Friday, May 26, 2017

Conn College Men's Hockey 2016-17 Season in Review

As we languish in the oblivion of the offseason, we will recap each team's season, as we are wont to do, from last to first. Next up are the Camels of Connecticut College, who made slight improvements from the worst season in NESCAC history in 2015-16.
It was another tough season for the Camels, who missed
their co-captain Greg Liataud (#4 above) for the entire season

9. Conn College Camels         

    

2015-2016 Record:
2-13-3 Conference (9th in NESCAC)
4-16-3 Overall 

Stats:
Overall  (Conference Rank)                       Conference Games (conf. rank)
Offense: 2.13 G/Gm (9th)                             Offense: 1.78 G/GM (9th)
Defense: 3.22 G/GM (8th)                            Defense: 3.18G/GM (7th)
Power Play: 13/94 -13.8% (10th)                     Power Play: 8/69 -11.6% (10th) 
Penalty Kill: 80/97 - 82.5% (7th)                   Penalty Kill: 63/77 - 81.8% (6th)
Penalty Minutes per game - 14.4 (10th)            Penalty Minutes per game - 14.6(10th) 

Season Review 
When you reach rock bottom, there is nowhere to go but up.

...or something to that effect. Conn College did not make a phoenix like rise from the ashes of a 2015-16 campaign, which saw the Camels becomes the first NESCAC team to never win a conference game all season. They did however, improve, moving out of the basement one spot to ninth and actually winning not one, but two! conference games, albeit both against last place Middlebury. The home win against the Panthers was the first win of any kind in New London since the Camels won their first ever home NESCAC Quarterfinal in overtime against Hamilton in 2015.

Out of conference, the Camels scored a win in their only non-tournament game at home against Manhattanville. In the Skidmore Invitational Thanksgiving weekend, they dropped a pair against the host Thuroughbreds in the opening round and then in the consolation game to Fitchburg State  They closed out 2016 in the Codfish Bowl, first losing to the host Beacons of UMass-Boston in the opening round, then vanquishing the Ravens of Franklin Pierce, named after the Bowdoin alum and widely maligned former President of the United States.

The Camels were in most games, losing eight contests by one goal and another two by two goals. The largest gain statistically came on the defensive end with Jim Ward's crew giving up nearly a goal game less than in the 2015-16 season. Four goalies saw action with the two frosh, Avery Gobbo and Connor Rodericks, solidying themselves as the netminders of choice. In all, eleven freshmen played at least on game during the season.

Despite contributions from neophytes like Jeff Thompson and Jacob Moreau, the top of the scoring board belonged to the seniors as it did in the previous season. Brian Belisle (grandson of legendary Mount Saint Charles coach), who had his first three seasons in New London hampered by concussions , fought back his senior year to lead the Camels in scoring with 19 points (11-8-19). Captain Joe Giordano served as assist master in the number two spot, netting 17 points (2-15-17) to close out his career.

Senior co-captain and blueliner Greg Liautaud missed the entire season and was listed as an assistant coach instead of a captain. I should know why, but at this current moment it escapes me.

High Point
The 3-1 win over Middlebury in late January was the first at Dayton Rink in nearly two years for the Camels. Conn College controlled play throughout, doubling the Panthers in shots and jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the second period. Belisle, who had scored the tying goal to force OT against Hamilton in the 2015 quarterfinals, scored what proved to be the game winning goal. Gobbo made 19 saves to pick up the win. Two NESCAC home games earlier the Camels also earned a hard fought 1-1 tie against nationally ranked Colby.

Low Point
The Camels followed up that win over Middlebury to stay in playoff contention with six losses, including four straight 2-1 decisions, which must have been demoralizing. One of those 2-1 losses must have been particularly hard to swallow: a Hamilton goal with two-tenths of a second left in regulation lifted the Continentals past the Camels.


MVP
Brian Belisle - No relation to SPHL defensemen of the Year and Middlebury alum Louis Belisle, this Belisle of the Mount Saint Charles Academy gang could have retired from hockey after missing the entire 2015-16 due to post-concussive syndromes. He didn't and he fought back to lead the Camels in scoring and he recently won the  Camel Athletics' version of a  perseverance award. I'm sure his grandfather, Bill Belisle, who was inducted into the USA Hockey 'Hall of Fame last fall, is proud.
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