Wesleyan overpowers Panther hockey for first time in history

After a rough opening week of the season, the Middlebury men’s hockey team seemed to have found its footing, going 4-1-2 in its next seven contests leading into last weekend’s pair of NESCAC home games.
“No specific changes were made, but players just prepared better for each game,” said assistant coach John Dawson, commenting on the team’s recent success. “We practiced at a higher level and played more consistently throughout the games. The players have worked hard, and when you do that, things start to come together.”
However, a tie with Trinity on Friday night and an OT loss to Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon may be significant setbacks in what is becoming an up-and-down season.
Friday night’s matchup saw first-year goalkeeper Nick BonDurant ’14 get his fifth start between the pipes against conference foe Trinity. Before the game, the hockey program kicked off its Alumni Weekend by honoring the 50th anniversary of the 1960 – 61 team with player introductions.
The Panthers got on the board early as Ken Suchoski ’11 scored an unassisted goal off a coast-to-coast rush a mere 2:49 into the contest. Trinity answered late in the second period when Jordan So stashed in a rebound at the 17:34 mark off a rebound from a Regnars Alksnis shot from the left point. Middlebury outshot the Bantams 36-19, but the dearth of scoring is a continuing frustration.
“It is always disappointing when you don’t win and don’t get the results you wanted,” said Dawson. “We had chances to score and take more control of the game, but we just couldn’t execute the plays. Trinity’s goalie certainly had a good night.”
For Saturday’s matchup, BonDurant was in goal again for the Panthers, as they faced off against a Wesleyan team that has never defeated Middlebury in 35 previous tries (0-32-3.)
After a scoreless first, Wesleyan capitalized on several Panther penalties, including a game misconduct for head contact by Louis Belisle ’14, and they established a 2-0 lead heading into the final frame. Middlebury answered early, however, as Martin Drolet ’12 scored his sixth goal of the season on a rebound from a J.D. Vermette ’14 shot, also assisted by Charlie Strauss ’12. Drolet would tie the game seven minutes later as he scored his second of the game with another assist from Vermette.
Wesleyan answered three minutes later to take a 3-2 lead, but 20 seconds after that Tucker Donahoe ’12, assisted by Tom Cantwell ’12, tied the game back up at 3-3 on a tough angle shot. A flurry of activity in the final minutes produced no goals, and the game was pushed to OT. The final frame only lasted 31 seconds, however, as Wesleyan forward John Guay scored his second goal of the game to give Wesleyan its first win over the Panthers in school history.
“Our kids competed and it just wasn’t enough,” said Dawson. “All the games in our league are tight, close, competitive games. Wesleyan is a good team. They have been in every game they played. They just made one more play than we did.”
One important trend that has developed this season is the platoon in goal between BonDurant and John Yanchek ’12. Bondurant has six starts with a 2-3-1 record and a .910 save percentage. Yancheck is 2-1-2 in his five starts, posting a .891 save percentage.
The weekend puts the Panthers back below .500, at 4-5-3, with several top 10 opponents left on the schedule. The team hosts a pair of home contests this weekend, with New England College on the ticket for Friday night and St. Anselm on Saturday afternoon.