SPORTSBRIEFS

Author: [no author name found]

Panthers go back to the future

Before the Middlebury men's hockey team begins defense of its back-to-back national titles, it will have to take on a group of familiar faces. The Panthers will be battling an alumni team in an exhibition game this weekend, with the puck set to drop on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in Kenyon Arena.

Among those expected to skate for the alumni team are former Panthers Marc and Ray Alcindor, Ian Smith, Mike Anastasio, Sebastien Bilodeau and Mark Spence among others. There will be a presentation between the second and third periods as the Panthers will receive their 2005 National Championship rings.

The Panthers will begin their title defense on Nov. 18, traveling to Tufts to take on the Jumbos in their regular-season opener. The PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout will provide an early season test for the team the next week as they face off against rival Norwich on Nov. 25. The Panthers' home opener will be held on Dec. 2, when the University of Southern Maine comes to town.



Dog sledding spreads to Midd

On Thursday, Nov. 3, Ed Blechner will be in Middlebury to deliver a talk about his experiences in dog sledding. Blechner, an Addison County resident, raises and trains dogs for sledding and is an experienced musher, running in dog sled races throughout the region for over 30 years. He will be describing what dog sledding is in an attempt to get students interested in trying it out. The talk is also designed to create interest in winter recreation possibilities in the region.

Dog sledding is a sport that does not usually feature on the radar of most students at Middlebury, but Blechner is keen to change this image. Rather than strapping on the skis, or snowboard, many Vermonters spend their winters cruising through the wilderness behind their band of trusty companions. With any luck, dog sledding will one day be offered as a J-Term Physical Education credit, allowing students the chance to combine their love of the outdoors with their love of dogs.

The talk is sponsored by the Middlebury Mountain Club and the Center for Campus Activities and Leadership and will start at 7 p.m. in Bicentennial Hall 220 and is free and open to the public. The Mountain Club will also be leading two hikes this weekend. On Nov. 4, the club will guide a medium- to- hard hike through the Wolfjaw Region of the Adirondacks while on Nov. 5 the group will sponsor an "Old School Hike" in the Adirondacks.



Toth '07 earns POTW honors

Middlebury men's soccer goalkeeper Zach Toth '07 has been named NESCAC co-Player of the Week after holding two opponents scoreless for 200 minutes over the weekend.

Toth has anchored a Panthers' defense that has only allowed eight goals all season, leading the team to nine shutouts on the year. He currently leads the NESCAC with a goals-against-average of 0.58 and a save percentage of .875.

Toth made six saves during the Panthers' 0-0 tie against Trinity College in the regular-season finale on Saturday, Oct. 29, holding the Bantams scoreless for 110 minutes.

Bantams' netminder Eric Wunsch's efforts in the game earned him a share of the Player of the Week award as well as he made 16 saves on the day to keep the match even. The following day, Toth blanked the Tufts' offense in the Panthers' 1-0 win in the first round of the NESCAC tournament, making three saves on the day.

Middlebury will next take on Amherst College in the semifinals of the tournament on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Bowdoin. The Panthers previously fell to the Lord Jeffs 2-1 less than two weeks ago but will look to reverse their fortunes with a trip to the NESCAC championship game at stake.