. The win also makes Amherst the first six seed to make the NESCAC finals since Trinity won the 2008 finals over second seed Middlebury in double OT.

The Panthers certainly had their chances in this one and officially outshot Amherst 28-24 but were unable to crack Conor Girard until the third period when the Purple and White had already amassed a three goal lead. Air Force transfer Girard got the start in net over Dave Cunningham, though that certainly does not preclude Cunningham from getting the nod in the finals. On the other end, reigning NESCAC Player of the Week Liam Moorfield-Yee was unable to match his Quarterfinals performance against Hamilton. The Panthers have now failed to make the NESCAC final for four straight years and five of the last six (2011-2016) with the lone finals appearance coming in a loss to Amherst in 2012. Middlebury went to the first eleven NESCAC conference playoff finals (2000-2011), winning eight titles in that stretch.


#8 Tufts     3
#2 Trinity  5
Box Score    Recap

Mike Hawkrigg and
his teammates are
finally going to
the CAC finals

Tufts scored two extra attacker goals late to make it interesting, but the Jumbos were unable to overcome a 3-0 to deficit to upset Trinity in a second straight NESCAC playoffs. Tufts was outshot 47-28 and in a bit of a surprise, University of Maine transfer Nik Nugnes was the one getting bombard with Bantam blasts instead of Mason Pulde, who had manned the pipes for the last two NESCAC Quarterfinal shockers for the Jumbos. Nugnes was significant time this year, but a betting man or woman would have put money on first year head coach Pat Norton going back to Pulde in this one.

On the other end of the ice, Alex Morin got his second straight start in net in the playoffs over senior and reigning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Nate Heilbron. Trinity's well balanced offense was on display with five different Jumbos scoring including both of the Cole brothers. This marks the first trip to the NESCAC finals during Matt Greason's coaching tenure in Hartford and the first trip to the finals since the aforementioned title they won in double OT in 2008.

NESCAC Semifinal #2

Trinity senior Mike Hawkrigg (#24 above) looks to bring the Bantams to their
first NESCAC finals in the Matt Greason era

#8 Tufts (10-9-6;5-8-5) at #2 Trinity (19-5-1;14-4-0)  
4:30 PM   Video 

Amherst defeated Middlebury 4-2 in the first semi, so the winner of this one will face the Purple and White in tomorrow's finals.

For the second year in a row, Tufts shocked the #1 seed in the Quarterfinals to earn a trip to Championship weekend. This year's top seeded victim was the Williams College Ephs and the vanquishing of the purple cows returned the Jumbos to Hartford, site of last year's David over Goliath Quarterfinal against Trinity. The Jeffs again rode a strong performance from netminder Mason Pulde to give the #2 seed home ice for Championship weekend. The Bantams, who won a national title despite losing that conference quarterfinals, had a scare against seventh seed Colby but held on to advance.

As for more recent history, Trinity swept the season series over Tufts, but only by 3-2 margins in both games. Nate Heilbron was the goalie for Trinity in both games, but Coach Greason went with sophomore Alex Morin in the opening round, so it will be interesting to see who gets the nod in net in the semis. For the Jumbos, Maine transfer Nik Nugnes saw significant action between the pipes this season, but it is hard to imagine the Jumbos lone NESCAC winning playoff goaltender in franchise history not getting the start.

The two squads have only met twice in the conference post-season with Trinity winning 9-2 in the 2005 quarterfinals and the two teams met last season in the playoffs but the result is escaping me at the moment. Trinity was the one seed, so they probably won, right?

Special Teams and goaltending are always going to be your cliche go-to keys to a playoff game, but it is especially true for the two most penalized teams in the conference that also happen to be top three in power play efficiency. Pop in a few early power play goals, ride Pulde, and the Jumbos could find themselves in their first ever NESCAC title game. It won't be easy, of course, and Matt Greason's squad is hungry to add the first ever NESCAC title banner to go along with an NCAA banner for Greason, who is a rising star in the college hockey coaching world and has gotten some buzz from SB Nation as a potential coach that could eventually make a successful jump to the D1 ranks. But that's all conjecture, for now he has a semifinal game to worry about.

Players to watch (other than the goalies)
David Lackner- The frosh from Newport, RI leads the Jumbos with eight tallies and scored in both games against the Bantams this season.

Mike Hawkrigg - Hawkrigg has amassed a fine career in Hartford which includes eschewing his given name, joining the 100 point club, playoff heroics and a national title, but he has not yet made a NESCAC final.  A big game from the Toronto born senior would go along way in rectifying that.


Trinity is looking to make their first NESCAC finals in the Matt Greason era and Tufts is looking to make their first ever trip to the finals. Welcome to the pressure zone, gentlemen. 

NESCAC Semifinal #1 Preview

It's the last go around in the NESCAC semis for Dave Cunningham and a
large Amherst senior class 

#6 Amherst (10-11-4; 8-7-3) vs #5 Middlebury (8-10-7; 6-5-7)  (hosted by Trinity)
1 PM  Video

For the second time in three years, NESCAC Championship weekend will be hosted by Trinity. The fifth seed Middlebury will be the "home" team in the first semifinals as both the Panthers and Amherst won their road games in last weekends quarterfinals. Middlebury road a stellar performance by senior netminder and reigning Player of the Week Liam Moorfield-Yee to a 2-1 OT victory over fourth seed Hamilton. Defending NESCAC champion Amherst won a wacky 8-5 game at Bowdoin thanks to a six goal third period and scoring from unlikely sources with none of the scorers ending the game with more than four goals for the season.

Middlebury swept the regular season series defeating Amherst 2-0 at Orr Rink then downing the Purple and White 3-1 just two weeks ago in Vermont in the regular season finale. Over the past two games, against Amherst and then in the Quarters against Hamilton, Moorfield-Yee has stopped 61 of the last 63 shots he has faced.

In terms of post-season history, the two teams have split the six times they have met with the most recent meeting going  to #2 Amherst over #7 Middlebury in last year's Quarterfinals in what proved to be Bill Beaney's last game as Panthers coach. The last time they met in the semis was in 2008 when the Panthers took down the Purple and White 2-1.

This year's installment features a matchup of two senior goalies and at least seven seniors a squad that have logged at least 18 games played this season. For the two large senior classes it will be third time they have faced one another in the NESCAC playoffs.

Players to watch (other than the goalie)
Conor Brown - The senior has seen a dip in his statistics this season since back-to-back double digit goal campaigns, but the Greeley, Ontario native had a tally in last weeks's slugfest in Maine.

Jake Charles - The Panther senior missed last season's playoff game against Amherst because of a DQ in the regular season finale against Hamilton, but Charles redemmed himself in the same building with last week's OT goal against the Continentals to punch the Panthers ticket to Hartford this weekend.


Neither of these teams has a chance for an at-large bid, so it's either win the tournament and go dancing in the bigger tournament or have your season go dark. If we are not mistaken, Amherst senior goalie Dave Cunningham has a Bruce Springsteen quote on his helmet design. Either way, here's the boss with "Dancing in the Dark" 

All-NESCAC Teams announced

NESCAC Player of the Year Zander Masucci scores OT
goal to lift Williams past Trintiy on 2/5/16

On Tuesday, the NESCAC announced the 2015-16 men's ice hockey All NESCAC First and Second Teams, as well as Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Co-Rookies of the year. Everyone is a first time selection except for a pair of juniors: Hamilton's Robbie Murden (2nd Team last year) and Trinity's Ryan Cole (last year's Player of the Year and two time All-First Team selection).

The 2015-16 All-NESCAC First Team is led by smooth passing Williams senior blueliner Zander Masucci, only the second Eph to earn the award and the first defenseman since 2011, when Hamilton's Joe Houk earned the honors before transferring to D-1 UMass-Lowell along with 2011 Coach of the Year Norm Bazin.

Massuci is joined on the blueline by Bowdoin's lone selection, Mitch Barrington, one of three juniors on the First Team. The trio up front includes NESCAC leading scorer Murden, Trinity junior Sean Orlando and Conn College's Tim DiPretoro, one of only two seniors on the First Team along with Massuci. While the Camels became the first team to go winless in NESCAC play for a season, it wasn't DiPretoro's fault, as he scored 14 of the team's 47 goals.  Continentals sophomore Evan Buitenhuis rounds out the top unit and becomes the first Hamilton goalie to earn First Team honors.

Underclassmen owned the goalie spots as Williams frosh Michael Pinios mans the pipe for the Second Team. He is joined in the backline by Middlebury's lone representative, senior defenseman Ronald Fishman and the record third Continental to get All-NESCAC honors, junior Connor Lamberti. Cole and Anthony Sabitsky of Trinity are joined on the frontline by yet another Eph, junior Tyler Young.

For the first time since 2003, the league selected co-rookies of the year in Pinios and Bowdoin's high scoring Cody Todesco. In the coaching department, Bill Kangas earned his second NESCAC COTY honors for leading Williams to their first ever NESCAC regular season crown. Unfortunately for the Ephs, they were then bounced from the playoffs in the Quarterfinals by eighth seed Tufts.

Men's Ice Hockey All-Conference Teams

First Team All-NESCAC Position Name Institution Class Hometown F Tim DiPretoro Conn. College Sr. Philadelphia, Pa. F Robbie Murden Hamilton Jr. Georgetown, Ontario F Sean Orlando Trinity Jr. Ivyland, Pa. D Mitch Barrington Bowdoin Jr. Cambridge, Ontario D Zander Masucci Williams Sr. Far Hills, N.J. G Evan Buitenhuis Hamilton So. Burlington, Ontario           Second Team All-NESCAC Position Name Institution Class Hometown F Ryan Cole Trinity Jr. Anchorage, Alaska F Anthony Sabitsky Trinity So. Sicklerville, N.J. F Tyler Young Williams Jr. Sayville, N.Y. D Ronald Fishman Middlebury Sr. Roslyn, N.Y. D Conor Lamberti Hamilton Jr. Kings Park, N.Y. G Michael Pinios Williams Fy. Montreal, Quebec