Nescac

[MikeMidd]

Almost certainly Middlebury's best week in a while. Wins against #11 Norwich and Colby and a tie against Bowdoin. The NESCAC results move Middlebury to 8th in the league, just .5 points behind Conn College and 1 ahead of Colby and Wesleyan. Feels like that's a little group of four that may battle for the final playoff spots.

Horoho has played three in a row (plus two thirds of the Plattsburgh game), allowing three goals in just over 220 minutes. Given Middlebury's goaltending looked pretty erratic earlier in the season, that's a big step forward.

Elsewhere, a big surprise as Conn College takes down #10 Trinity, and Hamilton continue to be impressive with a 4-3 win over #2 Geneseo. Will be interesting to see if Hamilton picks up more points in the weekly poll.

[MikeMidd]

Just one weekend of regular season play remaining, and things are starting to fall in place in the NESCAC table:

Trinity - 42.5
Bowdoin - 32
Tufts - 29.5
Hamilton - 27.5
Amherst - 24.5
Conn. College - 21
Middlebury - 20.5
Colby - 16.5
Williams - 15.5
Wesleyan - 10.5

Trinity continues to be the class of the conference, as expected. Bowdoin, Tufts and Hamilton continue to have really good seasons, though none are likely to earn an at-large NCAA bid.

Williams and Colby have picked up points to get closer to the middle pack and will fight it out for the final playoff spot, with the Ephs at Amherst and Hamilton and the Mules hosting Tufts and Conn College.

As for Middlebury, they split the weekend travel partner series against Williams - losing a close 1-0 at home before going to Williamstown and taking a 7-5 (!!!) win. The Panthers' win saw them lead 3-1 and 6-2 before Williams scored three in two minutes to cut it to 6-5.

Middlebury now heads to Hamilton and Amherst to finish the season. A tie or regulation or OT win in either game will put Middlebury back in the playoffs, with a win ensuring they avoid Trinity in the first round.

While hardly a vintage Middlebury season, the statistics show that the Panthers have improved compared to the past two years. Scoring slightly more, giving up fewer goals. It will be a long road ahead, but there's progress. Let's hope it continues on the final weekend.

[tjoneslo]

As for Middlebury, they split the weekend travel partner series against Williams - losing a close 1-0 at home before going to Williamstown and taking a 7-5 (!!!) win. The Panthers' win saw them lead 3-1 and 6-2 before Williams scored three in two minutes to cut it to 6-5.

I was watching the live stat's on this game trying to figure out what was going on. I've not seen a NESCAC game with this many points scored in a really long time.

I've been impressed with the way Midd has been playing recently.

[MikeMidd]

I was watching the live stat's on this game trying to figure out what was going on. I've not seen a NESCAC game with this many points scored in a really long time.

I've been impressed with the way Midd has been playing recently.

A real turnaround for Middlebury since the Plattsburgh disaster. Rebounded with the big, unexpected win over Norwich, starting a 5W-3L-1D run with those losses being in OT to Trinity and by one goal to Tufts and Williams. Much more competitive across the board.

Hopefully a big weekend ahead versus Hamilton and Amherst to secure the playoff spot and go in with real momentum. While they'd still be an underdog in the playoffs, not sure you'd want to play them either.

[MikeMidd]

An exciting final day in the NESCAC as Bowdoin, Tufts and Hamilton battled for the 2-3-4 seeds and Middlebury, Colby and Williams battled for the 7-8 seeds, with one of those final three getting left out.

Amherst jumped on the Panthers and were in full control in the first period, giving Colby and Williams hope. A back-and-forth game between Colby and Tufts was giving the Mules hope, and Williams could never take the lead against Hamilton - though with less than 15 seconds left, they had a goal-mouth scramble and thought the puck had gone in to make it 3-3. Meanwhile Middlebury battled hard in the third period, after going behind 4-0 and cutting it to 4-2, but couldn't get any closer even with 3:30 of 6 v 5.

So our NESCAC playoff match-ups will be:

1 Trinity v 8 Colby
2 Bowdoin v 7 Middlebury
3 Tufts v 6 Conn College
4 Hamilton v 5 Amherst

Some interesting match-ups in there.

Trinity are the class of the NESCAC of course, and come into the playoffs with eight wins in a row. They swept Colby and will surely be out to avoid another first round surprise to a team from Maine.

A strong season for the defending champions sees Bowdoin with a number two seed and game hosting Middlebury. The Polar Bears took an OT win over the Panthers in the second game of the season and skated to a 2-2 tie in January. The Panthers come in having lost four of their last five, but have played solid hockey in a number of those games against Trinity (OT loss), Williams (1-0 loss) and Hamilton. Let's hope they are game for the upset.

Tufts had a shot for the number two seed, but have slumped a bit down the stretch, only winning two of their final six games. They're also under .500 at home, including a 4-3 OT loss to Conn. The Camels will not be afraid.

Hamilton swept Amherst 3-0 (h) and 7-6 (a) this season and the Continentals have arguably been better than a four seed, but no easy out in Amherst. A nice 4-5 match-up.

[MikeMidd]

Quarterfinals are done - with one big upset and some good, exciting games.

#1 Trinity 2 - 1 over #8 Colby
Tight game and a strong performance by the Mules, but a third-period goal for Trinity means they are through and will host the finals weekend. Clearly the class of the NESCAC - and either excellent at winning close ones, or finding themselves in a bunch of close ones. The Bantams win their fifth one-goal game in their past seven games.

#7 Middlebury 5 - 1 over #2 Bowdoin
Another season, another #7-#2 upset, this time Bowdoin knocked out rather than doing the knocking out. 5-1 included two ENGs so slightly flattering - but make no mistakes, Middlebury played very good hockey and deserved the win. The Panthers now take on Trinity, who they lost to in OT a month ago.

#3 Tufts 5-3 over #6 Conn College
The Jumbos overturned a 2-0 deficit with four straight goals to pick up the win. They've been strong all season and are probably more competitive than their 13-9-3 record indicates. Meanwhile, although it's another quarterfinal loss for Conn College, earning the #6 seed was a nice step forward this season.

#4 Hamilton 4-3 over#5 Amherst
Thought this would be the best quarterfinal match-up, and they made it exciting. Hamilton took a 3-0 and 4-1 lead, Amherst came storming back to cut it to 4-3, and Hamilton took the win. They improve to 17-7-1 and will face Tufts, who they went 1-0-1 against in the regular season.

So what's next?

Will Trinity steamroll to the title and set themselves up for an NCAA tournament run?

Will Tufts or Hamilton have a shot at knocking off the presumptive favourite Bantams if they make it to the championship?

Is there another Middlebury surprise, this time over Trinity?

And has Jack Ceglarski done what it takes to have "interim" removed from his job title by Middlebury, regardless of this outcome? (I certainly hope so, the Panthers have looked more and more competitive as the season has gone on.)

[tjoneslo]

Well, of the teams left in the Tournament, Midd has given Trinity the most headaches. So I expect that will be an exciting game. I suspect Trinity is not interested in being knocked out of the tournament early. Trinity is ranked highly enough in the PWR that they will be going to the NCAAs regardless of their outcome in the NESCAC tournament.

Hamilton vs Tufts ought to be a good chaser game. These two teams tangled to overtime battles twice.

Really looking forward to these games.

[MikeMidd]

Good news from Middlebury that Jack Ceglarski has been named the permanent Head Coach of the men's hockey team:

https://athletics.middlebury.edu/new...ce-hockey.aspx

While Middlebury still has a long journey back to being an elite NESCAC team, let alone a national power, it was encouraging to see the progress made under Ceglarski (and assistant coach Jack Fitzgerald) this year. Particularly as the season went on, they were notably more competitive and picked up some nice wins as a result. Starting with the Norwich game, Middlebury went 6W-6L-1T through end of season, including 2 losses to Trinity (one in OT), and close losses to top-four finishers Tufts and Hamilton.

Looking to next year, the Panthers return top scorer Jin Lee, as well third-highest scorer Wyatt Pastor and the trio of talented freshman, Jackson Morehouse, Revy Mack and Dante Palombo. Senior Jake Horoho will be hard to replace in net, and it'll be important for Middlebury to continue to make progress defensively.

In the meantime, looking forward to seeing the new class of recruits - and any interesting transfers, following Andrew Seaman's arrival from Union last summer.

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Good news from Middlebury that Jack Ceglarski has been named the permanent Head Coach of the men's hockey team:

https://athletics.middlebury.edu/new...ce-hockey.aspx

While Middlebury still has a long journey back to being an elite NESCAC team, let alone a national power, it was encouraging to see the progress made under Ceglarski (and assistant coach Jack Fitzgerald) this year. Particularly as the season went on, they were notably more competitive and picked up some nice wins as a result. Starting with the Norwich game, Middlebury went 6W-6L-1T through end of season, including 2 losses to Trinity (one in OT), and close losses to top-four finishers Tufts and Hamilton.

Looking to next year, the Panthers return top scorer Jin Lee, as well third-highest scorer Wyatt Pastor and the trio of talented freshman, Jackson Morehouse, Revy Mack and Dante Palombo. Senior Jake Horoho will be hard to replace in net, and it'll be important for Middlebury to continue to make progress defensively.

In the meantime, looking forward to seeing the new class of recruits - and any interesting transfers, following Andrew Seaman's arrival from Union last summer.

As much as Middlebury has had plenty of success to last a lifetime and then some in the men's hockey ranks, I gotta tell you, it does always feel like something's missing a bit when you don't see their name anywhere near contention in the national picture.

Sounds like a good start this past year for Jack and company and it would be great if it continues to get Middlebury men back to national relevance. Not getting a chance to witness the Norwich/Middlebury rivalry in its hey day is always one of my biggest letdowns from my time at Norwich.

[MikeMidd]

As much as Middlebury has had plenty of success to last a lifetime and then some in the men's hockey ranks, I gotta tell you, it does always feel like something's missing a bit when you don't see their name anywhere near contention in the national picture.

Sounds like a good start this past year for Jack and company and it would be great if it continues to get Middlebury men back to national relevance. Not getting a chance to witness the Norwich/Middlebury rivalry in its hey day is always one of my biggest letdowns from my time at Norwich.

The glory days of Middlebury were a lot of fun. Nelson and then Kenyon Arena full and loud, a real buzz amongst the students, the rivalries with Williams (always hated most by students), Norwich and Plattsburgh. Great memories for this nostalgic, old Panther here.

Trinity's success shows that you can do it in the NESCAC, though takes institutional backing, resources, coaching and more. As has been said many times here, the combination of the Beaney issues, a decade of unimpressive results and President Laurie Patton seemingly not putting as much into hockey all took their toll.

Will be interesting to see what next year's incoming class looks like. Middlebury (and NESCAC) admissions cycles mean kids will have applied 3-6 months ago and been recruited even before that. No idea how involved Coach Ceglarski was in recruiting the 2023-2024 freshmen, who seem like a strong group, or what this year's process has been.

But notable that he was given the permanent job just as the regular decision acceptances will have gone out.

[Russell Jaslow]

As much as Middlebury has had plenty of success to last a lifetime and then some in the men's hockey ranks, I gotta tell you, it does always feel like something's missing a bit when you don't see their name anywhere near contention in the national picture.

Sounds like a good start this past year for Jack and company and it would be great if it continues to get Middlebury men back to national relevance. Not getting a chance to witness the Norwich/Middlebury rivalry in its hey day is always one of my biggest letdowns from my time at Norwich.

I'll never forget their 2004 double overtime national semifinal game in Norwich. Intensity doesn't even begin to describe that game and atmosphere. (That was also the time the Norwich PA announcer got fired on the spot.)

They also met in the 2002 national semifinal in Middlebury. (They both made the national semifinal in 2003, but did not play each other.)

[PrezdeJohnson09]

I'll never forget their 2004 double overtime national semifinal game in Norwich. Intensity doesn't even begin to describe that game and atmosphere. (That was also the time the Norwich PA announcer got fired on the spot.)

They also met in the 2002 national semifinal in Middlebury. (They both made the national semifinal in 2003, but did not play each other.)

I got to witness a packed Kenyon once.

Elmira/Middlebury ncaa quarterfinal game in 2003.

Elmira battled them hard through 40. Were trailing 2-1 after 2 but Middlebury pulled away with 3 in the third.

Kevin Cooper engrained in my brain from that game.

[Tom Coughlin]

(That was also the time the Norwich PA announcer got fired on the spot.)

What did the PA announcer do to get fired?

[jerrynu26]

What did the PA announcer do to get fired?

Sad story really. He was trying to be proactive and printer off the Midd roster to announce the players names. Unfortunately the Midd women were playing the same day, and that was the roster he printed. Worse, he didn’t realize he was announcing a women’s roster, and not the men.
He didn’t really know much about hockey, he was just the PA guy, and normally was decent tone, inflexion, and volume. Normally he was the local racetrack PA guy.

[Russell Jaslow]

Sad story really. He was trying to be proactive and printer off the Midd roster to announce the players names. Unfortunately the Midd women were playing the same day, and that was the roster he printed. Worse, he didn’t realize he was announcing a women’s roster, and not the men.
He didn’t really know much about hockey, he was just the PA guy, and normally was decent tone, inflexion, and volume. Normally he was the local racetrack PA guy.

He knew what he was doing...

(Do you really think he was oblivious to reading female names during a men's game? He was a very flamboyant announcer -- nothing wrong with that -- who went too far for a home advantage -- which is not allowed in an NCAA playoff game -- showboating.)