 |
| Dave Cunningham completed his playing career in 2015-16, but returns to Amherst in 2016-17 as an assistant coach |
2015-16 Reccord
7-8-3 (6th in NESCAC)
11-12-4 Overall
Stats:
Overall (Conf. Rank) Conference Games (Conf. Ranks)
Offense - 2.37 G/GM (8th) Offense - 2.17 G/GM (9th)
Defense - 2.63 G/GM (6th) Defense - 2.11 G/GM (2nd)
Power Play - 13/91 14.3% (7th) Power Play - 9/67 13.4% (9th)
Penalty Kill - 86/100 86% (4th) Penalty Kill - 56/64 87.5% (2nd)
Penalty Minutes - 9.6/Gm (4th) Penalty Minutes - 69.3 /Gm (4th)
Season Review
Conn College had the most precipitous drop-off from 2014-15 to 2015-16 but Amherst may have had the most significant, at least in the regular season. A year removed from a 22 win season that saw them one bad period in the Phrozen Four from making it an All-NESCAC national title game, it took Amherst making a surprise run to the NESCAC title game in 2015-16 to win half as many games (11) this past season as in 2014-15 (22).
The year was not without its controversy off the ice as the school officially dropped the unofficial Lord Jeff mascot (yes, officially dropped an unofficial mascot), amid the latest round of contention about the oft controversial moniker. On the ice, the athletes formally known as the Jeffs saw a drop on the offensive end of the ice, including reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Year David White scoring half as many points (4-12-16) in his sophomore campaign as he did in his rookie season.
In goal, former All-NESCAC second team goalie (and now 2016-17 Amherst men's hockey assistant baseball and hockey coach) Dave Cunningham returned for his senior season after being sidelined the second half of his junior year thanks to injury. Cunningham aka Pappa Cuny posted a .923 save percentage and 2.21 GAA in 14 games and split time in net with sophomore Connor Girard, who saw action in 12 games - including the NESCAC semis and finals - and put up a .906 Save% and 2.94 GAA.
High Point
Despire the disappointing regular season, a Jack Arena team will never be an easy out in the playoffs. The cards were stacked against them, however, as a red-hot, third seeded Bowdoin team looked to win coach Terry Meagher's last game in Brunswick in the NESCAC Quarterfinals.
The Polar Bears carried a 4-2 lead into the third period before the wheels came completely off the game. Amherst scored six in the final frame, including five unanswered, to earn a trip to NESCAC championship weekend and end Meagher's 33 year tenure as Bowdoin bench boss.
Amherst defeated fifth seed Middlebury in the semis before succumbing to host and second seed Trinity in the NESCAC finals.
Low Point
One of the hallmarks of a well coached team such as Amherst is that they win the games they are supposed to win. This has resulted in some long winning streaks against teams in the Cac, including one that entering the season dated back to 2006 against Hamilton and 2008 against Wesleyan.
In a span of eight days, both of these Amherst win streaks were snapped. On January 22nd the Continentals blanked the Purple and White, 2-0 in Clinton and then on January 30th Wesleyan scored a late tally to vanquish the newly nameless nemesis 3-2.
MVP
Thomas Lindstrom (F, '18) The sophomore from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota led Amherst in goals and overall points (9-11-20) to earn the Hanford Award, the team's own most outstanding player recognition.
Congrats to Theo, Kevin, Louie, Conor, Brendan, Topher, Dave and Pat. You boys earned it. pic.twitter.com/Vr3g6caK27— Amherst Hockey (@AmherstHockey) May 22, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment