Three-goal third period gives Panthers third straight title Men's hockey finishes in classic form at its own Holiday Classic

Author: James Kerrigan

With 7:46 remaining in the third period, the Middlebury fans broke out - perhaps presumptuously - into song, with the "Tiny Bubbles" cheer. But give the game-goers some credit. Even though the Panthers held only a one-goal advantage, they were playing inspired hockey and firing on all cylinders.

Fan optimism proved fruitful as Ken Suchoski '11 scored an insurance goal with just over two minutes left to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead and lock up the Holiday Classic title in the championship game against Lake Forest on Jan. 5 at Kenyon Arena.

Middlebury earned the right to play in the championship after a 6-4 win over SUNY Brockport, the Panther's most offensively productive men's hockey game since Middlebury crushed Fredonia 9-0 in last year's NCAA tournament.

While most students remained at home during the winter break, the hockey players returned to campus early and had what Coach Bill Beaney called a great week of practice.

"We worked on our transition offense and defense," said Beaney, "and on creating opportunities off the rush."

Off the transition and set plays, Middlebury created plenty of chances and fired 84 shots on goal over the two games. Tough forechecking and relentless work around the net played a key role in the offensive production, which got going early on. Just 27 seconds into the semifinal game, Suchoski buried a rebound, and less than a minute later classmate Chaz Svoboda '11 did the same to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

After Brockport came back to tie up the contest, Middlebury went on the power play and moved the puck for well over a minute before Jamie McKenna '09 then found the narrowest of openings between the defense and slid the puck across the ice to a wide open Mickey Gilchrist '08, who converted the one-timer to put the Panthers ahead. It was a lead they would not give up.

Gilchrist added another goal in the second period, while John Sullivan '10 and Suchoski netted third-period goals to secure the win.

With fast and physical Lake Forest edging Skidmore in the earlier game on Friday, the championship game was set, and it would not disappoint the crowd of over 1,500.

It appeared Middlebury would once again get on the board early, but even though the puck crossed the goal line twice, both apparent goals were waved off. Instead, it was Lake Forest which struck first, as a low, hard shot got through a screen and past Middlebury netminder Ross Cherry '08. If it were not for Sam Driver '08 diving to his knees with an open goal behind him to save a second Forester goal, the Panthers would have been down by two after one period.

The highlight of the first period, however, was Bryan Curran's '11 open-ice, neutral-zone hip-check that sent a Forester attacker flying through the air in full front-flip before falling to the ice.

The middle period was more of the same - lots of chances but no results. At least ones that were tangible.

"We won the game in the second period because we kept skating," said Beaney. "We had nothing to show for the hard work, but we persevered."

Beaney's players agreed. "The work in the second period really tired them out," said co-captain Scott Bartlett '08, "allowing us to control the third."

Finally, three minutes into the third period, Middlebury's efforts paid off as the Panthers scored on their 35th shot. Middlebury won the faceoff back to Mack Cummins '09, who moved toward the center of the ice and fired a shot that Casey Ftorek '08 deflected past the Lake Forest goalie. On his next shift, Cummins, who moved to defense this year after playing forward his whole life, finished a rebound for the go-ahead goal.

"It was unbelievable to score the winning goal," said Cummins. "It felt great to be such an integral part of the win on Saturday, but it was the entire team's effort that allowed us to catch them in the third."

Just like in the game the day before, Suchoski netted the insurance goal on a play that was as pretty as anything Beaney could draw up. It was a manifestation of transition hockey that they worked on in practice. Bartlett reached out to pick off the Lake Forest pass in mid-air, corralled the puck and sent it back to his defensemen. As Bartlett circled through the neutral zone, he collected the give-and-go pass, gained the offensive zone, stopped on a dime, and found the streaking Suchoski, who put home the team's third goal to seal the victory.

"After the past three games," said Cummins, "it's apparent on the bench and in the locker room that the team is starting to come together and work for each other."

However, the season is far from over and the team echoed Beaney's sentiments that this is no time to stop working. "There are areas we need to address to really get our team playing at the level we are capable of," said Bartlett, "but this is a move in the right direction."