After two wins at the Chip, Panthers have a chip on their shoulder (pads)

Author: Jeff Patterson

Countdown: Three … two … one. Blastoff. The Middlebury men's hockey team launched the 2006-2007 season scoring three goals in the first period, two in the second and one in the third on Oct. 17, to beat Tufts 6-2. Hockey is back at Chip Kenyon '85 Arena and many people, not just those seated (and standing) in the spirited student section, are having a blast.

"It's good to get [back] in front of the crowd, in front of the school. It's a lot of fun," said Brett Shirreffs '07, who celebrated both his birthday and opening night by scoring a goal on the power play.

Although Shirreffs is a veteran of the team, it was mostly the younger players, especially the first-years, who led the Panthers to victory in their first game of the season. "They had a big impact on the score sheet," said Shirreffs. "We've had a lot of injuries already, so they've stepped in and contributed a lot. It's good to have them around."

Middlebury was around the net for most of the first period, out-shooting the Jumbos 14-3, but could not find the back of it until the end of the frame, when Ryan Seavy '10 scored on the power play with 5:17 remaining.

"We might have been a little nervous at the start when we came out," said Mickey Gilchrist '08, "but we kept skating, we kept our feet moving and in the end everything started to connect and go in the net."

Wearing previous Captain Jeff Smith's '06 number 26 jersey, Seavy played more like a savvy veteran than a first-year novice. His first career goal jump-started a proficient Panther attack that forced Tufts goalie Issa Azat out of the game. Immediately after Seavy's linemates pig-piled on top of him, the Panthers piled on goal after goal. Shirreffs knocked the water bottle off of Azat's net and Mack Cummins '09 answered 26 seconds later, while the student section was still in the middle of singing "Cheer Boys Cheer" for Shirreffs' snipe. Later in the second period Gilchrist and Mason Graddock '09 scored within a span of 27 seconds.

"I definitely did not expect to score the first goal," said Seavy, who was playing in his first collegiate game. "I didn't know the puck went in until Charlie [Townsend '10] tackled me - that kind of gave me the clue that it went in."

The following afternoon, Middlebury, dressed with a blast from the past in their present-day away white sweaters, skated by Connecticut College 2-1. For most of the game the Panthers were on thin ice, but goalie Ross Cherry '08 saved the day.

Cherry made two back-breaking stops that broke the Camels' back. The first came on a short-handed breakaway attempt by forward Trevor Bradley in the first period. Cherry appeared to give Bradley an opening but immediately closed it as he sprawled to his left and swallowed the puck. The second came in the second period with the score tied 1-1, as Ben Eischen came in on Cherry all alone, but the result was the same.

As in Friday's game with Tufts, the majority of the offense came from the first-year class. John Sullivan '10 scored both goals, celebrating with a chainsaw-like fist pump on the second, which proved to be the game-winner.

Sullivan would also score the first goal against Plattsburgh State six days later. But there at the PrimeLink Great Northern Shoot Out, Middlebury fell 4-2. Despite out-shooting the Cardinals 23-19, the Panthers could not turn on more red lights than their red-mascot counterparts. With an average of 6.3 pounds more per player, Plattsburgh threw around their weight and lifted themselves to the championship game, where they fell to Norwich 4-2.

Middlebury regrouped, though, and routed Potsdam 7-1 in the third-place game. Kyle Koziara '09 recorded a hat trick on three assists from Jamie McKenna '09 and the Panthers took advantage of Potsdam's 19 penalties.

Beaney's Babies will get a re-match with Plattsburgh when they travel across the Vt.-N.Y. border on Dec. 8. There will be no more home games from now until 2007, but eight teams will come to the Old Town in January.